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Message from the Executive Director
Dear DAWNers,
Even though February is the shortest month of the year, DAWN has
packed it with tons of news updates and events for you to enjoy, from
our SEEDS Mentorship Program for our members to a Spring Membership
Drive set to begin in two weeks.
I am also extremely pleased to officially introduce our DAWN Executive
Committee, an amazing team of can-do sisters have been working behind
the scenes every week to bring you the latest DAWN announcements,
programs and special events. It is because of them and countless
other volunteers and supporters that DAWN has been a success.
Also, I encourage you to spread the word about DAWN's Spring Membership
Drive this March. We look forward to growing our DAWN family this year
with new DAWNers and supporters. For more information about DAWN and
the membership drive, check it out at http://www.dawners.org/join-dawn.html
Sincerely,
Semhar Araia
Executive Director and Founder of DAWN
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Meet the Executive Committee
Introducing the ladies behind DAWN
The key to DAWN's success is its members who dedicate their time and energy to the organization's growth. Together, DAWN's Executive Committee and its volunteers are the reason why we've grown and been as successful as we have. Come and meet the ladies behind DAWN!
Semhar Araia serves as the Horn of Africa Regional Advisor for Oxfam International and is the Founder and Executive Director of DAWN. For Semhar's full bio, click here.
Esraa Bani currently works at Population Action International (PAI) as their Advocacy Coordinator and Co-Chair of their Young People's Initiative. She currently serves as DAWN's Director of Srategic Planning & Projects. For Esraa's full bio, click here.
Martha Haile is the Director of Communications at The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa and DAWN's Director of Programs & Events. For Martha's full bio, click here.
Nkechi O. Mbanu is a Legislative Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary for Congressman Donald M. Payne, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and DAWN's Membership Program Officer. For Nkechi's full bio, click here.
Bridget Mburu serves as the Associate Lease Adiministrator for the Office of Real Estate at the George Washington University and the DAWN Mentorship Program Officer. For Bridget's full bio, click here
Eddine Mureke is an accountant at National Automatic Sprinkler Industry where she handles the Account Payables and also serves as DAWN's Director of Finance. For Eddine's full bio, click here. Tina Musoke is the Media Relations Manager at Africare, the oldest and largest African-American led development organization working exclusively in Africa and serves as DAWN's Marketing Newsletter Officer. For Tina's full bio, click here.
Karen Parker, a native Washingtonian with roots in Trinidad and Tobago, is DAWN's Director of Operations. Ms. Parker earned her BSc. in Microbiology and Masters' level work in Human Genetics from Howard University. For Karen's full bio, click here.
Sara Yonas is a freelance graphic designer based in San Francisco, California, currently serving as Director of Marketing at DAWN. For Sara's full bio, click here. |
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Time to Rise with DAWN!
The Spring 2010 Membership Drive is here!
"It's Time to Rise with DAWN... and Open the Door to a World of Opportunities"
This March 1-31, DAWN will hold its Spring 2010 Membership Drive, Each spring and fall, DAWN opens up its membership to dynamic women of the African Diaspora who have a proven commitment to the continent and her community. We are looking for charismatic women who can help carry out our mission of developing and supporting talented women and girls of the African Diaspora focused on African affairs.
We are asking you, current DAWNers, to spread the word among your networks of amazing women who have the potential to help us implement DAWN's mission. If you know of women who can fit the DAWN mold, please encourage them to apply in March. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Nkechi Mbanu, DAWN's Membership Officer, at membership@dawners.org |
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DAWN SEEDS Mentorship Program
DAWN's own Mentorship Program
 The SEEDS Mentorship Program will officially begin this month with our first class of DAWNistas, some of whom you have already met at our Annual Dinner and monthly dinners.
DAWNistas are young women who are either an African diaspora female immigrant, daughter of an African diaspora immigrant parent, or other woman of the African diaspora and approximately 19-24 years old. She should be enrolled in a college, university, or other higher education program, or a self-started entrepreneur, artist, or self-employed, with a proven commitment to African issues and/or advocating on behalf of African diaspora voices in the United States and a proven record of community service and leadership skills.
The DAWN SEEDS Mentorship Program will be managed by DAWN with activities focused on a trimester agenda to coincide with the DAWNista's academic and professional calendars. Specifically, the mentorship themes will be:
- Spring: Finding and Securing Summer and Fall Internships
- Summer: What to Do When You Are in Washington
- Fall/Winter: Resume Writing and the Incredible Job Search
DAWN is now matching DAWNers to DAWNistas for the mentorship program. Each selected DAWNer will meet their designated DAWNista mentee at the next monthly dinner on February 26, 2010. If you are a DAWNer interested in serving as a DAWNer mentor or would like to volunteer in other ways, please contact mentorship@dawners.org for more information. |
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DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign
Be featured on our campaign page!
The DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign is an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the developments and relief efforts in Haiti, finding ways you can help and providing you with opportunities and events to support Haiti's recovery.
DAWN wants to help you find the best way to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake. We have compiled a list of various humanitarian and relief organizations working hard on the ground in Haiti. It includes links to the latest updates and reports, resources for how to locate family and loved ones, and ways you can help, including reasons why donating money is the best thing you can do.
If you would like to help our campaign or have your organization listed on our page, please email us your organization name, website and a brief description of the earthquake relief work being provided for Haiti at info@dawners.org
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DAWNer of the Month
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya
Tafadzwa's diverse professional experiences in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas make her uniquely qualified to provide legal and policy advice related to international disputes, human rights, natural resources, health, and development strategies.
As a member of Foley Hoag's corporate social responsibility practice, Tafadzwa advises multinational corporations on strategic and cost-effective means of integrating human rights, labor and environmental standards into their management systems. She also helps facilitate effective collaboration between corporations, local communities, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, and provides guidance on the impact of U.S. government policies on international business practice.
Tafadzwa is also actively engaged in Foley Hoag's public international litigation practice. She is involved in advising sovereign States in disputes before international courts such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and arbitral tribunals, as well as in proceedings before U.S. courts. She also counsels developing countries seeking to more effectively engage with U.S. and international governmental institutions.
Prior to joining Foley Hoag, Tafadzwa worked with several non-profit organizations, governments and the United Nations on various matters, including the prosecution of alleged genocidaires in Rwanda; natural resources and conflict in Angola; caste discrimination in Nepal and India; U.S.-Africa policy; Roma and prisoner health in Romania; and post-conflict reconstruction in Sri Lanka. |
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February Events
FEBRUARY 26
FridayWhat: DAWN MONTHLY DINNER Time: 7:00PM EST About this event: This is an exclusive DAWN event. You must be a registered DAWNer to attend. If you would like to take part to this or other exclusive monthly events, click here.
FEBRUARY 26, 27
Friday, Saturday
What: 3rd Annual Howard University African Business Conference 2010 - Africa and the Global Economy: Moving from Crisis to Opportunity
Time: 12:00PM EST on Friday, 9:00PM EST on Saturday
About this event: The primary aim of the conference is to highlight business and career opportunities in African countries, as well as create a platform to showcase the positively thriving economic side of the African story to the global community.
For a listing of more events in the Washington, DC area, please visit DAWN's Calendar of Events at http://www.dawners.org/events.html
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DAWN's Monthly Inspiration
"When I was 14 or 15, I saw myself in a different way. Back then, I envied a life that I'd made up in my mind. I broke free of that unhappiness and I decided to change-I was going to be happy with myself. No matter what I look like, no matter what people think."
-Gabourey Sidibe, Actress
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