Food Bank America Tackles Food Insecurity
Member of the Foreign Press had the opportunity to visit Food Bank’s 90,000 sq. ft warehouse and speak with some of its top leadership executives about the organization, how they function, what they do and the current issues in New York City with food insecurity.
By Oyiza Adaba
SPEAKERS: Zac Hall, Senior Vice President, Programs at Food Bank For New York City; Carmen Boon, Vice President, Public Affairs at Food Bank For New York City; Zanita Tisdale, Vice President of Agency and Organizational Impact, Food Bank For New York City.
Food Bank For New York City Warehouse
Inside Food Bank’s massive 90,000 sq. ft warehouse in The Bronx, New York.
Thanksgiving in the United States is an occasion to mark with reflection, gratitude and giving back to community and that often takes the form of collecting canned goods, donating warm coats and volunteering. This press engagement is an opportunity to learn about Food Bank For New York City’s mission of empowering New Yorkers to achieve food security. Currently, there are more than 1.3 million food-insecure New Yorkers living in the city. The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration for many, but for over 1.3 million New Yorkers, it can also bring heightened financial strain. This year, Food Bank’s goal is to provide 40 million meals to its neighbors facing food insecurity, ensuring they can enjoy the warmth and comfort of the holidays without the added worry of where their next meal will come from.
Photos by africa-related
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Judith Pam-Tok Speaks on Plateau Killings
Abuja-based designer and founder of 2fafii clothing line Mrs Judith Pam-Tok speaks on how fashion is fueling her humanitarian mission in her home state of Plateau.
Abuja-based designer and founder of 2fafii clothing line Mrs Judith Pam-Tok speaks on how fashion is fueling her humanitarian mission in her home state of Plateau.
Judith Yop Pam-Tok is an Abuja based Fashion Designer who is very passionate about adding value to her local community of Heipang, Barakin Ladi LGA, of Plateau state. On most occasions, she can be found here, miles away from the comfort of her nuclear family and her business in Nigeria's capital, but she is not complaining as she is passionate about what she does. Her mission in this rural area is purely humanitarian. Her non-profit, Garlyn Foundation's work is mainly with the indigent people of her home community and victims/survivors of herdsmen attacks in that community
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Two Community Giants Come Together to ENVISION THE IDEAL BRONX
The Word of Life International and The Bronx Community Foundation are both focused on building an equitable and inclusive Bronx. The two parties came together to host a lunch meeting for community members, organizations, and individuals representing various fields in the borogh. The agenda was to create an envisioned image of the ideal Bronx, that will become a near-future reality.
By Oyiza Adaba
Africa-Related New York
“What does your ideal Bronx look like?” The Bronx Community Foundation is asking. Photo by Africa-Related
CHANGE is what happens when you put two community giants together in a room.
The Word of Life International is a 20-year old Bronx-based non-profit which aims to sustain lives and empower communities by providing short and long term services to foster stable and independent living. Founded in 2017 by long-time Bronxites twin brothers Derrick and Desmon Lewis, as the first and only Community Foundation dedicated to The Bronx, The Bronx Community Foundation is focused on building an equitable and inclusive community.
The two parties recently came together to host a lunch meeting for community members, small business owners, faith-based organizations, and individuals representing various fields in the borough. The agenda was a first hand account of the root causes of the challenges; and to create an envisioned image of the ideal Bronx that is achievable within the near-future.
Stakeholders expressed various concerns and agreed in general that more needs to be done in the areas of food insecurity, housing, environmental justice, safety and security, small business support, communication breakdown, immigration etc. Participants took part in exercises that involved creating vision boards from colorful paper cuts, photos, ideas etc.
The Word of Life International is run by Rev. (Dr.) John Udo-Okon along with his wife Rev. Felicia Udo-Okon and for the past 20 years, they both have devotedly worked with their community to fight hunger and poverty in New York City. Its weekly feeding program supports an average of 8,000 household members monthly, and it envisions strong communities and individuals without the immediate threat of hunger, homelessness, and unemployment .
