African American United Fund

30th Anniversary Events & Activities in Spring

2012-02-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 20

Community Meal for those in need of a free nourishing meal.
Site: 2231 N. Broad St., AAUF Conference Center
Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Saturday, March 8
African National Congress 100th Anniversary celebration. Discussion and film on women's contributions to the end of apartheid in South Africa.
Site: 2231 N. Broad St., AAUF Conference Center
Time: TBA

Saturday, April 14
Community Beauty, Philly Spring Clean Up
Site: North Central Philadelphia
Staging Area: 2231 N. Broad St., AAUF Conference Center
Time: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Tuesday, April 17
Candidates' Night - Voter Education Forum prior to April 24 General Election
Site: 2231 N. Broad St., AAUF Conference Center
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

14TH ANNUAL TOY DRIVE AND CHILDREN’S PARTY

2011-12-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

AFRICAN AMERICAN UNITED FUND
UPTOWN ENTERTAINMENT & DEVELOPMENT CORP.
PRESENTS
14TH ANNUAL TOY DRIVE AND CHILDREN’S PARTY

Thurs. December 22
6:00 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M.
2231 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132

Drop off site:
2227 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Please contribute new unwrapped toys for:
- Boys and Girls
- Ages 0-12
- $10 Gift Cards for Ages 13-17

For More Information, please contact
Monica Peters at (215) 236-1878
by email monicaperters1.uptown@gmail.com

Drop off new unwrapped TOYS until Dec. 21
AAUF (215) 454-2583 or UEDC (215) 236-1878
2227 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132

2011-05-23T13:27:00.001-07:00

Drummers Needed

2011-04-03T07:45:00.001-07:00

Dear friend,

Are you available to participate in the 9th Annual Drum Celebration? We need drummers, dancers, poets, vendors or whatever you can contribute towards creating a entertaining and positive experience. This is a free event based on volunteers sharing love and unity. Please confirm with contacts listed below.

We the Ngoma Committee of Phila. request your presence at our 9th Drum Celebration "In Honor of our Ancestors".

In addition to various performances, we will recognize several individuals who keep African culture/spirit alive in Phila.

Date: Sunday, June 26, 2011

Time: 12:00 - 6:00pm

Location: Hatfield House -- 3201 W. Girard Ave

Bring your children, instruments, blankets and chairs and be a part of this spiritual, musical and family celebration!

This is a free event!

For more info contact: Terry 215-455-5885 or Zumbi 215-386-6048
For vending contact: Ife 215-888-0525

From Civil Rights to Economic and Environmental Justice: Ongoing Organizing in the African American Community

2011-03-21T14:24:00.001-07:00

Compiled by Aissia Richardson

Introduction

"We are dedicated to the principle that relationships of respect, compassion, and integrity are the building blocks of personal and global harmony. We hold that democracy is not just a political system but also a personal commitment—a continual exercise in freedom of conscience, thought, and moral responsibility expressed through humane deeds. We seek to promote personal moral development and social responsibility through direct assistance, social action, and public advocacy."

This except is from a statement on where Ethical Culture/Ethical Humanism stands at the beginning of the 21st century. Adopted by the National Leader’s Council of the American Ethical Union, November 1, 2008

The perception that organizing in the African American community began with the Civil Rights Movement is a false one. Organizing began when slaves were brought to America. Whether it was forming churches, working to raise funds to free themselves and family members, creating escape plans on the Underground Rail Road, leading mass uprisings against slave owners or starting the Abolitionist Movement, organizing in the African American community is an ongoing effort to attain equity in America. In the Philadelphia region several African American organizations are addressing Food Justice/Sovereignty such as Chester's Community Grocery Co-op, Economic Justice for the formerly incarcerated such as X-Offenders for Community Empowerment and Overbrook Environmental Education Center which is at the forefront of the burgeoning Environmental Justice movement in low income and communities of color. In addition to the groups mentioned above the African American United Fund employs the organizing strategy of resource and capacity building to empower its constituents and Frator Heru Institute uses the cultural empowerment organizing model to foster social change.

4th Annual Philly Spring Clean Up

2011-03-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

African American United Fund is participating in the 4th Annual Philly Spring Clean Up on Sat., April 2 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Residents, businesses and community groups will join with volunteers to clean up a six square block area in North Philadelphia from Susquehanna to York and Carlisle to Park Avenue.

Philadelphia, PA, March 21, 2011: African American United Fund is joining with several dozen community groups across the City of Philadelphia to partner with the Streets Department to make our city beautiful by cleaning lots and removing debris from our neighborhood. The Philly Spring Clean Up will be held on Saturday, April 2, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Volunteers will meet at the African American United Fund’s Conference Center, 2231 N. Broad Street at 9am to receive their assignments.

The Philly Spring Clean was made possible by a generous donation of supplies by The City of Philadelphia. This activity is one of many neighborhood revitalization projects AAUF has hosted or sponsored on North Broad Street. The African American United Fund is partnering with Blues Babe Foundation, City Year and the Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation to clean the following blocks in North Central Philadelphia…

Broad and Susquehanna to York (North and South)
13th Street to 15th Street on Susquehanna
13th Street to 15th Street on Dauphin
2200 Block of Carlisle
2200 Block of Watts
2200 Block of Park Avenue

Grand as Parents (G.A.P.’s) relocates to North Broad St.

2011-03-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

After fifteen productive years G.A.P.’s moves from the Church of the Advocate to the African American United Fund office building
Philadelphia, PA, March 21, 2011: The African American United Fund is delighted to announce that Grands as Parents has relocated to 2227 N. Broad Street from its previous home at the Church of the Advocate.

G.A.P's was formed in 1996 to assist, support, and advocate for the rights of grandparents. This advocacy focuses on creating changes in our society to ensure that children grow fruitfully into adulthood. The name G.A.P.'s was chosen to signify the way grandparents replace the gaps of parenthood in grandchildren's lives.

Eileen Brown, President G.A.P.'s says, “We’ve found a new home at AAUF. Invitations are being sent now for an Open House on April 9, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the AAUF Conference Center, 2231 N. Broad St, to announce the move. Our supporters can reach us at the same phone number (215) 236-4889, we’ve just moved to a better location on Broad Street.”

Wayne Jacobs, Board member, African American United Fund and Executive Director/Founder of X-Offenders for Community Empowerment says, “This is a great addition to the services and programs provided by the organizations located in the African American United Fund office building. Grandparents provide stability for the children of many formerly convicted people. Our social change models are the same…advocacy, services, programs and issue oriented education to increase opportunities for the formerly convicted as well as grandparents raising their children.”

AAUF is celebrating its 30 years of continuous service to the African American community in Pennsylvania. It raises funds to support the growth, development and empowerment of the African American community and in turn, society at large. The Fund provides vital support to many organizations that focus on the social, economic and cultural issues facing our community.

