New York (TADIAS) — This is an audio of our interview with San Jose, California Mayoral Candidate Sam Liccardo. The primary mayoral election for the city of San Jose, California is set for this coming Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014. Recent polls show that Councilman Liccardo is one of the top two candidates (out of five) likely to make the cut for a runoff election next Fall to replace the outgoing current Mayor Chuck Reed . According to San Jose Mercury News “with no candidate expected to win majority support in the primary, the top two vote-getters would compete in the November election to replace [the] termed-out Mayor.”
Tadias Audio Interview With San Jose Mayoral Candidate Councilman Sam Liccardo
San Jose, California (TADIAS) — It’s pleasantly surprising to see that San Jose, California Mayoral Candidate Sam Liccardo has released an Amharic version of his campaign literature entitled “Meet Sam Liccardo” (Sam Liccardoen Yitewawequ) targeting the city’s vibrant Ethiopian community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey California is one of eight states where Amharic tops the list as the most commonly spoken African language. Mr. Liccardo has already received the backing of the Ethiopian American Council (EAC) which is headquartered in the city.
The document, that is also translated into Spanish and Vietnamese, highlights the candidate’s biography as well as his position on various issues pertinent to the residents of San Jose — ranging from public safety to the economy, making government more responsible and responsive, better transportation, smart environmental policies, and building partnerships to improve schools.
The English translation posted on Liccardo’s campaign website notes that “He represents San José’s Third District on the San José City Council, one of the most diverse communities in our city. Prior to winning election to City Council, Sam served in the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor of sexual assault and child exploitation crimes and as a federal prosecutor. Sam’s work in the community includes teaching government and political science at San José State University, co-founding an innovative program to mentor children, serving on the boards of several affordable housing organizations, and advocating for a successful countywide transit ballot measure in 2000 that is helping to bring BART [Bay Area Rapid Transit] to San José.”
The biography states: “Sam and his wife, Jessica García-Kohl, live in downtown’s Northside, which boasts San José’s oldest neighborhood association and the city’s most diverse group of residents. Sam and Jessica live not far from where Sam’s grandfather founded and ran a neighborhood grocery store, which was a center of life and assistance for generations of long-time residents and new arrivals to San José. After graduating from Bellarmine College Prep in San José, Sam attended Georgetown University. Sam graduated magna cum laude in 1991, and two years later, he enrolled at Harvard Law School and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. After graduating with a law degree and a master’s degree in public policy, Sam returned to the Bay Area in 1996.”
The primary election is set for June 3rd, 2014. Stay tuned for our interview with Sam Liccardo.
New York (TADIAS) — If everything goes as planned the husband and wife team of Tebabu Assefa and Sara Mussie, co-founders of Blessed Coffee established three years ago in Silver Spring, Maryland under the state’s Benefit Corporation law, may soon open a new cottage cafe that offers not only premium Ethiopian coffee roasted on site, but also a community space where you can hold meetings, cooking classes, book reading clubs and other activities.
At a dinner last month celebrating the venture’s third anniversary at Addis Ababa restaurant in Silver Spring the couple announced their plans to expand the venture unveiling their “Brewing Change” crowdsourcing campaign for funds to build a prototype facility in Maryland that they hope to duplicate across the country. The gathering was attended by a diverse group of elected officials, business leaders, social entrepreneurs and activists — among them state Senator Jamie B. Raskin who authored Maryland’s Benefit Corporation law.
In an interview with Tadias Magazine Tebabu said that for the past three years they have been introducing their Blessed Coffee brand at coffee shops, farmers markets and festivals around Maryland. “We are now moving to the second phase, from wholesale to opening our own retail shop,” Tebabu added. The “Brewing Change” campaign was conceived in his living room by a group of 16 volunteers from various professions and cultural backgrounds that had met at his home every other week for nearly six months. “They are made up of men, women, young, old, Latinos, Black, White, you name it,” he said. “They are business experts, freelance writers, IT professionals, and community organizers.”
The driving factor behind the operation is neither charity nor profits exclusively, but a combination of both. As Tebabu puts it: “to create wealth while making a difference on both sides of the Atlantic.” He pointed out that coffee is the second most traded commodity next to oil, and that the market share is large enough to go around.
“We call our business model a ‘Virtues Exchange,’ he explained. The idea is to go beyond foreign aid and fair-trade through public-private partnerships that create jobs in America while empowering coffee farmers in Ethiopia as stakeholders in the transaction. In the process, he said, they also aim to educate the U.S market about the Ethiopian traditions of consuming coffee.
