imani house inc. 2013 newsletter
DESCRIPTION
A newsletter describing Imani House's activities in Brooklyn and LiberiaTRANSCRIPT
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IMANI HOUSE Hosts the 5th Annual Virtual Fundraiser
Giving Thanks, Giving Back
Contribute Thanksgiving Day & Beyond
Vol. 5– 2013
IMANI HOUSE ON THE FRONT LINES - BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER - JOIN US!! BROOKLYN, NEW YORK LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA
Dear Friends,
Welcome to IHI’s Fifth Annual Giving Thanks - Giving Back Virtual Fundraiser
This year as you sit with family and friends to enjoy the holiday’s meals, I ask you to join us in imagining a world where everyone has enough to eat, has healthcare, can read, think logically and provide for themselves and their families. A world where teachers are valued, children are adored and fresh nutritious food is abundant.
I believe there are worlds of possibilities as we move and strive within the 21st Century. Possibilities where we can collectively work to ensure that everyone gets to experience that some-times elusive “pursuit of happiness.”
Enjoy the Season, but let’s consider the possibilities. Imani House has been on the frontlines of youth and family support, health care and education for over 23 years in Brooklyn, and Liberia W. Africa.
We invite you to Give Thankfully from what you have and share with us the responsibility of
working toward a positive future for all. This is a season to reflect optimistically, a season to see a future that will be fair to all of us. Remember your donation is 100% tax deductible.
Bisi Iderabdullah, Executive Director…. Everyone at IMANI HOUSE Thanks You for Your Support!!
Happy Holidays—Thanks for Your Donation
Boro. President Marty Markowitz, IHI Board Chair
Oma Holloway, The IHI ED and Youth at the
First Annual Imani House Walk to Live—2013
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“[I] feel very happy about Imani House to at least put me among educated people. I can perfectly now write my own name
and help my daughter with homework. Before, my daughter’s teacher use to write my name ... but one day, surprisingly to him, I wrote my name without asking him as before and he was shocked. He asked and I told him everything about Imani House. He followed me one night to class and registered his
wife.“
Mrs. Jebboe is a student in the IHI Liberia Adult Literacy pro-gram at St. Mary’s in Duala Market. She also joined the IHI Sewing Classes and plans to sell clothing that she can now make herself. Mrs. Jebboe has done exceptionally well.
Your donation matters to this important Program
Mrs. Viola W. Jebboe - Adult Literacy - A Profile of Success
In 2012 Imani House received support from the U.S.
based non-profit Friends of Liberia (FOL). This grant allowed us to create tailoring classes for 35 women who
attend IHI’s Adult Education Program. This is a new start for our vocational training. During the 2003 war,
looters carried away most of our equipment, but the
women in the program were instrumental in helping secure the funding and organize the classes. Friends…
is an organization made up of former Peace Corp mem-bers who have been assisting Liberia since their found-
ing in 1986.
Needle Thread & Sewing Machines
Income Generating Vocational Skills
IHI Funding with AJWS ended In July of 2013. It was a sad
departure after 8 years of their
dedicated support to enhancing
IHI’s women’s programming
and infrastructure. While they
will be missed, the IHI Clinic,
Adult Literacy, HIV/STD
educational programs will
continue. As we move to the
future, we need your support
more than ever. We have
doubled our efforts to continue
these important programs.
YOUR SUPPORT
DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The work of Imani House Liberia
would not happen without our
Staff, Volunteers, Supporters and
Steering Committee’s sacrifices.
We would like to first thank our
dedicated staff many who joined
us during the war & Ross Miran-
ti, a NY’er who volunteered in
Liberia for 6 months. Ross filmed
and edited a promotional video
highlighting the important work of
IHI Liberia. In addition,
Mahmoud Ideraabdullah, co-founder of IHI, has spent the last 6
months working diligently to seek funding, build supporter relation-
ships, and assist local staff. A very special thanks goes to the IHI
Steering Committee who are instrumental in providing guidance in
the advancement and continuation of this work.