Through our incubator space, the Fund provides reduced rent to organizations so they can focus funding on their programs. Organizations that receive support are the Fraternal Order of Housing Police, the Neighborhood Leader, One World Bar, IT Services, St. Gabriel’s System Conflict Resolution program, the Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation and X-Offenders for Community Empowerment.

Temple University Art Students - Show your Art!

2011-03-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

African American United Fund is seeking artists (multimedia, print, film, ceramic, textile, glass, sculpture, etc.) to create installations in an outdoor setting in North Philadelphia between July 2011 and September 2011. We are particularly interested in working with Temple University students.

Please contact Aissia Richardson at 215-454-2583 by phone or at alrbuffer@aol.com by email if you're interested in having your work shown to the public.

Deadline to provide your installation concept is June 30.

Aissia Richardson, President
African American United Fund
2227 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
215-454-2583 phone/fax
Blog: http://aaufpa.blogspot.com/
Twitter: akoben
You can find AAUF on MySpace and Facebook too!

2011 Philly Spring Clean Up

2011-03-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

For the third straight year, AAUF has been selected as a Philly Spring Clean Up project. The Clean Up will take place on April 2, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Volunteers will assemble at at 2231 N. Broad Street at 9:00 AM to receive their assignments.

Clean up locations are :

Broad and Susquehanna to York (North and South)

13th Street to 15th Street on Susquehanna

13th Street to 15th Street on Dauphin

2200 Block of Carlisle

2200 Block of Watts

2200 Block of Park Avenue

Please see the link below or more information and to register for our site. Click on "Filter by Neighborhood" and scroll down to North Philadelphia to find our site description.

http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/ProjectGroup.aspx?code=343N1B14L45

100 volunteers are needed for our clean up on April 2.

For details about this event or questions, call 215-454-2583

The area selected for beautification is mixed commercial and residential.

AAUF operates a conference center that serves as a community center which offers conflict resolution classes during the week, cooking and nutrition classes on the weekend and services for the formerly convicted monthly.

Empty lots on the block are in need of cleaning. Lots can be used for farmer’s markets, to green neighborhood and for urban farming initiatives. AAUF has recently successfully partnered with the following organizations: Alliance of Black Social Workers, Club Valiants, Inc., DNA Connect, Grands As Parents, International Caucus of Women of the African Diaspora, Institute for the Development of African American Youth, Men United for a Better Philadelphia, Philadelphia Doll Musuem, Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation and X-Offenders for Community Empowerment.

Over the past two years, AAUF formed a partnership with Urban Design Studio to create landscaping and architectural drawings to create a sustainably built, raised bed garden to grow fresh produce and to be used as a demonstration model for residential gardens.

From Civil Rights to Economic and Environmental Justice: Ongoing Organizing in the African American Community

2011-02-26T06:24:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, February 27 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Aissia Richardson will speak at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, on the topic, From Civil Rights to Economic and Environmental Justice: Ongoing Organizing in the African American Community. Please join the discussion. For more information about the Ethical Society or directions to the site, call 215-735-3456.

"We are dedicated to the principle that relationships of respect, compassion, and integrity are the building blocks of personal and global harmony. We hold that democracy is not just a political system but also a personal commitment—a continual exercise in freedom of conscience, thought, and moral responsibility expressed through humane deeds. We seek to promote personal moral development and social responsibility through direct assistance, social action, and public advocacy."

Except from ... a statement on where Ethical Culture/Ethical Humanism stands at the beginning of the 21st century. Adopted by the National Leader’s Council of the American Ethical Union, November 1, 2008

The perception that organizing in the African American community began with the Civil Rights Movement is a false one. Organizing began when slaves were brought to America. Whether it was forming churches, working to raise funds to free family members, creating escape plans on the Underground Rail Road, leading mass uprisings against slave owners or forming the Abolitionist Movement, organizing in the African American community is an ongoing effort to attain equity in America. In my platform on February 27, I will discuss the exciting work of several organizations that are addressing Food Justice/Sovereignty, Economic Justice for the formerly incarcerated and the burgeoning Environmental Justice movement in low income and communities of color.

Please join me on February 27 to learn about the work of the African American United Fund and the exciting collaborations we have formed to realize our mission to improve our community.

Aissia

X-Offenders for Community Empowerment Ban the Box Campaign

2011-01-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

No Criminal Question On Job Forms?: MyFoxPHILLY.com

Another Successful Toy Drive

2010-12-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

African American United Fund partnered with Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation to provide toys to 300 needy children

On December 21, 2010 from 5:30 pm to 7:30pm, in cooperation with the Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation, African American United Fund distributed toys for 300 children at the African American United Fund Conference Center at 2231 N. Broad Street.

“This time of the year people are in need and we are pleased our donors have contributed to this cause”, stated Linda Richardson, President of the Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation.

Donors to the Toy Drive include Toys for Tots, Tree House Books, North Philadelphia Neighborhood Bike Works, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Home Real Estate, Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation, African American United Fund and the African American Student Union of Central High School. Cherron Perry Thomas, African American United Fund Board Chair said, “We are so pleased at the donations from people and especially the Central High School students’ commitment.”

Each year demand for toys exceeds goals set by the African American United Fund and generous donors provide toys to help meet requests received often days before the distribution.

Thank you to our donors who made this year's toy drive a success! We were received local broadcast media coverage on December 21 during our distribution, we served many more families than we did last year and we were helped by number of organizations listed above.

Happy Holidays!

Warm regards,

Aissia Richardson

TOY DRIVE DONATION or REQUEST

2010-12-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

Event management for 13th Annual Toy Drive powered by Eventbrite

13th Annual Toy Drive

2010-12-03T10:35:00.001-08:00

African American United Fund is partnering with TL Gilliams’s Joy to the World Fest, RL Little Consulting, Fraternal Order of Housing Police, Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation, Grey Social Bar and Lounge and others to sponsors a Toy Drive for 5,000 needy children and their families

Drop off new unwrapped toys at the African American United Fund’s headquarters at 2227 N. Broad Street

The African American United Fund is collecting toys for a monumental Toy Drive organized in partnership with T.L. Gilliams’ Joy to the World Fest. Additional partners include the RL. Little Consulting, Fraternal Order of Housing Police, Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation and Greys Lounge.

With the increase in prices for consumer goods, utilities and food, this year will be particularly hard for poor, working families to afford basic necessities let alone holiday gifts for their children. New unwrapped toys for children aged 0-12 are currently being collected at our main office at 2227 N. Broad Street, at RL Little Consulting at 128 Chestnut Street and local businesses.

Cherron Perry-Thomas, Board Chair, African American United Fund says, “This is our 13th year providing toys to low income families either by hosting our own Toy Drive or collaborating with other agencies. We’ve received numerous requests for toys over the years. This year we anticipate the requests will be overwhelming due to the state of the economy. Obviously, our supporters will work hard to ensure each child receives a significant gift, but this year we’re reaching out to the business community to help us reach the goal of providing toys and a holiday meal to 5,000 children and their families.”