“My wife Sara reminded the gathering at Addis Ababa restaurant that in Ethiopia we drink coffee with a social purpose, in a relaxed fashion, with neighbors, friends and family to catch up with the latest news, gossip, and other happenings,” Tebabu told Tadias. “Here in America, on the other hand, people grab a cup to run.”
Tebabu said they plan to present their “grassroots social change model” at a local symposium in Silver Spring tentatively scheduled for January 2014 called “The African Diaspora Business Community Conference,” that they will host. “We are assembling local organizational partners that reflect the shifting paradigm in the Diaspora especially among the young generation,” he said. “We have already enlisted, for example, the dynamic organization, Young Ethiopian Professionals (YEP) and Qmem, a new business started by two Ethiopian American youth who were inspired by their trip to Ethiopia to do the same thing with spices as what we are trying to do with coffee.”
For now Blessed Coffee is enjoying invitations from Ethiopian and other organizations to present their coffee and ceremony at various cultural and religious events. Their latest was in New York when they were invited by the Ethiopian Israeli group Chassida Shmella to take part at last week’s Sigd service at Bnai Jeshurun Synagogue in Manhattan.
“It was magical,” said Tebabu of the ceremony marking the ancient Ethiopian Jewish festival (now a national holiday in Israel). “I was struck by how similar it was to Sigdet in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.”
Below is a video narrated by co-founder Sara Mussie explaining their mission.
Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) – Over 700 people packed the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. last Monday (September 30th) to participate in the Mayor’s 2013 Annual DC African Heritage Cerebration. The colorful stage event, hosted by the Office on African Affairs in partnership with the DC Commission on Arts & Humanities, included the worldwide observance of the 50th anniversary of the OAU as well as an awards ceremony highlighting the unique contributions of members of the vibrant African community to DC’s economic and social life.
Among the individuals recognized by Mayor Vincent C. Gray included Angelle Kwemo in Public Service, Tereguebode Goungou in Community Organizing, Tamrat Medhin in Panafrican Bridge Building, Anthony Chuukwu in Institution Building, and Henok Tesfaye in Business.
“On the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity we take this opportunity to recognize that the Washington Metro area is now home to over 150,000 African immigrants and over 10% are right here in the Nation’s Capital,” Mayor Gray said. “I know that our African community is extremely diverse, both linguistically and culturally, so it is wonderful to see all of them come together today to represent, share and showcase their cultures and contributions to the larger District community.”
The entertainment segment of the event, which kicked off with an exhilarating performance by the West African Dance Ensemble Balafone, also included a surprise closing appearance by the Ethiopian rock group Jano Band before they headed back to Ethiopia.
In her remarks at the celebration Ngozi Nmezi, the Director of the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs, described the celebration as “one of the District’s most anticipated African cultural events drawing thousands of attendees and unifying diverse communities in DC through African art, culture, history, and music while showcasing the burgeoning contributions that Africans make to the vitality of the city.”
Below are photos from the event courtesy Matt Andrea.
New York (TADIAS) – As Ethiopian Americans prepare to cast their ballots in the 2012 presidential election on Tuesday, regardless of the choice of candidate, we urge our readers who have not voted early to vote on November 6th and to exercise their citizenship right to participate in the democratic process.
Four years ago when we backed Barack Obama for President, we were motivated not only by the historic nature of the 2008 election, but also by the enthusiastic, grassroots activism that his candidacy had generated in our community. Although we cannot agree with every decision that the Obama administration has made in the last four years, both domestic and foreign, there can be no doubt that the Ethiopian Diaspora’s contribution to the American tapestry has received more national attention in the same period than at any previous time in history, both through appointments to key administration positions as well as honoring innovators and high achieving professionals.
President Obama could do better to articulate and encourage the culture of free press, government transparency and accountability in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa. However, it is ultimately our responsibility as citizens to make our voices heard. Regardless of who wins this election, we hope that political activists in our community tone down the non-constructive criticism that prevents all of us from responsibly engaging in the democratic system.
Broadly speaking President Obama’s accomplishments have been impressive, including the passage of the most sweeping health care reforms since 1965, preventing another “Great Depression” and saving the American automobile industry from demise. The economy that was on a doomsday downward spiral when he took office in 2009 has rebounded to a positive territory with the latest jobs report showing “persistent economic growth.”