Moving Forward—Lost and Found
Thanks Shining Stars - Staff, Volunteers, & Interns
Did You Know? Liberia was food sustainable and one of Africa’s
most stable independent nations prior to 1979
The first President, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, was
an African American
Oprah Winfrey ‘s DNA test traced her roots back
to the Kpelle people of Liberia
Poverty is rated at 80% in Liberia. With most
living on less than a dollar a day
Life expectancy in Liberia is 56 years of age
Africa including Liberia is Earth’s Wealthiest Continent
Women from the Central Gospel Mission Church give donated
supplies for the IHI Clinic to Mrs. Coleman, RN, to express their
gratitude for health services provided to the community since 1990
AP
PR
ECIA
TION
17,000 Liberians Treated Every Year
The IHI Clinic - Improves Lives
Thanks to IHI’s hard working Liberian Staff, manage-ment, volunteers and the generosity of donors like YOU, we’ve expanded
our Maternal and Child Health Care & other pro-
grams.
Says Mrs. Rebecca Flor-a Literacy Student
and Mother of Six. She could not read or write
when she joined The IHI Adult Literacy Program.
Over 66% of Liberia’s Women Cannot Read!
Adults
Learn to
Read
Creating
Pride
Dignity
&
Future
GR
ATI
TUD
E!
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Families Save Their Own Lives at Imani House’s 1st Annual Walk-to-Live
More than 300 supporters rallied in Brook-lyn’s Prospect Park Sunday June 23rd for the Imani House Walk-to-Live. Overweight and obesity among children has tripled in the last three decades. While illnesses such heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes affect communities of color at a dispropor-tionate rate to the general population. IHI feels it is imperative to create more efforts to involve Brooklyn children, families and neighborhoods more actively in improving their own health.
The Walk received a written endorsement from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and, a Proclamation from Brook-lyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Volunteer nurses from Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center were on hand to take blood pressure and local station NY1 was on hand to cover the inaugural event and speak to participants. Support from Park Slope Volunteer Ambulance Corp., V-Spot, Wat-aah, Bay Harbor Fitness, Boing Boing and many more helps to make Walk to Live possible. The 2nd
Annual Imani House Walk-to-Live will be held on Sunday, June 22nd 2014. Contact us for information.
Starting Line Warm-Up
Xavier, a former IHI GED student now
gives back as a tutor at Adult Literacy Prog.
This year Imani House’s Sum-
mer Camp was held at Brook-
lyn’s P.S. 9. We give a very
special thanks to the Principal,
Ms. Sandra D’ Avila who
welcomed us when many
public school spaces were
either closed or full. The sum-
mer turned out great. The
Camp catered to over 120
children, providing bus out-
ings, City trips, art & crafts
and recreation including dance
karate, archery and more!
IHI Campers Have Fun in the Sun
Imani House - Extraordinary Youth Development
Brighter Tomorrows
IHI provides year-round youth services in Brooklyn to over 145 inner-city children during the school year, and 120 chil-dren in Camp Imani – a seven week, full day Summer Camp.
Enriching Childhood Activities at IHI
Steel Pan
Band’s Back
After 2 Yrs.
Thanks to
Donors!!
Playing
Chess
Improves
Math &
Problem
Solving
Skills
Partners Who Make a Difference – Thanks IHI programs received support from City funder DYCD for the afterschool and Camp. The NY State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) supports the Afterschool Performance Arts and the WOC Writers workshops and publications. State Farm contributed to our high school readiness program, while Con Ed. funded a portion of our STEM program. In addition, AJWS supported Liberia’s programs
and M&T Bank along with Astoria Bank supported NY programs And Individual donations were especially important.
IHI Students Discover STEM
The Imani House Science, Tech-
nology, Engineering, and Math
(STEM) program thanks Con Edison
for their support. This project
introduces children to a variety of
investigative sciences, & hands on
experiments in conservation, the
environment and alternative sources
of energy. The objective is to
encourage children to consider
careers in the fields of science. Dr.