This year, the toy drive is being sponsored by T.L. Gilliams’ Joy to the World Fest (www.joytotheworldfest.com). Celebrity guests have been invited to distribute toys this holiday season, curtsey of T.L. Gilliams LLC.

Each year demand for toys exceeds goals set by the African American United Fund and generous donors provide toys to help meet requests received often days before the distribution. Donations for the event can be dropped off at the African American United Fund’s headquarters at 2227 N. Broad Street between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Volunteers are needed to help sort toys on December 18 and December 19 during the day. Please call 215.454.2583 to volunteer or to arrange to drop off toys.

Garden to Plate - Raw Food Cooking Classes Begin!

2010-10-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

On October 9, AAUF began our Garden to Plate sessions with 10 youth participating in an alternative sentencing program.

The sessions are held on Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at 2229 and 2231 N. Broad Street.

Garden to Plate is a project of AAUF's Urban Garden Initiative which was created to increase green space and green jobs in disenfranchised communities, promote growing produce in urban gardens and increase access to fresh food in low income and communities of color.

Garden to Plate includes providing information to youth about making healthy meal choices, preparing raw food recipes and information on linking good nutrition to healthy outcomes.

Registration is required to participate in Garden to Plate sessions.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please call our office at 215-454-2583.

VOTER EDUCATION FORUM

2010-10-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA AREA BLACK RADICAL CONGRESS

P.O. BOX 27423

PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19118

A 501- C- 3 Organization

The Philadelphia Area Black Radical Congress Invites You To A Forum

PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION

VOTER EDUCATION FORUM

Sunday, October 17, 2010 – 2 to 4 P.M.

Free Library of Philadelphia,

1901 Vine Street, Skyline Room

Why Is the November 2, 2010 Election So Important?

How will this Election effect our communities?

Special Guest Speakers

ELMER SMITH, Daily News Columnist

RICHARD WOMACK, President

Philadelphia A. Phillip Randolph Institute

Who are the candidates?

What positions are they running for?

How can you protect your vote?

SPEAKER FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

GET INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. ASK QUESTIONS. GET INFORMED.

VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2nd

This is a Non-Partisan Public Meeting. All are welcome.

For Information: 215-848-1806 or 267-259-7196 Labor Donated

Call for Installation Concepts

2010-09-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

September 11 Black Farmers Market

2010-08-31T10:42:00.001-07:00

Please join the Black Farmers Agricultural Association and African American United Fund for a ...

Produce Sale

Date: Saturday, September 11
Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 PM
Site: African American United Fund Urban Garden Initiative
2229 and 2231 N. Broad Street

Fruits and Vegetables direct from North Carolina

Sweet Potatoes
Watermelons
Cantaloupe
Tomatoes
Cabbage
Peas
Bell Peppers, Squash, Zucchini
And More...

Contact Reggie 215-370-3038, Elliot 267-205-1570 or Aissia 215-454-2583 for info

Aissia Richardson, President
African American United Fund
2227 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
215-454-2583 phone/fax

Summer GARDEN PARTY

2010-07-08T08:56:00.001-07:00

Join the African American United Fund and Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation for a...

Summer GARDEN PARTY on

Friday, AUGUST 13
6:30PM to 9:30PM
2229 N. Broad Street.

Enjoy music, food and fun for only $25.

Mamma K will demonstrate and provide samples of raw food prepared from the on-site herb garden.

Wear your most festive garden hat and comfortable shoes!

Help celebrate the construction phase of the Uptown Theatre with Uptown Entertainment & Development Corp. (UEDC) and African American United Fund's (AAUF) new Garden at 2229 N. Broad Street!

RSVP before August 6 by calling UEDC at 215-236-1878 or AAUF at 215-454-2583.

Make your contribution to AAUF online

2010-07-08T07:46:00.001-07:00

AAUF Urban Garden Initiative Phase I Completed

2010-06-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

From Urban Studio blog...

The Stage is Set for an Outdoor Community Center on North Broad

June 1, 2010 by jen G.

Urban Studio has teamed-up with The African American United Fund to transform a vacant lot into an outdoor community center. The 2500 square-foot lot is located at 2229 N. Broad Street (just above Susquehanna), and is propitiously situated between two AAUF properties.

The adjacent buildings provide valuable resources for constructing and maintaining the space; such as running water, two roofs from which to collect storm water, two walls for vertical gardening and murals, electricity, restroom facilities & office space.

The lot is currently inhabited by two mature Mulberry trees, which in turn support a diverse population of plants and animals at the site.

Mulberry trees also yield a wide array of products: bark for paper, branches for baskets, leaves for silkfarms, roots for medicine, and berries for food and fabric dye.

Our collective priorities are to preserve, cultivate and celebrate this habitat. Thanks to the generous support of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Department of Public Health, our plans have taken root.

Pending the installation of a wooden deck, AAUF will open an income-generating, mixed-use, open-air venue available for exhibits, workshops, meetings, markets, ceremonies, performances, parties, etc.

Our hope is that this project will inspire and promote work of this kind throughout the community; by cultivating an interest in the benefits of green spaces, urban gardening, nutrition and sustainability.

To learn more about Urban Studio, go to http://urbanstudiophl.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/the-stage-is-set-for-an-outdoor-community-center-on-north-broad/#comment-107

2010-05-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Learn the Facts

Participant reading a discussion guide at an AmericaSpeaks 21st Century Town Meeting

As a nation, we need to come together to put our country on a sustainable path by setting national priorities and making decisions about how we are going to pay for them.

Unless we take necessary steps to plan for the future, our national deficit and mounting debt will grow out of control. Planning ahead so that our nation can support its highest priorities will help to ensure that our country is able to create new jobs and maintain confidence in our financial markets. If we don’t start making tough choices, the interest we will need to pay on our debt will begin to crowd out other priorities, like education, national defense, investment in roads, public transit, and other infrastructure.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be providing you with information to better understand the issues. Here are a few links to get you started.

Reports on the budget and economy:

Changing Expectations: Americans deliberate our nation’s finances and future
An initiative of the Facing Up to Our Nation’s Finances Project. Project partners: The Brookings Institution, The Concord Coalition, The Heritage Foundation, Public Agenda and Viewpoint Learning. Project Sponsors: The Ford Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Submitted by Viewpoint Learning, Inc.

Choosing the Nation’s Fiscal Future
National Research Council and National Academy of Public Administration

Fiscal Stewardship Project: Americans Confront the Fiscal Crisis
The Final Report from Concord Coalition Fiscal Advisory Councils, which have been established across the country.

Red Ink Rising: A Call to Action to Stem the Mounting Federal Debt
Report from The Peterson-Pew Commission on Budget Reform.
Video on the budget and economy:

I.O.U.S.A.: Byte-sized — the 30-Minute Version
The award-winning documentary I.O.U.S.A. opened America’s eyes to the consequences of our nation’s debt and the need for our government to show more fiscal responsibility. Director Patrick Creadon uses candid interviews and featured subjects include Warren Buffett, Alan Greenspan, Paul O’Neill, Robert Rubin, and Paul Volcker, along with the Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s David Walker and Bob Bixby of the Concord Coalition, a Foundation grantee.

