On the eve of Live 8, an international celebration to raise awareness about poverty on the African continent, and in preparation of the 4th of July Holiday, the Mayor’s creation of this Commission reaffirmed to the world Philadelphia ’s historic commitment to tolerance, freedom and democracy.
Philadelphia is home to over 200,000 African and Caribbean immigrants, many who were resettled here by local humanitarian organizations under the Refugee Act of 1980. The first wave of African immigrants under this Act came seeking refuge from the famine and civil war in Ethiopia and other parts of East Africa under the sponsorship of the Nationalities Service Center, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Church World Services Affiliate, Catholic Social Services and the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society. The impact of political unrest, civil war, and genocide in the 1990’s fostered many new refugees and political asylees from the nations of Liberia , Haiti , Sierra Leone , Congo , Angola , Rwanda , Nigeria , Somalia and the Sudan
On behalf of the Mayor of Philadelphia,
Michael A. Nutter, Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell and Vice Chairman of the Commission,
Dolores Mohamed, we want to thank all of you for your contributions that have
made The Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, one of
the most successful and active Commissions in Philadelphia. Mayor Nutter
and Councilwoman Blackwell led us in an important discussion and several action
items on the City of Philadelphia’s Haitian Disaster Relief efforts.
Your
Commission is a member of the Haitian Coalition of Philadelphia and I want to
thank them for their leadership and guidance. Also, nearly every citizen
of Philadelphia “stepped up” to contribute and offer resources to send to our
brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Due to a business
trip to Nigeria I will not be in the country until March 13, 2010 therefore, our next meeting will be held March 17, 2010.