Ideraabdullah, a visiting scientist
from the Univ. of NC taught children
how to extract DNA from green
peas.
Fencing
Develops
Reasoning,
Logic, Plan-
ning Skills and
Discipline
Martial Arts
Promotes Self
Confidence and
Respect
Dance Builds Physical
Fitness and Integrates a
Variety of Brain Functions
Dr. Ideraabdullah, Ph.D, Answers
Student’s DNA Questions
Archery Builds
Focus, Patience
and Visual Acuity
Fighting Sandy
IHI partnered with Books to
Kids to distribute over
850 books to youth
affected by Hurricane
Sandy in Long Beach and
parts of Brooklyn.
WOC Writers was created in 1999 to provide an avenue for women of color
who wish to enter the literary world. It recently joined Imani House as a project
that supports underserved women in the areas of writing, publishing, and liter-
ary events. Over 1,000 women have taken the workshop. The group is in the
process of publishing an anthology; Boundaries & Borders which includes the
work of women across the U.S. and 23 countries across the globe.
Women of Color Writers’ Workshop and Community
An Adult Literacy Success Story
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IMANI HOUSE, Inc.
76-A Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Telephone : (718) 638-2059 | (718) 638-2165 | Fax: (718) 789-1094
Website: www.imanihouse.org
IMANI HOUSE is a 501(C)(3) Tax Exempt Community Development Organization
Department of Youth & Com-
munity Development
New York State Council on the
Arts
Con Edison
State Farm
Astoria Bank
Global Giving
Baycrest Partners
Plenty International
BNY Mellon
Morgan Stanley
Youth, INC.
DBNA Barclays Center
Mr. & Mrs. Ideraabdullah
Proliteracy International
American Jewish World
Service Books to Kids
Individual Donors
The Imani House Mission & Vision
Our mission: “To assist marginalized youth, families and immi-
grants to create sustainable neighborhoods, where residents are
decision makers who take responsibility for the improvement of
their lives and surroundings.”
IMANI HOUSE believes that anyone can succeed if they are motivat-
ed and have access to appropriate skills, information and opportuni-
ties. For over 28 years IHI has been providing health, education and
support services to the grassroots communities of Brooklyn, NY and
Liberia, W. Africa
Each year, Imani House...
Serves over 5,000 individuals in the NYC Area
Serves over 17,000 women and children in Liberia
IMANI HOUSE PROGRAMS BROOKLYN N.Y.
PS/MS 282 Afterschool—Performing Arts, Athletics and Enrichment Programming
Full Time Summer Day Camp
Adult Education Program—Literacy, GED, ESOL
Employment Assistance & Information & Referrals
Women of Color Writers’ Workshops and Community
LIBERIA W. AFRICA
Maternal & Child Health Care Clinic
Market Women’s Education Initiative for Adult Literacy
Vocational Skills Training / Teen Peer Health Education Prog.
TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE visit
www.ImaniHouse.org
Or make Check to Imani House, Inc.
Remember, No Contribution is too Small!
All donations are acknowledged in writing and are 100% tax deductible
Executive Director Bisi Ideraabdullah
Executive Board of Directors Oma Holloway, Chair | Jacqueline Volant, Sec./ Treasurer
Mary Zigbou, Member | Koren Small, Member
Nicole Madison, Member
Advisory Board
Matthew Thumas | Eu Wen Khoo | Gail Mason Steven
Flax | Faith Barclay
Liberian Steering Committee
Arthur Tucker | Patricia Ananaba | Gloria Hage Shadrene
Howard | Mahmoud Ideraabdullah | Badiatu Dukuly
Brooklyn, NY
Liberia, West Africa
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THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS & FRIENDS!
Newsletter Design & Layout Sekou Ideraabdullah Wendolyn
Ebbert | Tina Khiani
Contributing Editors Sekou Ideraabdullah | Tina Khiani
Bisi Ideraabdullah | Nicole Madison | Wendolyn Ebbert