Fiscal Wake Up Tour Online Video
The Fiscal Wake-Up Tour’s mission is to cut through the usual partisan rhetoric and stimulate a more realistic public dialogue on what we want our nation’s future to look like, along with the required trade-offs. Produced by Concord Coalition.

National Briefing on our Budget and Economy
Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, moderated a panel discussion on April 23, 2010 with four experts, recorded via webcast.
Organizations working on economic, budget, and tax issues:

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

Bipartisan Policy Center

The Brookings Institution

CATO Institute

Center for American Progress

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Center for Economic and Policy Research

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

The Concord Coalition

Economic Policy Institute

The Heritage Foundation

National Academy of Public Administration

Public Agenda

Tax Policy Center

Urban Institute
Government offices focusing on the budget:

Congressional Budget Office

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

White House Office of Management and Budget

Haitian Relief

2010-01-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

The African American United Fund will be attending monthly meetings with Philadelphia's Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs to create a coordinated response to the immediate needs of Haiti as well as creating an ongoing fundraising strategy to help rebuild the country.

For immediate contributions please consider a donation to Yele Haiti http://yele.org/. You can text YELE to 501501 to donate as little as $5.00 (which will be added to your cell phone bill).

AAUF will be hosting the first in a series of monthly fundraisers at our Conference Center, 2231 N. Broad Street, on January 29, 2009 from 8pm to 12am. The Dance Party for Haiti will be our ongoing effort to provide constant contributions to the immediate relief and to help rebuild Haiti. Ticket prices will start at as little as $20. Proceeds from this first event will be donated to the Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia to help them reach their goal to raise the last $50,000 needed to fuel a jet that was donated to fly medical personnel and relief supplies to Haiti. www.hpphilly.org

Each month AAUF will host an event and donate the proceeds to organizations providing direct relief to the citizens of Haiti.

In the meantime, I encourage you all to contribute to Yele Haiti. If you spend on average $10 a day on lunch your daily or weekly lunch bill can save lives now. I implore you to make a $10, $20, $50 contribution to help rescue our world neighbors in Haiti.

If you feel compelled to donate items you can bring the following items to the African American United Fund (2227 N. Broad Street). This list will be expanding in the coming days, weeks and months.

-Nutrition Bars (individual or in packages)
-Diapers
-Ace bandages

Peace and Blessings,

Aissia Richardson

2009 Toy Drive

2009-12-14T11:51:00.001-08:00

On December 18 the African American United Fund will distribute toys collected during our 12th Annual Toy Drive in the Mantua section of Philadelphia. Children participating in programs at Belmont Charter School will receive toys this year.

With the increase in prices for consumer goods, utilities and food, this year will be particularly hard for poor, working families to afford basic necessities let alone holiday gifts for their children. New unwrapped toys for children aged 0-12 are currently being collected at our main office at 2227 N. Broad Street.

Cherron Perry-Thomas, Board Chair, African American United Fund says, “This is our 12th year providing toys to low income families either by hosting our own Toy Drive or collaborating with other agencies. We’ve received numerous requests for toys over the years. This year we anticipate the requests will be overwhelming due to the economic downturn. Obviously, our supporters will work hard to ensure each child receives a significant gift, but this year we’re reaching out to the broader community to help as well as provide a happy holiday experience to several adults at a community shelter”

For the second year, the toy drive is being supported by Jim Kernaghan- Former Candidate State Representative District 195 - who secured the help of the Marines' "Toys for Tots" program and his rugby club, Schuylkill River Rugby Club in Memory of Jason Siddell to provide toys and donations from individual donors.

Each year demand for toys exceeds goals set by the African American United Fund and generous donors provide toys to help meet requests received often days before the distribution. Donations for the event can be dropped off at the African American United Fund’s headquarters at 2227 N. Broad Street between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Volunteers are needed to help sort and distribute toys on December 18 and December 19 during the day. Please call 215.236.2100 to volunteer or to arrange to drop off toys.

Summary of Annual Activities

2009-10-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

This past year has been filled with tragedy and triumph. The Fund lost one of our staunchest supporters in Yahya Abdul Karim; as a nation we saw the collapse of our country’s financial institutions and car industry; and, the world witnessed the election of the first African American President in the United States. As many celebrated President Obama’s victory, the jubilation was short lived due to the downturn in our economy, record job losses and slow retail sales.

Here in Philadelphia, the state budget crisis led Mayor Nutter to propose closing all neighborhood branches of the Free Library and recreation centers; massive layoffs of police, fire and nonessential city personnel; and, the draconian institution of bimonthly trash collection. While the City’s budget crisis was averted due to the state legislature voting to raise the sales tax here to 8%, we now know the price of that vote was the taxing of tickets to cultural institutions and museums (breathe a sigh of relief Phillies, Eagles and Harry Potter fans, your entrance fees have been protected from taxation). It’s patently unfair to place the burden of corporate institutional financial mismanagement on the backs of struggling nonprofits. Is it Freedom Theatre’s fault that AIG and Lehman Brothers hid their losses causing the financial markets worldwide to meltdown? Raising taxes from art and culture groups seems a little Scrooge-like on the part of legislators. Many nonprofits are already working with less this year due to donors cutting back on contributions because their retirement plans loss money or they were laid off. As we struggle to maintain services during the recession, let’s work together to ensure that legislators know that our services provide vital support to individuals and families that the government simply can’t reach.

At the African American United Fund, we have managed to continue to provide services and programs, even as the City threatened to shut down, that have improved the lives of 201,870 individuals through our public policy advocacy, direct services and referrals. The Fund conducted 2 voter engagement/education forums, provided technical assistance to 6 organizations, collaborated on programs and projects with 15 organizations and started a new Urban Garden Initiative. We are proud of these accomplishments, especially since our operating expenses were only $65,000 last fiscal year. A contribution to the Fund goes a long way. For only $100 you can help us provide services to 322 people. A true value in these hard economic times.

Since spring of 2007, AAUF has been hosting our Civic Engagement in the 21st Century Forums, formerly known as the People’s Voter Education Forums to bring community based organizations, community residents and elected officials together to discuss and improve upon programs and policies that address the social and economic issues affecting our community. These forums bring candidates to the community to respond to constituents needs and reinforce to constituents that candidates are in office to serve them not special interests, lobbyist or large donors.

AAUF will continue to highlight health disparities in the African American community through, the African Marketplace Health and Wellness Workshops. In June, we hosted the first annual Harambee Community Festival with the Black Women’s Health Alliance, Institute for the Development of African American Youth, Philadelphia Doll Museum and Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation. The event was created to provide cultural enrichment, health information, entertainment and activities to residents and visitors to North Central Philadelphia. There were children’s activities, games, rides, a health pavilion, music and entertainment. The event also promoted National HIV Testing Day. The Black Women’s Health Alliance conducted twenty HIV tests during the activity. Over 1,000 youth and adults participated in the Harambee event on June 27. Planning has already begun for Harambee 2010. Next year the event will take place on June 5.