Most importantly we believe President Obama has remained true to the spirit of his historic 2008 campaign to be a leader of the people, by the people for the people. It goes without saying that President Obama has earned our vote. We urge Ethiopian Americans to support his re-election!
—- Video: Watch President Obama makes his Case in Ohio
Washington, D.C (TADIAS) – A crowd of Ethiopians gathered in front of the Embassy of Lebanon here on Thursday morning for an hour vigil to mourn and protest the death of 33-year old Alem Dechassa, the Ethiopian woman that was violently mistreated outside the Ethiopian embassy in Beirut as shown in a viral video last weekend. Alem died on Wednesday.
“I admire her resilience in resisting her abusers,” said Ephrem Amsalu, who drove with his friends from northern Virginia. “She is a true hero who put a spotlight on this enormous crisis.” He added: “I am here to show my deepest gratitude to her heroism and to express my concern about her sudden death a few days after the attack.”
Ms. Meseret Hassen of Silver Spring, Maryland also attended the event. “I am confident the Lebanese government will do the right thing,” she said. “I hope this uproar will continue until we come up with solid solution and I would also hope that the Ethiopian government would strengthen its relationship with its citizens abroad, particularly domestic workers in Arab countries.”
Ato Teklemichael Abebe spoke on behalf of the crowd. “Thank you for giving us this opportunity to listen to our issues,” he said. Addressing Lebanese Embassy staff he added: “We would like to thank you for primarily arresting the man who is behind this. However the Daily Star just announced that the man who is responsible for this action has been released. We would like you to explain to us the details surrounding the news.”
“We strongly condemn the tragedy that has happened to your fellow citizen Ms. Alem Dechassa,” Mr. Toni Frangie, Lebanese Embassy’s first secretary told the crowd. “What happened is unacceptable by all human rights standards and we can assure you that the Lebanese government is fully and strongly committed to take all the necessary steps and measures to hold accountable the offenders and to prevent any kind of human rights abuse.” He added: “I will convey your demands and your concerns to our government.”
Below is a slideshow from the vigil for Alem Dechassa in Washington D.C. on March 15, 2012.
New York (TADIAS) – The Annual Fundraising Gala benefitting the Gemini Health Care Group, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that focuses on providing medical services to children and pediatrics assistance to medical professionals in Ethiopia, is scheduled to take place in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday, September 24, 2011.
The theme for this year’s event is “Bridging the Health Care Gap through Partnerships,” and the keynote speaker is Dr. Aziza Shad, the Amey Distinguished Professor of Neuro-Oncology and Childhood Cancer as well as Director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Georgetown University School of Medicine. The entertainnemnt segment of the evening features singer Hiruth Girma, accompanied by Alemayhu Makonnen and his band.
“We are also delighted to honor outstanding individuals who have made tremendous contributions in the areas of education, research, public health and community service nationally and internationally,” the statment said.
The honorees include Dr. Aklilu Lemma (posthumously), who was the former Dean of the Faculty of Science and Director of the Institute of Pathobiology at Addis Ababa University. His pioneering research produced a cheap and locally available intervention that helped combat a parasitic disease called Schistosomiasis or Bilharzia. Other awardees include Dr. Ahmed Moen, Dr. Tsehaye Teferra and Ms. Mary Cohen.
The press release notes: “In March 2011, we took a medical mission trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia consisting of medical and surgical teams. Sub-specialists in pediatric ENT, urology, ophthalmology, audiology, neurology, pulmonology, endocrinology, dermatology and emergency medicine performed services at three local hospitals as well as at Mekanisa School for the Deaf. The medical team also conducted a two day Continuing Medical Education (CME) attended by nearly 120 pediatricians and pediatric residents and medical staff. While we take a moment to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments, as well as thank our supporters, our medical mission to Ethiopia continues.”
—- If You Go:
4th Annual Fundraising Gala
Gemini Health Care Group
Saturday, September 24, 2011
7pm – Midnight
The Sheraton National Hotel
900 S. Orme Street,
Arlington, VA 22204
To RSVP call 914-826-6421
More info at www.ghcg.org
New York (TADIAS) – As Ethiopians worldwide prepare to usher in a New Year, early celebartions have begun in California. L.A.’s Little Ethiopia held its 10th street festival this past weekend, while San Jose is gearing up for the 7th Annual City Hall flag raising ceremony.
