African Family Night

5:00pm – 8:30pm Transforming the Lives of Children in Ghana, Liberia & Sierra Leone ​ Keynote Speaker: Mr. Neil Golub – 6:15pm Mr. Golub is a founder and sustainer of the World of Difference® Institute in the Capital Region of New York, which aims to counter prejudice, bigotry and racism in our area. You can learn more here: http://newyork.adl.org/albany/ ​ Please bring a “Dish-to-Pass” to share at dinner if you are able. Reply by Nov 3: (518) 436-8544 or office@wpcalbany.org Event Program African Family Night Support (As of November 4, 2016)​ ——- Thank you to all confirmed co-sponsors, early contributors, and persons who have signed up to attend Westminster’s African Family Night. If you plan to attend this “free” fundraiser and haven’t responded, kindly do so by Tuesday, November 1. To register, contact the Church office office@wpcalbany.org or (518) 436-8544. Our fundraising goal is $15,000 Every penny raised at the dinner will be used to help continue current funding levels for programs in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. There are dedicated funds for African Mission in the Church budget, but we won’t be able to maintain current funding levels without the help of African Family Night supporters. The dinner Honorary Committee is a vital part of our fundraising program. To donate prior to the dinner, send a check payable to: Westminster Church, 85 Chestnut Street, Albany NY 12210 Please write in the memo: “African Family Night” OR Give Online: www.wpcalbany/give. We look forward to your support in any way. There are three dinner themes reflecting our work with partners in Albany and Africa: 1) Action to counter racism, cultural bias and prejudice in the Capital District. Neil Golub, our African Family Night Keynote Speaker, is a founder and sustainer of the World of Difference Institute. http://newyork.adl.org/albany/ Some people affiliated with our sponsoring organizations report negative experiences more than once a week. We want to continue to talk to Institute staff and dinner co-sponsors about possible joint action. 2) Support for sustainable agricultural programs that provide income and jobs for partners in Africa. Leaders support the planting of trees in once forested to combat global warming. People who lives in such areas are looking for programs that generate income and create jobs. At the dinner we will report on our new connections with: West Africa Institute (WAI) – a Presbyterian Church USA project that promotes Beekeeping and Snail Farming as sustainable agricultural programs provide income and jobs, and American Friends of the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) – ARI, based in Japan, has graduates in many African countries. Their graduates have worked on sustainable agricultural programs that produce income and create. On November 5, Westminster plans to report on new ARI connections for our partners in Ghana and Liberia. 3) Reduction of Global Poverty by fostering “basic literacy as a gateway skill that empowers the poor to emerge from poverty” (goal of the Presbyterian Church USA). Westminster continues to support the Hope Mission School in Liberia (as we have done since 2007) and educational initiatives in Ghana. Additional Program Notes: Mona Golub will introduce her father. Program leaders: Emcee — Dr. Frank Essien Chair: Dr. Gabriel K. Ofori-Okai Music — Charles Norbi (NAKOMI Band) Authentic African food: Mary Ofori-Okai Dancer: Rebecca Korley List of 2016 African Dinner Sponsors $15,000 Fundraising Goal. Honorary committee levels range from $50 to $1,000 A Village, Inc. African Men’s Society of Albany Albany Presbytery ANUANZEH Association of United African Women of the Capital District, Inc. Black Women’s Association of Albany Cameroonian Association in the Capital District Capital District Citizens Against Ebola Capital District Susu Women’s Club Capital Region Theological Center Cote D’Ivoire United Community Corporation East African Association of the Capital District FOCUS Churches of Albany Ghana Association of the Capital District Ika National Association, USA, Inc. Kekeli, Inc. Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY Liberian American Association of NY’s Capital District, Inc. Liberian Association of the Capital District The African Jubilee Association The African Center The Association of Nigerians in the Capital District of New York State, Inc. The Legal Project The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeastern NY United Ghanaian Ladies Club Westminster’s African Ministries We appreciate the opportunity to be in partnership with you. Many, many thanks! Lois Wilson Lois Wilson has been a Westminster volunteer since she retired from State Government in 1997 and decided to focus on projects and activities affecting individuals. Since 2005, she has been the convener for a Community Coalition serving homeless families at Schuyler Inn. She has been an active co-chair of Westminster’s African Ministries Committee since 2001, helping with Church mission trips to Ghana and Liberia and liaison with groups representing West African immigrants. She has been recently been talking about ways to transform the lives of individual children in Albany and in Africa. Lois also volunteers for the Capital District Senior Issues Forum and the Zonta Club of Albany.