Our newest program is our Urban Garden Initiative at our lot, at 2229 N. Broad Street, between the main office and the AAUF Center. The lot was cleaned by youth and adult volunteers in April during the Philly Spring Clean Up. The soil was tested by college students and plans are underway to host a farmer’s market, grow food in raised beds and to use the space as an outdoor neighborhood gathering place. A special thanks to Monifa LaGrone and Anthony Singleton for their help throughout the spring and summer during our community clean ups.

In addition to our programs, AAUF provides operational support to organizations such as, X-Offenders for Community Empowerment. X-Offenders for Community Empowerment saw that the ease of access to illegal guns destroyed the lives of victims and the incarcerated. They conceived and supported laws that will reduce gun violence and the proliferation of illegal weapons in Philadelphia. Their programs also focus on educating and empowering the formerly convicted to overcome barriers to re-entry into society.

Finally, since 1997 the Fund has conducted an annual toy drive that benefits the children of low income working families. With the increase in prices for consumer goods, utilities and food, this year will be particularly hard for poor, working families to afford basic necessities let alone holiday gifts for their children. Our 12th Annual Toy Drive will be conducted from now throughout the month of December. Toys will be distributed to several dozen low income working families between December 14 and 18.

New unwrapped toys for children aged 0-12 can be dropped off at our main office at 2227 N. Broad Street, from October 1 until December 18. I would also like to ask you to financially support our charitable activities this year by making a $100.00 contribution to ensure that we are able to continue to serve our community. Your contribution will validate our hard work and help us reach a $2,500 fundraising goal for our Annual Toy Drive.

This month is the official kick off of the winter fundraising drive. Some contributions have already been received; won’t you help the African American United Fund provide a positive holiday experience for those truly in need by writing a check for our Toy Drive?

2009-06-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

Here's an inexpensive summer activity.

Spike Lee Compares Tyler Perry To Amos and Andy

2009-06-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Spike Lee Compares Tyler Perry To Amos and Andy

By Casey Gane-McCalla, Assistant Editor May 28, 2009 10:11 am

Spike Lee had an interview with Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise scheduled to air this weekend. In the interview he complained about “coonery and buffoonery” and both of Tyler Perry’s shows “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne,” comparing them to characters from minstrel shows.From EurWeB“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made 'Boyz in the Hood'], people came out to see it. But when he did ‘Rosewood,’ nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African-Americans, we’re not one monolithic group, so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to ‘Amos n’ Andy.’”

OPINION: Why Tracy Morgan Isn’t Taking Us Two Steps “Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?

AAUF Responds...

Both Tyler Perry's Madea and Martin Lawerence's Big Momma characters portray the outmoded "Mammy" images of African American's created by white vaudevillians to entertain white audiences. These images have become so prevalent that they became a routine caricature of African American women. Fortunately, black women have refused to play these roles in the 21st century and so the role has fallen to men like Perry and Lawrence to perpetuate.

The coonery and buffonery of Madea and Big Momma are a sad reminder of the death of the Black Arts Movement whose aim was to create art that demonstrated positive images of African Americans as well as made political statements about the need for social and economic empowerment in the African American community.

It's easy to laugh at Madea and Big Momma, it's difficult to create a black space where our culture and history are revered, our children receive quality education, our neighborhoods are safe, our businesses thrive and create living wage job opportunities and our young people cease being commodified and sent to prison.

Do Madea and Big Momma cause the social and economic disparities in the African American community? No. Do they do anything to harm our children's images of themselves? Yes. Does that devaluation cause people like Bonnie Sweeten to blame black people for false crime? Yes. In 1955, Emmit Till died and in 1931 the Scottsboro Boys were sent to prison on the exaggerated and false testimony of white women. If our image in the media is devalued by African Americans then others will do the same. Aissia Richardson

Civic Engagement in the 21st Century Forum

2009-05-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

African American United Fund and partners host Civic Engagement in the 21st Century Forum
on May 13 at AAUF Conference Center, 2231 N. Broad Street.

Several organizations collaborate to engage candidates and voters in a discussion about issues affecting the future of the City of Philadelphia, the State of Pennsylvania and the Nation.

Several community organizations will host a Civic Engagement Forum, a question and answer session with candidates seeking to become District Attorney, City Controller, Judge and Senator on Wednesday, May 13, at AAUF Conference Center, 2231 N. Broad Street (between Susquehanna and Dauphin Street) at 6:00 PM.

Cherron Perry-Thomas, Chairperson, African American United Fund stated, “This is the seventh forum held since 2000. This forum will focus on issues important to the electorate such as community court, the cost of incarceration and record expungement. We want the public to submit their questions for candidates prior to the Forum and at the Forum. Public engagement has improved our schools, reduced violence and ensures improvements in city, state and national services for Philadelphia’s residents.”

The sponsoring organizations are the African American United Fund, Alliance of Black Social Workers, DNA Connect, Grands As Parents, Greater Philadelphia Caucus of the I.C.W.A.D., Men United for a Better Philadelphia, Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation and X-Offenders for Community Empowerment.

Fax or email your questions for the candidates to 215.236.9077 or AAUFMAIL@aol.com For more information, please call 215.236.2100.

Philadelphia School District Budget 2009-2010 Information

2009-05-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

Calling all Education Advocates:

At today's Education Compact meeting hosted by Philadelphia Education Fund Michael Masch, Chief Business Officer of the School District of Philadelphia, presented a summary of the Philadelphia School District's 2009-2010 budget. I've listed a few links that provide information about public involvement opportunities, his slide show from the Compact meeting and the 349 page Consolidated Budget for the School District. If you can not download and print the budget book it will be made available for review in the Parent and Community Resource Center, located on the first floor of 440 N. Broad Street.

Critical Dates for Involvement
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/j3/3s/j33sX8MWG7NXWRkc3ny48A/Adoption-of-the-SDP-FY09-10-Budget-Critical-Dates-Opportunities-for-Public-Involvement.pdf
Michael Masch, Chief Business Officer of the School District of Philadelphia, Slide show presentation from the Education Compact Meeting
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/1D/Re/1DReRbCJecg2ryBmQSlUFw/09-05-06-SDP-FY10-Budget-Intro-for-the-Web.pdfPhiladelphia School District Consolidated Budget 2009-2010
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/De/42/De42PH0uRZ1M3gHxjKa8UA/SDP-FY09-10-Budget-Book-.pdf

While I'm not a fan of rewarding legislators for doing their jobs, I do believe that the State Senators that voted against yesterday's Senate budget bill should be praised for recognizing that the bill was an attempt by the majority party to bleed to death the institutions that provide critical human services across Pennsylvania.

