Dateline: February 25, 2009

Celebrating Afrikan American History Month Ujamaa Style

If you weren’t at the newly renovated Northwest Activity Center on Wednesday, Feb. 25, you missed one of the best African American History Month celebrations in Detroit.

Ujamaa Associates of Detroit presented an Afrikan American History Month celebration, and Emerging Entrepreneurs Expo showcasing the graduating participants of Ujamaa Associates’ Entrepreneurship Training Program. The day-long festivities began at the stroke of 8 am on Wednesday, and the atmosphere was instantly charged with positive energy.

The NWAC came alive with a fabulous Afrikan Marketplace in the spacious lobby. Some of Detroit’s most respected vendors began setting up and showing their wares. Ujamaa Associates’ Executive Director Brother Abdul Raheem coordinated the Marketplace. Brother Raheem is also the founder and director of the Afrikan World Marketplace Association. The Marketplace atmosphere was lively, enhanced with African music as people enjoyed the amenities. There was a continental style breakfast to enjoy, and a day of program activities centered on the graduation of the Entrepreneurship Training Program participants.

No authentic African American History Month program is complete without the proper music. The high point of the celebration was the blessing of the occasion by Kamal Amen-Ra and the Ngoma Za drummers whose Afrikan beats took the roof of the building. As usual the drumming took the entire event to “a hole nuvva leffle”! Starting with a traditional opening prayer Brother Kamal and his troupe drummed the spirits of the Ancestors into the mix in royal style.

The Emerging Entrepreneurs Training Program

The Emerging Entrepreneurs Training Program was the dream of DeLois Robison, M.A., whose idea was to provide bare bones knowledge of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Ms. Robison has specialized in working with youth since 1980, particularly endangered 14 to 20 year olds. She has especially enjoyed working with pre-graduation and recently graduated high school students, helping many become professionals and entrepreneurs.

The eight-week program was held in the well-equipped Intel Computer Lab located on the lower level of the NWAC. There the Ujamaa Associates staff took participants through in-depth training on how to start and grow a business. They learned the process of brainstorming, identifying the what, when, where, who and how.

Our fresh-faced recruits came to us through the CIAO Program. They came in with their own ideas for businesses, but little or no idea how to move forward. They all had that same “a deer in the headlights” look when asked questions about what they wanted to do. Over time that look changed and you could see the creativity taking over. They came up with their own mission statements, logos and stationery and business cards. They were also able to start on their business plans and set short and long-term goals.

The Emerging Entrepreneurs Training Program also included preparing participants for the Black Expo at the African American History Month celebration. They had to produce a resume’, invite supporters, make fliers and business cards and set up a vendor’s table. It was a pleasure to see that the eight week training program was a huge success, judging by the results our participants produced.

Wednesday’s festivities included a delicious luncheon, and then the award ceremony for the program graduates. Graduates were awarded Certificates of Completion for two programs: The Emerging Entrepreneurs Training Program and the CIAO-sponsored Paid Work Experience Clerical Program. The PWE provided real-time work hours in clerical and office settings, and exposure to real-time office/business culture.

Upon conclusion of the award ceremony attendees separated into groups and spent time networking among themselves and the program participants. Numerous contacts were made; collaborations were formed and future activities were planned. Again, judging by the smiles all around the Expo was an overwhelming success.

Ujamaa Associates have brought Detroit yet another fantastic celebration of Afrikan history, culture and music. Kudos Ujamaa, Uhuru Sasa!

Coming soon -- pictures and videos of the Feb. 25 Expo

Information about participating organizations, vendors and other Ujamaa Associates Programs is available.