The Bronx Community Foundation is under the leadership of its inaugural President and CEO, Dr. Meisha Porter who is a former NYC Department of Education Chancellor. With her wealth of experience from managing the largest school system in the nation, it may be safe to assume that The Bronx is in good hands.
The Community
Making life-changing decisions for the community
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U.S. COMMITS $1 MILLION TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN NIGERIA
The United States has pledged $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support the 2.8 million people across the Nigeria affected by unprecedented flooding.
Oyiza Adaba | Africa-Related New York
Flood Victims
The United States has pledged $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support the 2.8 million people across the Nigeria affected by unprecedented flooding.
Abuja – The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support the people affected by unprecedented flooding in Nigeria. The unusually heavy rainfall and resulting flooding has affected nearly 2.8 million people across the country. In addition, many homes have been damaged or completely destroyed, displacing millions of people.
The floods have exacerbated an already critical humanitarian situation in Nigeria, where ongoing conflict, especially in the northern region, has driven millions of people from their homes. In the same region, more than 4 million people are projected to continue experiencing acute food insecurity amid the worsening global food crisis. We are also concerned that standing floodwaters could increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, where cholera outbreaks were declared in August and September and at least 7,750 cases were recorded. In 2022, 31 out of 36 states reported cholera cases.
“We are filled with grief for the flood victims who have lost so much – livelihoods, homes, and even loved ones,” said U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard. “The United States continues to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time,” Ambassador Leonard added.
The $1 million in new USAID support will allow local partners on the ground to provide emergency shelter assistance, relief commodities, and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing cholera outbreak, and multipurpose cash assistance for people impacted by the devastating floods.
As experts expect heavy rainfall and flooding to continue through November, due in part to climate change and insufficient drainage infrastructure, USAID disaster experts will continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with humanitarian partners and the Government of Nigeria to assess needs and determine if additional assistance is required.
The United States maintains a long history of providing humanitarian assistance across the country. In 2022, USAID provided more than $356 million in humanitarian assistance to people most affected by conflict and food insecurity in Nigeria. This life-saving assistance is in addition to USAID’s annual $539 million development budget for Nigeria that supports economic growth, health, democratic governance, and education.
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W.E.B. DU BOIS MUSEUM COMPLEX GHANA - Restoration Plan Commences
The W.E.B du Bois Center in Ghana is where the remains of Man, his wife Shirley and vast collection of books and personal items have been since his death on August 27, 1963.
By Oyiza Adaba | Africa-Related New York
And Beatrice Arthur | Ghana
The great African-American Scholar, Civil Rights Activist and father of Pan-Africanism who influenced the likes of Ghana’s first Prime Minister/President Kwame Nkrumah, envisioned Ghana to be his final resting place.
W.E.B du Bois Photo by webdbmf.org
This symbolic and historic gesture gave birth to the W.E.B du Bois Centre in Accra, where the remains of the Man, his beloved wife Shirley and the vast collection of his books and personal items have been, since his death on August 27, 1963. He had spent a good part of 1961-1963 in Ghana curating the contributions of Africans to global development in the five-volume Encyclopedia Africana. Du Bois was interred in a state funeral outside Christiansborg Castle in Osu, formerly a holding pen for the slave cargoes bound for the Americas.
“I had planned an "Encyclopedia Africana" in 1909 but my leaving Atlanta for New York postponed this project and the World War prevented its renewal. In 1934 I was chosen to act as editor-in-chief of a new project of the Phelps-Stokes Fund to prepare and publish an Encyclopedia of the Negro. I spent nearly ten years of intermittent effort on this project and secured cooperation from many scholars, white and black, in America, Europe and Africa. But the necessary funds could not be secured. Perhaps again it was too soon to expect large aid for so ambitious a project directed by Negroes and built mainly on Negro scholarship. Nevertheless, a preliminary volume summarizing this effort was published in 1945. (p.302)
- W. E. B DU Bois 1968 Autobiography
In recent times however, that vision has weathered the storms of indifference and neglect, giving room for a new vision by the management of the W.E.B Du Bois Museum Foundation. Headquartered in New York and under the leadership of Japhet Aryiku, the Foundation stresses that the redesign and expansion project aims to re-establish a cultural destination for academics, the diaspora, and the local Ghanaian community that honors the momentous work of its namesake.