Social Media for North Broad Street

2009-04-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

Revive Your Business...Be Social!
Hosted by the African American United Fund

Philadelphia, PA, --- Twitter's online traffic, excluding cellphones, surged to nearly 9.8 million unique visitors in February from 6.1 million in January 2009. ¹

"It is a popular misconception that our skilled labor force would not benefit from interacting with customers online,” says business owner, JC Lamkin, President, Gypsy Lane Technologies (GLT) and Vice Chair of the African American United Fund (AAUF). " In fact, many people are online every day looking for a good reliable beautician, plumber, electrician, etc. North Broad Street business owners have shown that they have the products or services that customers want. They are just missing traffic needed to sustain their businesses. There are some very basic e-strategies that businesses on North Broad Street can use to attract new customers. This workshop, is especially for beauticians, retailers and the skilled labor force such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians; it will focus on establishing an online presence with little or no budget, simple easy ways to engage customers online and promote your business using your web enabled PDA/cell phone. Skilled labor is a major niche that is missing online. Our area businesses have the capacity to fill that niche, drive more customers to our area, establish themselves as industry leaders and generate revenue both online and offline."

The African American United Fund, a 501(c)3 welcomes all to attend the Revive Your Business...Be Social! workshop, on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the African American United Fund Conference Room, 2227 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132. Free will donations to The Fund may be made online, mailed in to African American United Fund, 2227 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132 or presented at the workshop. This workshop will provide easy step-by-step instructions and give real-life scenarios especially for skilled laborers on reaching customers online. If you can read, write and click, you should attend this workshop.

The workshop will answer the following questions:

* How should you use the internet to find customers who need your services?
* What is mini-blogging? And, why should you care?
* Should you use live web streaming to showcase your storefront business activities?

Participants must RSVP online for the Revive Your Business...Be Social!, http://social-networking-phila.eventbrite.com/ workshop or call AAUF at (215) 236-2100. Don't let your inability to find a babysitter for the children keep you from participating in this pivotal event. An babysitter, who can help your child with his or her homework, will be provided on-site so you may focus on this riveting workshop. Healthy snacks (apples, oranges, etc.) will be provided for the children. Established in 1982 as a not-for-profit corporation, the African American United Fund is a GPUAC agency. The African American United Fund (The Fund) raises and utilizes funds to support the growth, development and empowerment of the African American community and in turn, society at large. The Fund advocates volunteerism, mutual aid, and self-help to collectively support, strengthen and economically empower African American communities.

This interactive workshop will be facilitated by tech expert, JC Lamkin, PMP, President of Gypsy Lane Technologies (GLT), a professional Internet solutions company headquartered in the Germantown section of Philadelphia with training offices in Philadelpia and King of Prussia, PA. GLT specializes in best-in-class database development, website development, social media strategies, webcasting, online marketing, Flash multimedia and content management solutions. GLT features an integrated team of project managers, web consultants, creative designers, writers, coders and marketing professionals who know how to get online results. Ms. Lamkin will also be available to sign copies of her book, “Fabulous & Tech-Filled, Volume 1” . Listen to the audio from a previous social media workshop or view the video trailer from a previous workshop. Check the GLT Evite page for more information on other upcoming workshops.

Audio PSA

Source:¹ http://online.wsj.com

###

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School Closing Update: Philadelphia Right to Education Local Task Force

2009-02-27T04:58:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon Everyone,

The School District of Philadelphia is considering closing 2 schools:

1) William Penn High School

2) Gillespie Middle School

The community meeting for Gillespie Middle school was held on Monday, February 23, 2009. However, if you have questions as to where your special education child will go, please contact the principal.

If this answer is not satisfactory, please contact Kathryn Donahue, the Special Education Director for the North Region. Her contact information is 215-400-6085 or by email kdonahue@philasd.org. The Regional Superintendent for the North Region is Lucy Feria and her email is lrodrigu@philasd.org or 215-400-0998.

However, the parent community meeting for William Penn High School Monday, March 2, 2009 at 6pm at William Penn High School.

Please parents and community come and get the information, be heard, and have your concerns answered.

The Special Education Directors for the Comprenhensive High School Region are Nancy Erskine (nerskine@philasd.org or 215-400-6070) and Linda Williams (lwilliams@philasd.org or 215-400-6088).

Finally, the SRC (School Reform Commission) will hold public hearings on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 immediately after their regularly scheduled 2pm meetings.

Please see the notice below.http://www.philasd.org/announcements/src_closing.pdfPlease plan to attend all meetings and have your voices heard.

Cecelia Thompson

Chairperson, Philadelphia Right to Education Local Task Force

PUBLIC NOTICE
School Reform Commission
The School District of Philadelphia

The School Reform Commission (SRC) of the School District of Philadelphia will hold two consecutive special public hearings on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 in the second oor auditorium of the School District’s Education Center, 440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia PA on the School District’s proposals to: (1) close Elizabeth D. Gillespie Middle School, 1801 W. Pike Street as of June 30, 2009, and (2) close William Penn High School, 1333 N. Broad Street, as of June 30, 2010.

The special public hearings will begin immediately following the conclusion of the SRC’s regularly scheduled planning meeting which begins at 2 p.m. on March 11, 2009. The SRC will hear each School District proposal separately. A vote on the proposals will not be taken until the SRC’s regularly scheduled public meeting on June 10, 2009.

Any interested person may address the SRC and submit written questions by pre-registering with the O-ce of Communications at 215-400-4040 no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. The SRC will submit transcripts of the hearings to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in Harrisburg, PA.

School District Updates

2009-02-19T19:35:00.000-08:00

At the February 18 School District of Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting the Dr. Arlene Ackerman unveiled a draft five year strategic plan.

The public engagement process is continuing on the district's five year strategic plan. There will be a Working Group meeting on Monday, February, 23, 6-8pm at 440 N. Broad Street for the public to comment on the plan. The plan is supposed to be posted on the District's website for public review. A tentative schedule was listed in the plan for additional Community Meetings, contact Jennie Wu at 215.400.6989 for the confirmed schedule. The district is planning to vote on the plan at its March 18 SRC meeting, 2pm, 440 N. Broad Street, 2nd floor Auditorium.

Ackerman plans sweeping overhaul for Phila. schools
By Susan Snyder
Inquirer Staff Writer

Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman will recommend today that the school district shut down 30 to 35 of its worst-performing schools over the next three years and reopen them as charters, or under some other form of district or outside management, district sources said yesterday....

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/39769147.html

A public hearing has been scheduled on March 11 after the 2pm SRC meeting, 440 N. Broad Street, in the 2nd floor auditorium to discuss closing two schools- Gillespie, slated to close in June 2009 and William Penn, recommended for closure in the 2009-2010 school year.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/"Breaking News Two city schools to close by next year Posted 2:40pm The Philadelphia School District plans to close William Penn High School at the end of next school year and Gillespie Middle School at the end of this school year, the Daily News has learned."

