DAWN Updated Newsletter Header June 2010


Message from the Executive Director

semharJune has been such a busy month, full of landmark events related to Africa and the African diaspora.  In addition to having the first-ever World Cup in Africa, June 16 was International Day of the African Child and it's also Caribbean-American Heritage month.  Not to mention, this summer also marks the independence of 23 African countries.  Nearly half of the African continent, from Eritrea on May 24, 1993 to the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 30, 1960 and Senegal's on August 20, 1960, will be celebrating their liberation and statehood in style. 

As for DAWN, we are also embarking into a new phase and looking forward to our busy summer as well.  We've already hosted a DAWN White House tour, are holding our second DAWN MOMs event this week with Dr. Lauri Fitz-Pegado, and have eight new DAWN Executive Committee positions open for interested volunteers!  DAWN is also gearing up to take part in DC's First Annual Africa Festival in mid-July, an event you won't want to miss!  Lastly, I am so proud to announce that next month, DAWN will be hosting its 3rd Annual Reception & Dinner under the theme, "The Rise of DAWN", on July 30, 2010 in Washington, DC.  We are so thrilled to reach another anniversary and look forward to having our DAWN family get together for our annual celebration.

Sincerely,

Semhar Araia
Executive Director and Founder of DAWN


DAWN's 3rd Annual Reception & Dinner - The Rise of DAWN!

bannerIn honor of Pan-African Women's Day and DAWN's 3rd Birthday, we invite all DAWN members, DAWN MOMs and Friends of DAWN to join us for DAWN's 3rd Annual Reception & Dinner on Friday, July 30, 2010!

This year's dinner will be a chance to celebrate DAWN, our DAWN MOMs and YOU!  It will be an enjoyable, informative, and inspirational event you won't want to miss! 

Early Bird tickets go on sale today! Get your tickets at www.dawners.org and make it a night to remember!


DAWN SEEDS Opportunities - Join the Executive Committee!

seedsDAWN is expanding and we have eight new Executive Committee positions! If you've been looking for a worthwhile volunteer project to get involved in then here's your chance!

As an EC Member, you will work with a team of eight other dynamic women responsible for DAWN's operations and daily activities, almost entirely over email and phone.  We need volunteers who can help us with a broad range of tasks, from a Membership Program Officer to a Social Media Officer.  

The full list of positions are below and can be found on our website. If you are interested in applying, please email semhar@dawners.org no later than July 15, 2010. 


DAWNer of the Month
Shirlene Brown

Shirlene Brown Growing up in Kenya, Shirlene witnessed first-hand what made her beloved Kenya and Africa so unique.  Its complexity.  They are a motley mix of the fast and slow, the traditional and modern, the local and global.  Steeped in that same eclectivity, Shirlene also wears many hats.  As a "Jill" of many trades, she is a Dental Assistant, Web Editor, Entrepreneur and Writer.  No matter what hat she fashions, she remains dedicated to service.  A fervent believer in the power of women making a difference, Shirlene has worked to enrich the lives of others, particularly those in Africa and its Diaspora.  She has tutored Washington DC youth, mentored young women, conducted seminars on dental hygiene in schools and churches and helped small businesses find cost-effective marketing solutions through her company BrownInk Media.
 
An avid writer, she once said her "words speak her soul."  In her spare time, she writes for the Washington Examiner, Associated Content and Global Women Magazine on topics ranging from domestic violence to democracy in Africa.  She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Jamati Online, an online portal that highlights the achievements of Africans in entertainment.  As if she is not busy enough, Shirlene has also created Kenyan Jewels, a forum that celebrates the positive contributions of Kenyans in the Diaspora and empowers younger Kenyans to blaze their own path.
 
Congratulations Shirlene! We are proud to have you as a DAWNer!!!


African News

Senegalese President Offers Visa Free Travel Status to Members of the African Diaspora
At the conclusion of an official visit to the Republic of Ghana by invitation of Ghana's Head of State John Atta Mills, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade announced his intention to introduce legislation allowing members of the global African Diaspora community to visit Senegal without need of a visa.  Read More

Africa Day Focuses on Peace and Security
The commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union told VOA peace on the continent is a prerequisite for development and vice versa. As such, Ramtane Lamamra said Africa should emphasize the prevention of conflicts.   Read More


Upcoming Events
 
JUNE 24
What: DAWNista Social Hour, Dahlak Restaurant, 1771 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 (Between Florida Ave & 17th St)
Time: 7:00PM EST
About this event: A get together of DAWNistas to have fun, get to know each other, and make connections!

JUNE 25
What: Meet Our Mentors Series featuring DAWN Mentor Lauri Fitz-Pegado
Time: 7:00PM EST
About this event: DAWNers will welcome our special guest and mentor, Dr. Lauri Fitz Pegado. 

E.BaniDr. Lauri Fitz-Pegado is a partner at The Livingston Group, LLC,which provides public affairs, government relations and strategic communications counsel to governments, corporations, educational institutions and non-profit organizations. She contributes to the development of new business strategies, proposals and presentations for TLG and is the Director of the International Relations/Business Development Practice Group.

Appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate in 1994, she served under the late Secretary Ronald H. Brown, Secretaries Mickey Kantor and William Daley, she served as Assistant Secretary and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. At the Department of Commerce she promoted U.S. exports and assisted U.S. companies expand market share and compete for contracts around the world, managing 130 export promotion offices overseas, 90 offices in the United States and organizing and leading scores of trade and investment missions to countries throughout the world.  In 1997 she joined Iridium LLC, the world's first global satellite and paging company, where she was Vice President for Global Gateway Management and Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications. A former Foreign Service officer who served in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, Ms. Fitz-Pegado also provided domestic and international clients strategic communications counsel, public and government relations services at Gray and Company and Hill and Knowlton.

Fitz-Pegado served on the Obama for President campaign's foreign policy experts teams for Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa. She was Director for Public Liaison of the first Clinton-Gore Inaugural and advisor on international issues to Democratic Committee Chairman Ronald H. Brown.  Ms. Fitz-Pegado is Board Chair of the National Education Association Foundation. She is on the board of CHF International, the advisory board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, and is a senior advisor and mentor to professionals in the University of Denver's International Career Advancement Program (ICAP). She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Washington Government Relations Group. Ms. Fitz-Pegado is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College and has a Master of Arts degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Economics and Latin American Studies. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese.


N.B. These are exclusive DAWN events. You must be a registered DAWNer or DAWNIista to attend. If you would like to take part to this or other exclusive monthly events,click here.

For a listing of events in the Washington, DC area, please visit DAWN's Calendar of Events at http://www.dawners.org/events.html
DAWN's Monthly Inspiration

"We've had the dream of seeing our nations free and giving opportunities to every single citizen.."

-Graca Machel, freedom fighter and subsequent First Lady of Mozambique, international advocate and wife of Nelson Mandela
In This Issue
DAWN's 3rd Annual Reception & Dinner
Join the Executive Committee!
DAWNer of the Month: Shirlene Brown
African News
Upcoming Events
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List!
Our Mission
The Diaspora African Women's Network is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and support talented women and girls of the African diaspora focused on African affairs.


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