[The Left Forum 2013]
THREE AFRICA-FOCUSED PANELS AT 2013 LEFT FORUM AT PACE UNIVERSITY
VENUE: PACE UNIVERSITY, 1 Pace Plaza, New York, NY, 10038.
June 7 to June 9, 2013
WBAI,AfrobeatRadio and The Council of Young African Leaders present: Three dynamic panels at this year’s LEFT FORUM exploring another dimension of Africa and the Diaspora intersecting political, social and economic actions.
Radio coverage: WBAI 99.5FM Pacifica Radio, NYC, www.wbai.org Streaming live: www.cprmetro.org. www.afrique365.com
PANEL ONE: Engaging the African Youth and Young Professionals in Africa’s Sustainable Development in the 21st Century.
Schedule Info: Session 5 Room: W619 Sun 10:00am – 11:50am
Abstract: African political leadership is at a crossroads. As Africa grows economically, Africans across the continent and in the Diaspora seek new ways to engage with each other. This panel explores the role of African youth in Africa and in the Diaspora as agents of political and economic transformation of continental and Diaspora Africans. The panel seeks to challenge purveyors of global inequality and the assigned role of Africa as “Final Frontier.” The age of technological and social innovations make the interaction of African Youth in Africa and in the Diaspora much easier and more possible and should be explored or exploited much more than is currently the case across geography, gender and cultures to address global economic, labor and trade inequality while participating in helping to fashion grassroots, bottom up solutions globally.
Sponsoring Journal: AfrobeatRadio.Net
Panel Topics: Africa
Chair: Milton Allimadi
Speakers: Zeinab Eyega, Tyrene Wright, Okenfe Lebarty
PANEL TWO: The African Diaspora Re-Engaging with Africa
Schedule Info: Session 6 Room: W618 Sun 12:00pm – 01:50pm
Abstract: Africa is moving forward and with it are bright and innovative Africans in the Diaspora who are positioning themselves to take a creative, critical and concrete role in the development of Africa. The African Diaspora is slowly walking away from the idealized and romantic vision of “fixing” Africa and are grappling with the reality of their role in building a stronger, and “rich” Africa. There should be no illusion about the tension between Africans on the continent and the African Diaspora. In this panel, we seek to first explore who constitutes of Diasporan Africans, and if that differs from what has been termed as “ Africans living in the Diaspora”. Secondly, the panel will explore ways that the Diaspora can engage or re-engage with Africa. This panel will constructively seek to answer the questions of: 1. How the Africans in the Diaspora can constructively be engaged with Africa? 2. What the African Diaspora can learn from countries such as China, as they continue to engage Africa economically 3. What is their role in changing the way the world engages with Africa?
Panel Topics: Africa
Chair: Divine Muragijimana
Speakers: Solome Lemma, Natacha Gwet, Kwaku Awuah, Basir Mchawi
Schedule Info: Session 7 Room: W619 Sun 03:00pm – 04:50pm
Abstract: As the AU/OAU celebrates its first 50 years of existence, it is of paramount importance to look into the economic and ecological challenges facing the continent, the implications of these challenges for years to come. Central to the Panel’s discussion is the role of Women, Youth, African intellectuals and Africans in the Diaspora as effective agents for transformation. Women and the Youth in particular, face ongoing marginalization through religion, tradition, ageism, gender discrimination, and by authoritarian regimes and Africa’s economic and ecological interests for personal enrichment and power. A crisis of governance and security has enveloped most African countries including States across the Sahelian region of West Africa with major implications for Mali, Nigeria, Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Niger, Sudan, Chad, Somalia and Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, etc, remain mired in serious political upheavals or war. Many more countries such as Rwanda, Uganda are faced authoritarian and despotic regimes. Africa’s economic and ecological interests are at the mercy of personal enrichment and power. Our panel will discuss means of creating an enabling environment, ideas or framework for collective response and an agenda for solidarity and transformational action.
Panel Topics: Africa
Chair: Wuyi Jacobs
Speakers: Tsigereda Sophie Schwoerer, Alnoor Ladhar, Opal Tometi, Lebarty Okemfe