What's Your Recession Story?

2009-02-16T16:11:00.000-08:00

Twenty-seven days into the Obama administration and the US now has a new $787 billion dollar economic stimulus plan passed last Friday.

While many small nonprofit organizations, like the African American United Fund, have been operating with less resources but demand for services have increased, this stimulus plan is manna from heaven for the working poor. Unlike the Wall Street investment firms and banks that squirreled away the $700 billion stimulus, geared toward rescuing Wall Street by greasing the gears of lending institutions, those of us on Main Street will definitely spend the money allocated in this stimulus package. We don’t have a choice…our homes need repairs, our heating bills need to be paid, our car notes are past due, our phones are disconnected, our children need clothes and shoes, our prescriptions need to be filled, our cupboards are bare.

The stress of having to pay more for basic necessities, inaccessibility to healthcare and working longer hours for less pay is literally killing us.

I’d like to hear from those of you in the bloggosphere about what you’ve been doing to cope.

I’ve been eating out less, giving home baked goods for gifts and selling banana bread to afford ingredients for home baked goods. My banana bread has been a mild hit with my family, co-workers and neighbors. I probably won’t quit my day job but just knowing I have another marketable skill is comforting in an environment filled with so much uncertainty.

Aissia

African Marketplace Health & Wellness Program

2008-12-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

The African American United Fund and In the Spirit News hosts the African Marketplace Health & Wellness Program on Sat. Dec 13 & 20, 12- 5PM and Thurs. Dec 18, 6-9:00 PM at 2231 N. Broad St.

Community members will get the opportunity to participate in engaging and relevant health and wellness workshops, cooking demonstrations, book signings and vendors.

Philadelphia, PA, December 4, 2008: African American United Fund and In the Spirit News will host the African Marketplace Health & Wellness Program. This series of events consists of vendors selling art, books, cosmetics and jewelry and health and wellness workshops addressing prominent and ignored physical and mental health issues in the community. Events are to be held on Sat. Dec 13 & Dec 20, 12-5 PM, and Thurs. Dec. 18, 6-9:00 PM at the African American United Fund’s conference center, 2231 N. Broad Street. On Dec.13 at 1pm, Dr. Wesley Collier will hold a 1 hour discussion on stroke and heart attack prevention. On Dec. 20 at 3pm, Cherron Perry-Thomas, Dandelion Bunch, will demonstrate how to prepare nutritional delicious plant based foods for a healthier lasting lifestyle. Based in Philadelphia the Dandelion Bunch is dedicated to teaching and promoting a raw and living plant based eating lifestyle.

Funded by The Philadelphia Activities Fund and Germantown Club, this program will create opportunities for members of the community to receive information about how to improve their health. Throughout the year we plan to conduct workshops or preventing high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. We would like to encourage people exercise and cook nutritious meals as well as lower stress. The African Marketplace is designed to support economic stability and community cooperation.

Dec. 18th includes the 26th Annual Volunteer Recognition & Toy Drive. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child aged 0-12. Canned goods and toiletries will also be collected for Bridgeway shelter residents.

To RSVP, or to become a vendor, for December activities please call 215-236-2100. For more information call or email, 215-236-2100, AAUFMAIL@aol.com

Share your good tidings

2008-12-01T11:42:00.001-08:00

The African American United Fund and In the Spirit News are hosting the African Marketplace Health & Wellness Program on Sat. Dec 13 & 20, 12- 5PM at 2231 N. Broad St. in Philadelphia

Community members will get the opportunity to participate in engaging and relevant health and wellness workshops, cooking demonstrations and book signings.

This series of events consists of vendors selling art, books, cosmetics and jewelry and health and wellness workshops addressing prominent and ignored physical and mental health issues in the community. Events are to be held on Sat. Dec 13 & Dec 20, 12-5 PM at the African American United Fund’s conference center, 2231 N. Broad Street.

Funded by The Philadelphia Activities Fund and Germantown Club, this program will create opportunities for members of the community to receive information about how to improve their health. Throughout the year we plan to conduct workshops or preventing high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. We would like to encourage people exercise and cook nutritious meals as well as lower stress. The African Marketplace is designed to support economic stability and encourage community cooperation.

On Dec. 18 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm we are also hosting our 26th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration & 7th Annual Toy Drive for needy families in Philadelphia. We are asking the public to drop off new unwrapped toys for children aged 0-12, men's toiletries and canned goods from Dec. 1 to Dec. 19 at 2227 N. Broad Street on the Avenue of the Arts North.

The 7th Annual Toy Drive provides toys to the children of working families. Children enrolled in after care and day care programs are the beneficiaries of toys collected in the month of December. This year due to the slow economy and rising cost of food and consumables, the Fund is collecting canned goods as well as toiletries for homeless men. Please drop off your items at 2227 N. Broad Street from December 1 to December 19.

Aissia Richardson, President, African American United Fund, 2227 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132 215-236-2100

To RSVP, or to become a vendor, for December activities please call 215-236-2100. For more information call or email, 215-236-2100, AAUFMAIL@aol.com

SAVE YOUR HOME PHILLY HOTLINE

2008-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

TO ALL COURT:

At the request of President Judge C. Darnell Jones, II, Administrative Judge D. Webster Keogh, Supervising Judge Esther R. Sylvester and Judge Annette M. Rizzo I ask for your help in getting the word out about a very important Pilot Program.

As you may know, in response to the current national mortgage foreclosure crisis, the Court of Common Pleas recently adopted a Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Pilot Program designed to divert from Sheriff Sale owner occupied residential properties which are listed for Sheriff Sale because the homeowners are delinquent with their mortgage payments.

The reasons for the mortgage default are numerous and include: rising interest rates, unemployment and underemployment, unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the owner as well as the fact that some of the mortgage loans may have been "subprime" or "predatory."

The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Pilot Program may provide homeowners with an opportunity to save their homes. However, to avail themselves of that opportunity, homeowners MUST contact: SAVE YOUR HOME PHILLY HOTLINE at 215-334-HOME (215-334-4663). Housing counselors will discuss available options with the homeowners.

You, your family or acquaintances may know homeowners who may benefit from the Diversion Program. We ask that you refer them to the SAVE YOUR HOME PHILLY HOTLINE so that they may receive valuable information and assistance. Detailed information about the Diversion Program is available from the website of the First Judicial District at http://courts.phila.gov/regs.

Thank you.

David C. Lawrence
Court Administrator
1st Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Room 336 City Hall
Philadelphia, Pa
19107
(215)-686-2547
dave.lawrence@courts.phila.gov

Are you ready to own Wall Street?

2008-09-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

The current financial crisis facing the American economy takes me back twenty-six years to the founding of the African American United Fund (AAUF), then known as the Black United Fund of Pennsylvania. By 1982, Ronald Reagan had been able to convince members of Congress to narrowly approve his sweeping supply side economic policies, nicknamed “trickle-down economics” or “Reaganomics.” These policies gave enormous tax breaks to the wealthy and corporate entities. Our government assumed incredible amounts of debt without balancing the federal budget.

