Events Aim to Aid African Immigrants

Portland's African community has mounted a response to the concerns of immigrants and refugees in Portland and Southwest Washington.

"It's time African communities came together and address the growing needs of the African refugee and immigrant in the Portland area," said Basko Kante, president of the African Community Coalition's board of directors, "because it is high time we began to 'do for self' and pool our resources together, creating better life chances and choices to African people in the Portland community."

Kante, originally from Ghana, announced the first of a series of quarterly fund-raisers hosted by the African Community Coalition of Oregon. The events will raise money and consciousness about the issues and concerns within the growing community of African refugees and immigrants in the Portland area.

The first event, a fellowship dinner and fund-raiser, is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, April 22, in the Village Ballroom, 700 N.E. Dekum St. Dinner runs from 7 to 10 p.m., and a traditional African party will follow until 2 a.m. All proceeds will go to help African immigrants and refugees in the Portland area. Tickets are $10 each or $18 for two.

The African Community Coalition of Oregon is a Portland-based grassroots nonprofit organization, formed last June to address the needs and issues affecting Africans in Portland. Special interest is given to the growing African immigrant and refugee population, which is composed of some of the most disenfranchised among all immigrants and refugees.
For ticket information, call 503-761-0243; e-mail acco [email protected];or visit www.accoinus.org.