According to the San Jose event organizers, the flag raising scheduled for Thursday, September 8th at noon is the first in a series of programs designed to celebrate Enqutatash. It will be held a few days before the official date on September 11, which this year also marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. “The San Jose City Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and City Council Members will be in attendance,” announced the Ethiopian Americans Council — a grassroots policy advocacy organization that is the main host of the ceremony. “The EAC especially wants to thank the citizens of San Jose for their recognition of the diversity that has made this country so great and offering the Ethiopian-American community a time and a place to come together and take pride in their heritage.”
The press release adds: “The flag raising will mark the beginning of a week-long celebration of the Ethiopian New Year. As with any immigrant population in this nation of immigrants, Ethiopian-Americans cherish living in the United States of America. Though they are thankful for the peace and prosperity that comes with citizenship in America, they also cherish the remembrance of their lives in Ethiopia, of their families and friends, and of the way of life, that are all so far away.”
——– If You Go:
New City Hall
Thursday, September 8,
at 12:00 noon.
San Jose, California
New York (Tadias) – Buzunesh Deba of New York City ran the 11th-fastest marathon in the world this year in scorching the course on Sunday at the Dodge Rock n’ Roll San Diego Marathon.
Deba, an Ethiopian, won the event by nearly two minutes after completing the first-half of the course alongside fellow countrywoman Misikir Mekkonin. She finished the race in 2:23:31, while Mekkonin, who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was runner-up in a personal best time of 2:25:21.
Deba’s performance on Sunday was described by elite runners coordinator Matthew Turnbull as “one that will make people stand up and take notice.”
It also raises the question: are Ethiopian runners in the United States closing the competitive gap with their compatriots from home?
During the course of the running season in the United States and Canada, major events often come down to a contest between Ethiopians who reside in America and Ethiopians who live in Ethiopia — with many of the runners who travel direct from Addis Ababa being members of the Ethiopian National Athletics Team.
Add in highly competitive Kenyan runners, both those who train in North America and others who travel direct from Kenya, and North America-based Ethiopian runners face a daunting challenge at every competition.
In an attempt to level the field, U.S. based Ethiopian runners are abandoning New York City and Washington, D.C., and seeking high-altitude training grounds of their own
Alemtsehay Misganaw, one of the most consistent athletes on the North America running circuit the past five years, escapes winters by going home to Ethiopia and training at high-altitude from early December to late March — essentially experiencing a second summer each year.
In this seasonal migration she is not alone among runners in the United States. There is a cadre of Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans who have found athletic success in America. Serkalem Abra, Genna Tufa and Atalalech Ketema – all seasoned veterans on the North American circuit, also spent last winter at various training sites in and around Addis Ababa, returning to the United States just in time for the spring start of the running season.
With a foot in both countries, either as permanent U.S. residents or traveling with multi-year athletic visa, the runners’ winter mission is to gain enough benefit from Ethiopian altitude-training to be competitive from April to November in races in North America.
Deba, Mekkonin, and other runners who do not spend winter in Ethiopia are training at mountainous locales in this country so they, too, can travel direct from altitude to competitions.
Alemtsehay Misganaw, center, and Mikael Tesfaye, to her left, with
Ethiopian National Athletics Team member Abraham Yilma, right, at
the Jan Meda training course in Addis Ababa. (Photo by Jason Jett).
Belainish Gebre, who won the 2010 Honolulu Marathon, has trained the past three years in Flagstaff, Arizona. Aziza Aliyu, winner of the 2011 ING Miami Marathon, trained last winter in Albuquerque.
Successes speak well for Diaspora athletes, but can they actually catch up to runners who both live and train in Ethiopia?
Misganaw, who won the Virginia Beach Yeungling Shamrock 8K in March and April’s Kentucky Derby Festival Mini-Marathon, said she still has a good base from winter altitude-training and only wishes she could import her coach from Ethiopia.
Mikael Tesfaye has coached Misganaw the past two winters in the absence of her coach-brother Sofonias Ajanew, who in 2009 relocated from Addis Ababa to Luanda to train the Angolan Olympic Team’s track squad.
Tesfaye, a protégé of Ajanew, is an elite runner in his own right, having finished 10th in the 2007 Lebanon Marathon and served as a pacemaker in finishing the 2009 Poznan (Poland) Marathon. Misganaw said her chief benefit from Tesfaye’s coaching comes when pacing through rugged training sessions at sea level in New York City’s Central Park.
Misganaw trained six weeks in the summer of 2009 with Gebre in Flagstaff, and after returning to New York City decided expert coaching and a quality pacemaker can help offset a lack of year-round altitude training.