To pay for his corporate welfare program Reagan cut funding for social services, education and other domestic programs. During the 1980s, schools were forced to eliminate art, music and second language learning programs were scaled back; capital improvements for schools, bridges and highways were postponed indefinitely; prisons and welfare departments were privatized. Joblessness increased as Fortune 500 companies placed more emphasis on dividends for shareholders, reinvesting profit in the volatile stock market and exorbitant CEO compensation packages.

Which brings me to today’s seven hubdred billion ($700,000,000,000) bailout of Wall Street being proposed by the current secretary of the treasury. While Reagan was admonishing Mikhail Gorbachev to “Bring down” the Berlin Wall, advocating to end Communism in the Soviet Union, he was sowing the seeds of socialism in America. A government sponsored bailout of flailing Wall Street amounts to nationalizing our stock market. Each of us will now own the debt, not the profit, of reckless corporate managers’ investment practices.

As taxpayers, we will be responsible for the management of a nationalized stock market. We won’t be able to control how the system is managed if we don’t insure there is transparency in how the system operates, if we don’t exercise our right to vote and if we don’t put mechanisms in place to keep our elected officials accountable to us, the share holders. Finally and most importantly, we can’t manage a financial system if we can’t manage our own personal finances.

This spring, we reintroduced our Technical Assistance Program by holding a workshop on financial planning to instruct participants about making personal financial decisions. The Estate Planning workshop, conducted by Yvette Hachoose, Esq., focused on protecting your home from being sold for long term care costs and to other creditors and finding out how to protect your assets in an increasingly difficult economic climate. We plan to continue offering this workshop and add a component, Wall Street on Broad Street, to this program focusing on understanding America’s financial system.

Since spring of 2007, AAUF has been hosting our People’s Voter Education Forums to bring community based organizations, community residents and elected officials together to discuss and improve upon programs and policies that address the social and economic issues affecting our community. These forums bring candidates to the community to respond to constituents needs and reinforce to constituents that candidates are in office to serve them not special interests, lobbyist or large donors.

AAUF will continue to highlight health disparities in the African American community through our newest program, the African Marketplace Health and Wellness Workshops. Access to health care for the poor and in minority communities is sporadic, at best, and nonexistent for many in our community. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness of health disparities in low income and communities of color. The workshops are designed to introduce participants to activities that will help them manage and improve their health. The program pays particular attention to African American men who historically have a mistrust of traditional medicine and are more likely to succumb to preventable diseases. The next Marketplace activity will be at 2231 N. Broad Street on December 18 from 12pm to 8pm.

In addition to our programs, AAUF provides operational support to organizations such as, Parents United for Public Education and X-Offenders for Community Empowerment. Founded in 2006 to address the $73 million dollar School District budget deficit and subsequent cuts to school-based funding, Parents United for Public Education has successfully advocated for increasing public education funding from local government sources by $32 million dollars and reducing millions of dollars in wasteful spending at the Philadelphia School District. X-Offenders for Community Empowerment saw that the ease of access to illegal guns destroyed the lives of victims and the incarcerated. They conceived and supported laws that will reduce gun violence and the proliferation of illegal weapons in Philadelphia. Their programs also focus on educating and empowering ex-offenders to overcome barriers to re-entry into society.

The need to understand and appreciate the rich contributions African Americans have made to American society will be the focus of an upcoming activity. On February 28, 2009, we plan to sponsor a trip to Lancaster to the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for their "Living the Experience" program- a spiritually, creative, living historical production of the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. The purpose of this trip is to highlight the active role African Americans played in the struggle for their individual freedom and as abolitionists in the struggle to end institutionalized slavery. The goal is to demonstrate that even as enslaved people African Americans took responsibility for improving their lives and the lives of their progeny as well as informed national policy decisions about Civil, Equal and Human Rights. The trip will cost $75 for adults and $50 for children 12 and over.

For over 26 years the Fund has been the steward of resources that we’ve consistently shared to increase educational opportunities, increase access to social and human services, promote cultural development, raise awareness about health and wellness issues, provide youth leadership training, stimulate voter education and increase awareness of criminal justice issues. The value of the African American United Fund is in our ability to quickly respond to emerging issues in our community. Our current motto- “A Call to Action”, represents the enduring spirit of our forbearers to overcome barriers to freedom and equality under extraordinarily harsh conditions. Join us in our endeavors by volunteering, participating in our programs and donating now to our organization.

Aissia Richardson
President

African American United Fund announces its spring and summer activities.

2008-05-21T21:40:00.000-07:00

African American United Fund announces its spring and summer activities.

African American United Fund will be conducting two exciting programs- the revival of our Technical Assistance Program Workshops with two activities on Thursday, May 29 and the kick off our African Marketplace Health and Wellness Workshops on Saturday, June 28.

Philadelphia, PA, May 22, 2008: For 26 years, the African American United Fund’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) has worked with area churches and nonprofit organizations by serving as a clearinghouse for information, conducting community meetings and assisting in building organizations’ capacity to provide services to their constituents. Aissia Richardson, President, remarks “Over the last five years our technical assistance has been conducted on an as needed basis with individual organizations. I am delighted to announce that the Fund is reviving its Technical Assistance Program Workshops this spring. We are simply responding to increasing requests for our services by hosting an opportunity for individuals and organizations to come together to learn about managing their finances and filing requirements for establishing a nonprofit organization.”

The Fund will conduct two workshops on Thursday, May 29 at the African American United Fund Conference Center @ 2231 N. Broad Street- Estate Planning and Nonprofit 101. From 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Estate Planning, conducted by Yvette Hachoose, Esq., will focus on protecting your home from being sold for long term care costs and to other creditors. Find out how to protect your assets in an increasingly difficult economic climate. This is a FREE workshop; however, YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND.
From 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Nonprofit 101: Guide to starting a 501c3, will focus on vital Information you need to have about starting a nonprofit organization. There will also be an introductory discussion on nonprofit financial reporting. REGISTRATION FEE: $25.00. For an additional fee of $150.00 you will receive a complete and up to date packet of forms you need to file to establish a nonprofit in Pennsylvania with a complementary booklet from Community Accountants detailing nonprofit financial reporting guidelines.

On Saturday, June 28 @ 2231 N. Broad Street, the African American United Fund will kick off its African Marketplace Health and Wellness Workshops.

The African American United Fund created this new program to highlight health disparities in the African American community. The purpose of the program is to provide activities that will help members of our community manage and improve their health. Information about how to prevent high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes will be provided. Later in the year, activities will focus on encouraging exercise and cooking nutritious meals as well as lowering stress. Finally, during the holidays we plan to offer information about mental health issues. Vending opportunities are available.

Call Avis Lindsay at 215.236.2100 to register for the May 29th workshops, for additional information about our programs or to be placed on our mailing list.