On the 59th anniversary of his death, this milestone unveiling was witnessed by du Bois’ great grandson Jefrey Peck, and made possible through a partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism Arts & Culture.
The Museum Complex has Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates as the design Architects. The project is expected to be completed in 2024 with public support and donations. See how you can support below.
Get to know the WEBDB Museum Project here
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MRS. JOSEPHINE BONGOS-IKWUE Mourning A Generous Giver
Bongos Ikwue’s wife Mrs. Josephine Ifeyinwa Bongos-Ikwue passes on
Words: Oyiza Adaba
Photos: Africa-Related
Otukpo, Benue State Nigeria
1949-2022
Bongos Ikwue’s wife Mrs. Josephine Ifeyinwa Bongos-Ikwue passes on.
The death has been announced of Mrs. Josephine Bongos-Ikwue - Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Friend and Church/Community Leader.
Her sweet, gentle and reserved soul was the inspiration behind the creator of some of the most iconic tunes that defined Nigeria's music eras of the late 70s and 80s.
Riding High, Still Searching, Amen, What's Gonna Be, Cock Crow At Dawn etc were songs written, produced and released during her over 50-year marriage to beloved musician husband, Bongos Ikwue.
A devout Christian, she showed care for all without favour and demonstrated it through her prison ministry visits and other charitable activities. Though she originally hailed from Issele Ukwu in Delta State, she was adopted by Benue, and firmly believed in one Nigeria.
She gave selflessly to her family, church, Otukpo, Isle Ukwu, Nigeria and the world at large. is greatly missed by all of us, especially her husband and children Keke, Omei, Jessica, Onyew and JR.
Mrs. Josephine was an extra special friend and mother to us at Africa-Related; hosting us twice at their tastefully built Double K Resort in Otukpo. Our first visit was in 2008 during production of Messengers season one, which featured Bongos Ikwue. The second was a partnership that hosted the Bikers Convention delegates to an exclusive lunch and concert in 2009. Her motherly care was evident throughout.
Rest in Peace Generous Giver.
The funeral arrangements are above. If you would like to make a financial contribution or support the family with your tributes, flowers, photos, etc please visit the link below for more details.
THE BONGOS-IKWUE FAMILY
Shots from Bikers Convention with Bongos Ikwue in Otukpo (Africa-Related/2009)
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Report: Bikers Convention with Bongos Ikwue in Otukpo (Africa-Related/2009)
Messengers TV Series
Oyiza Adaba is a journalist & producer @africarelated
Opening: Builders Hub Community Learning & Resource Centre
Builders Hub Foundation founded by Barrister Natasha Akpoti commissioned the first learning centre to serve schools in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
OYIZA ADABA | AFRICA-RELATED NIGERIA
Okehi L.G.A, Kogi State, Nigeria
Photos by Africa-Related
Barr. Natasha Akpoti of Builders Hub Foundation surrounded by the school children who benefited from the program. (Africa-Related)
Builders Hub Foundation, founded by Barrister Natasha Akpoti commissioned the first learning centre to serve schools in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The mission is to promote literacy through tutoring, workshops, skills development and ICT in these underserved communities. Additional support came from The Dangote Foundation, National Inland Waterways Authority and Lantern Books. Donations continue to pour in.
The Centre is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Jimoh Akpoti, whose selfless service still impacts the people today.
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
Oyiza Adaba is a journalist with Africa-Related
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