Retta Feyissa, the coach and manager of Aliyu, said training in Arizona or New Mexico is an option but there is nothing comparable to the rigorous workouts to be had in Ethiopia.
He said, “Many of the Ethiopian runners living in the USA cannot afford to go back and forth to Ethiopia to train for specific races. Training in New Mexico is advantageous, but it is not like training in Ethiopia where you can eat organically and readily find training partners.”
Bill Staab, president of West Side Runners’ Club, which sponsors and advises a large number of international runners based in New York and Washington, said “ideally an Ethiopian runner in the U.S. might live in, say, New York City, go to Albuquerque in the winter and then once a year travel to Ethiopia for two months of intense training for a specific event such as the ING New York City Marathon.”
However, Deriba Merga and Dire Tune, both dominant Ethiopian distance runners, do not see the gap between runners based here and there being closed in World Major races such as the Boston Marathon or the ING New York City Marathon.
“In Ethiopia the conditions are better, the altitude is greater,” Merga, winner of the 2009 Boston Marathon, said after winning the Ottawa 10K last week. Tune, speaking in Amharic, agreed.
“Also, the coaching is better,” added Merga. “Here, one runner has this coach and another has that coach. Runners have their own coach.”
“In Ethiopia we all have the same coach, we are a team,” he said, pointing around a lunch table to 2008 Boston Marathon winner Tune and 2004 Olympian Ejegayehu Dibaba.
“And the culture is different in Ethiopia,” Merga added. “There is more discipline, and a focus on training.”
Asked if such discipline and focus means day-after-day cycles of only running, eating and sleeping, Merga said there is free time in the runners’ schedules.
“I have a car, and I take my girlfriend out to the movies or to a restaurant,” he said. “We like to have a good time.”
Dibaba smiled, and then put her hand over her mouth and the discussion came to an end. Speaking in Amharic, Dibaba said she has free time but “that part of my life is private.”
—
Video: Post-race interview with Buzunesh Deba at the 2011 Dodge San Diego Marathon
About the Author: Jason Jett is a New York based freelance journalist.
Cover Image: The photograph shows the first two women to come through Petco Park during the 2011 San Diego Rock-n-Roll marathon. The location is past near the 5 mile marker. The runner in front is Buzunesh Deba, the eventual winner of the marathon. She finished the race in 2:23:31, the fastest time ever run by a woman in California. (Photo by Justin Brown).
—
New York (Tadias) – We recently took a quick trip to Washington’s U Street neighborhood nicknamed ‘Little Ethiopia.’ Andrew Laurence, a long time resident of D.C. – whom CNN recently called the “unofficial historian” of the block – shared with us some interesting insights.
Here is Tadias TV’s brief tour led by Andrew Laurence.
Video: Tadias TV Explores Washington’s Ethiopian Neighborhood
San Jose, CA (Tadias) – The recently concluded Ethiopian Soccer Tournament in San Jose, California was attended by thousands of Ethiopian-Americans and their families.
The annual event, designed to promote goodwill among the various Ethiopian communities in the United States and Canada, is organized by the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA), a non-profit organization founded in 1984 to help popularize amateur soccer while celebrating commonly shared traditions.
The week-long gathering, which this year celebrated its 27th anniversary, goes far beyond sports entertainment, allowing families and friends to come together in celebration of their cultural heritage. The festival week is a popular time for networking, alumni gatherings, small business catering, music performances, and reunion parties.
The colorful 2010 tournament at Spartan Stadium showcased 27 teams – along with food vendors, artists, artisans and entrepreneurs, offering items ranging from injera to T-shirts and everything in between.
ESFNA has yet to announce the host city for next year’s tournament. Meanwhile, here are few photos from San Jose.
Above:Professor Ayele Bekerie and his former students, Yeshi
Abebe and Tsehai Abebe, attend an event on the South Lawn
of the White House on June 29, 2010. —— (Courtesy Photo)
Tadias Magazine
Events News
Updated: Friday, July 2, 2010
New York (Tadias) – Tadias recently received a wonderful note from Professor Ayele Bekerie at Cornell University. Two of his former students had sent him an invitation to attend an event on the South Lawn of the White House honoring appointees who had been involved in the Obama Presidential campaign and now had government jobs.
