AALV: The Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Inc.

The AALV’s Naweza Muderhwa (she does smile most of the time!) showed courage yesterday when she spoke amongst a panel of Vermonters about racial profiling in the Green Mountain state.  Her tesitmony was noted by the Burlington Free Press today.  Naweza and others speaking at the State House called for investment in programs that will train police officers in the dangers of profiling and how to improve communication between police officers and minority communities.  Write to your state legislators and the governor if you believe Vermont should be investing more in these important trainings! (Photo courtesy the Burlington Free Press.)

Hello, New Farms for New Americans friends! Project crops are now being sold at the Old North End farmers’ market on Tuesday afternoons, at the Fletcher Allen Hospital farmers’ market on Thursday afternoons, and the Winooski farmers’ market also on Thursday afternoons. Our crops are organically and locally grown, on Burlington’s Intervale. It’s good to know where your food is coming from, and it’s good to know the good people who grow that food, like Fatuma Ali of Burlington at the Old North End farmers’ market earlier today!

New Farms for New Americans participants have found success farming their three acres of land at Burlington’s Ethan Allen Homestead.  The first crops are nearly ready for harvest: radishes, lettuce, chard, scallions, and various African greens.  Look for our farmers at the Old North End, Winooski, and Fletcher Allen farmers’ markets starting next week!

Huge thanks to lovely Lauren Weiss from Project Porchlight for popping by Radio Africa studios this past weekend for a conversation with DJ Thato Ratsebe.  Lauren explained to listeners the importance of transitioning away from those old energy-sucking incandescent blubs and replacing them with long-lasting CFLs.  CFLs last five times longer and use 75 percent less energy than the incandescents.  That translates into big savings for households that use the bulbs.

AALV Outreach Workers will be out in the community delivering these bulbs during the next couple of weeks.  To learn more about Project Porchlight or get involved, visit their website now.  Or you can check out these translated one-sheets: somali swahili

Kim Ianelli from CVOEO’s Fair Housing Project stopped by the Radio Africa studio on June 8th to inform our community about their rights when renting or purchasing a home.  No one deserves to be discriminated against when they try to secure one of their most basic needs - shelter.  You’re protected from discrimination based on your race, nationality, religion, and receipt of public assistance, among many other protected statuses.  You can learn more by listening to the Radio Africa interview or by reviewing these quick fact flyers: kirundi, swahili, somali, and english1.

We’ve talked about farmer friend Arthur Meade in earlier posts.  But today we’re pleased to announce that his service to the African community is featured in this week’s Seven Days.  Arthur’s halal custom slaughterhouse fills a void in many area Africans’ customary diets.  Members of our community can travel to Arthur’s farm in Morrisville to prepare their own fresh meet for their friends and families - in a culturally and religiously appropriate manner.  Arthur accepts food stamps and is available on a moment’s notice.  We can’t thank Arthur Meade enough!

Seed and start planting is almost complete, and the Burlington Free Press was there to capture progress in action.  Read the story now, and learn about the ambition and goals of these African women.

AALV farmer friend Arthur Mead of Winding Brook Farm was featured this morning on Vermont Public Radio news. Arthur is a great guy who has been helping members of our community access and slaughter meat in accordance with religious and cultural practices. Arthur has gone out of his way to acquire goats and lambs that the African community requests, and he takes food stamps. Thanks, Art, for being such a fantastic partner! Listen to the interview here.

Congratulations, Ahmed Museh, for your graduation from the AALV’s welding project!  Ahmed is the first project graduate, and he shows particular promise.  Ahmed is currently receiving assistance from AALV and the AWI to find work which will utilize his stick welding skills.  To learn more about the project, contact AALV Program Specialist Naweza Muderhwa.

This Friday at 6 p.m., the AALV’s Nasiha Lay Health Educator Project will hold a women’s dinner at the Winooski Community Center.  All African women are welcome to attend.  The purpose of the dinner is to explain some basic information about breast cancer, answer some frequently asked questions, and sign up women for clinical breast exams in June at the Community Health Center of Burlington.  Help your sisters and attend!