Below are Professor Bekerie’s synopsis and photos:
In 1999 nine students of Ethiopian background graduated from Cornell University. The majority of them took one or more courses with me while they were undergraduate students. Among these graduates were Yeshimebet Abebe and Tsehai Abebe, who are sisters. Yeshi, Tsehai and their third sister Saba work for the Federal Government. They were actively involved in the campaign to elect President Obama in Iowa where they were born.
On June 29, 2010, the White House invited political appointees (those who work for the Government as a result of Obama’s Presidency) to a summer event on the South Lawn of the White House. The appointees played a critical role in the election of President Obama. Each appointee was also allowed to invite a person of their choice. Yeshi chose me to attend the event. Her act is an expression of a great tradition in which she and her sisters wanted to acknowledge my service to them as a professor as an advisor.
The summer event on the South Lawn was attended by thousands of appointees and their guests. After passing through elaborate security clearance, we arrived at The Lawn, which is vast, memory-laden and beautiful; it was filled up with guests who sat around picnic tables, on the grass, or simply walked around. At service tents, guests can got soft drinks, ice cream, and ice cold water – It was the most sought after drink in the hot and humid Washington summer afternoon. A great live band played a variety of selections drawn from great American music traditions throughout the event.
President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama joined their guests a little after 5:30 pm. The President spoke briefly and his main message was a message of gratitude. The appointees critical role in his election is publicly acknowledge and appreciated. He also cited some of his administration’s accomplishments in the last eighteen months, such as the largest public projects to improve roads and bridges, free health insurance to all needy children, health insurance that will allow over 30 million Americans to have insurance coverage, financial regulation and new approach to foreign policy.
The President and the First Lady interacted with the guests, shook hands and engaged them in conversation. My cherished moments, of course, was when I shook hands with both President Obama and the First Lady. I also got a chance to take pictures. The Summer Event on the South Lawn ended at 7 pm. The sisters treated me to a dinner before I returned to Ithaca.
Above:Team Abay has been described “Built New York Tough”
The group is one of 27 teams taking part at 27th annual Ethio
Soccer Tournament in San Jose, California. (Photo: TsehaiNY)
Tadias Magazine
Events News
Updated: Monday, June 28, 2010
New York (Tadias) – Ethiopians from across the U.S. are gathering in the Bay Area this week for the 2010 Soccer tournament – an event which also doubles as an annual cultural festival for the community.
The California festivities, which opened at San Jose State University’s Spartan Stadium on Sunday, features over 27 teams from various cities in the U.S. and Canada.
The annual gathering – which this year celebrates its 27th anniversary – goes far beyond sports entertainment, allowing families and friends in North America’s Ethiopian immigrant community to come together in celebration of both sports and their cultural heritage. The tournament week is a popular time for networking, alumni gatherings, small business catering, music performances, and reunion parties.
Stay tuned for our usual “Hot Shots” and other events coverage from San Jose.
—
Above: MIT graduates Bef Ayenew (left) and Ephraim Tekle,
have launched a new Iphone application for the 2010 Ethio
Soccer Tournament — scheduled from June 27 to July 3rd.
Tadias Magazine
By Liben Eabisa
Published: Monday, June 21, 2010
New York (Tadias) – The 2010 Ethiopian Soccer Tournament is scheduled to be held in San Jose, California later this month, and two young, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have launched a new I-phone application aptly named ArifQuas to provide soccer enthusiasts with real-time scores and events information. The app includes info such has hotels for stay, parties and other cultural festivals during the tournament. It also features GPS technology, offers listings of most Bay Area Ethiopian restaurants, and is integrated with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. ArifQuas users can receive real-time info on weather and traffic updates, as well as listings of local attractions including California’s scenic beaches and Napa Valley’s historical wine country.
The following is our recent interview with Bef Ayenew and Ephraim Tekle, developers of the ArifQuas mobile app. Both are graduates of MIT and founders of the company ArifSoft.
Tadias: Could you tell us a bit about your company ArifSoft? What do you guys do?
ArifSoft is a software company that specializes in Ethiopian mobile apps. We’re seeing a clear trend that has more and more desktop apps getting ported to mobile platforms, and ArifSoft is our joint effort to continue that trend within our community. ArifSoft has been around unofficially since last year, but it was formally introduced as the entity behind ArifQuas and ArifZefen only recently.
Tadias: You have a cool name. How do you define “Arif”?
Arif is actually a name that was lifted from our first joint project, ArifZefen. AddisZefen was already taken so we figured we would simply call ours ArifZefen. Since then, we’ve gone into an Arif frenzy and started naming everything after Arif. Our definition of Arif covers anything that can capture your imagination and generate excitement. Arif is Amharic slang for cool and our goal is to build cool apps that will add value while providing people with a superior user experience.
Tadias: Tell us about ArifQuas, your new Iphone application for the 2010 Ethiopian Soccer Tournament in California. How does it work?
ArifQuas is an event app for the upcoming soccer tournament in San Jose. We’ve been at the tournament in the past and we are all too familiar with how chaotic things can be, especially for the out-of-towners. ArifQuas is designed to help people manage the chaos a little better and try to get the most they can out of the tournament. ArifQuas will contain live listings of parties, concerts and any other events happening during the week of the tournament. It will also provide users with listings of all the local Ethiopian restaurants and Shisha lounges in the area so people don’t have to scour the web or other aggregation websites looking for options. For both the events and the restaurants, ArifQuas has GPS support and can tell users how far they are and how to get there on a map. ArifQuas is also going to provide users with updates on the tournament scores, information on the local attractions and the local weather.
Tadias: How are you gathering your information? Are you working with ESFNA or the other event promoters?
ArifQuas is fed the listings from a web service that’s hosted at arifquas.com. A lot of the listings are actually entered by the restaurant owners or the event promoters who want to promote on ArifQuas. There is an approval process before listings go live but aside from that, the entire process is fully automated and requires little involvement from us. We contacted ESFNA well before the app was even approved by Apple so they have been aware of it for some time and the response we have received from them has been very positive. We have asked ESFNA to provide the live score updates for the games and we’re in the process of working out the final details.
Tadias: Do you plan to come out with an Android version or something compatible for other mobile users?
Unfortunately, we’re out of time to do an Android app for this tournament but we do have another project in the pipeline and an Android version of this next app is a definite possibility.
Tadias: Is ArifQuas integrated with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter?
We do have a facebook presence and in a short two weeks we have reached some 600 people and we can also be found on Twitter.
Interview continues below…
Tadias: The application is free, how are you sustaining your business?
The application is free because we want every Ethiopian with an iphone to get it without any financial considerations. So far we have been trying to cover some of our expenses by charging a fee to the people who are trying to list and advertise their events and restaurants.
Tadias: Please tell us briefly about the two of you? How did you become interested in software development? Where did you guys meet? Where did you grow up , school, work, etc?
Bef Ayenew: Both of us grew up in Addis but we didn’t meet until our sophomore year at MIT. We’ve been very close every since and we’ve worked on a number of software related projects together. I’m a software developer/architect in the valley so you could say working on an iphone app is not really a big departure from what I do during business hours. Ephraim, on the other hand, is a research scientist at a national lab so he has found a convenient outlet for channeling his inner engineer.
Tadias: Tell us about ArifZefen, the other ArifSoft application.
ArifZefen is our first joint project as ArifSoft, and it started out as a website that was supposed to serve as a sharing site for Ethiopian music. Unlike our predecessors, we weren’t interested in being responsible for managing the music content so we built a site where people can upload and manage their songs like they do in youtube. We also wanted people to be able to browse and search the collection and create/manage their own playlists. And of course, we couldn’t let you download the music once it was uploaded because that would amount to piracy so we had to develop a custom segment streaming MP3 player in flash. Later, we skinned the entire website and turned it into something that could be deployed on a new URL within minutes. More recently, we have created an iphone app called ArifZefen that provides access to all these features on the go, and we hope to make that app available to users as soon as we have resolved some of the issues around music copyrights. If you really want to test ride this app, it’s available on a limited basis.
Tadias: Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?
Working on ArifQuas has been a lot of fun and we are very encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from everyone. We’ve had even people not going to the tournament download it and tell us how much they enjoyed it. We are really excited about exploring other opportunities within our community and we are already back working hard on our next project, which we hope will be completed well before the end of the year. If anyone else out there is interested in developing iphone apps, our advice is to grab a mac and start today. There have been many instances of non-developers building iphone apps that went on to become very successful so we want to encourage anyone out there to take a crack at it if they think they have a good idea and the time to work on it.
Tadias: Thank you guys and good luck!
Thank you.
— ArifQuas can be downloaded for free at iTunes app store. You can learn more at www.arifquas.com. Also, for more information on the 2010 Ethiopian Soccer Tournament in San Jose, California, please visit ESFNA.net.
—
About the Author:
Liben Eabisa is Co-Founder & Publisher of Tadias Magazine.
Above: A group of U.S. Congressmen have joined the call by
Ethiopian-American activists in urging President Obama to
speak out ahead of the polls this weekend. (Photo – VOA)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Friday May 21, 2010
New York (Tadias) – As Ethiopia prepares for National Elections on Sunday, May 23rd, VOA reports that Ethiopian-Americans in the United States are split: some saying that Ethiopian-Americans should stay out of the debate, while others in the community are demanding that President Barack Obama speak out against the imprisonment of opposition leader, Judge Birtukan Medeksa, who will not be participating in Sunday’s election.
The protesters’ call was joined this week by a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers who urged the Obama administration to speak out against human rights violations in Ethiopia ahead of the polls this weekend, The Washington Timesreports.
In a letter to Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, the Lawmakers expressed concern that the upcoming vote will not be free and fair.
“Like most Americans, we believe that our country must never be silent about grave human rights abuses,” the Lawmakers wrote. “Yet in recent years our government has rarely spoken out about the Meles government’s human rights violations.”
According to the report, the letter to Mr. Carson was signed by: Reps. Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey Republican; Trent Franks, Arizona Republican; James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat; Dana Rohrabacher, California Republican; Ed Royce, California Republican; Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican; and Bob Inglis, South Carolina Republican.
Above:The latest known violent crime involving an Ethiopian
immigrant took place in Florida over the weekend, following
last year’s brazen attempted bank robbery in Maryland.
Tadias Magazine
Editorial
Published: Wednesday, March 31, 2010
New York (Tadias) – Our community is not used to making headlines, such as the recent string of high-profile violent crimes involving young Ethiopian immigrants, which should be a concern to all of us.
Following this new wave of mayhem, a man identified by police as 24-year-old Kidane Mengesha was arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with the stabbings of two women in South Beach, Florida on Saturday.
According to WSVN-TV Channel 7, Mengesha, who immigrated from Ethiopia three years ago, approached Leigh-Ann Martinez, 21, and Belkin Gutierrez, 20, shortly after 9 pm where they had just finished dinner with friends at the popular restaurant TGI Friday’s and were walking towards their car. “He was trying to engage them in a conversation. They repeatedly told him, ‘Please leave us alone,'” Miami Beach Police detective Juan Sanchez said.
Mengesha first assaulted Martinez, who hit back, and a fight broke-out. Gutierrez joined in support of her friend, at which point the man pulled out a knife. Mengesha stabbed Gutierrez five times, in the head, torso and arm, and Martinez was stabbed once in the leg, according to press reports. “It was a big cut — a really big cut. I freaked out and passed out on the sidewalk,” Martinez said.
The disturbing news comes only days after a court in Maryland sentenced Josef Tadele, 24, to four years in prison for his role in a plot to kidnap the family of a bank manager. His co-defendant Yohannes Surafel, 25, who has also been convicted, faces a possible sentence of 75 years. A third suspect, Baruk Ayalneh, is believed to have left the United States.
According to prosecutors, the Maryland trio were acting out a scene from the movie “Bandits” – starring Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton- in which they hold bank managers hostage the night before they rob their banks.
Meanwhile in Florida, the victims, who fortunately survived the attack, are being treated in local hospitals. And Mengesha, who has no prior criminal record, is being held on $50,000 bond.
We hope these are isolated incidents, and not symptoms of a looming problem for the larger community.
New York (Tadias) – Tadias Magazine is proud to present our list of people of the year for 2009. The list includes researchers, social entrepreneurs, authors, filmmakers, artists and musicians, whose inspiring work has made an impact far beyond their individual accomplishments.
Below is our top ten list of Ethiopian-Americans. As always, we welcome your additional suggestions.
The 2009 World Food Prize, considered by many to be the Nobel Prize of agriculture, was awarded to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, a Purdue University Professor, whose sorghum hybrids resistant to drought and the devastating Striga weed have dramatically increased the production and availability of one of the world’s five principal grains and enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. We congratulate Dr. Ejeta on his accomplishments.
Dr. Yared Tekabe’s groundbreaking work on non-invasive atherosclerosis detection and molecular imaging was published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, along with an editorial citing its clinical implications. Tekabe, who runs studies in cardiovascular disease detection and prevention at Columbia University, has helped his laboratory, headed by Dr Lynne Johnson, to receive another $1.6 million four-year grant from the National Institute of Health to continue his research. Tekabe hopes that in a few years time his work can similarly help heart disease prevention efforts and early detection of atherosclerosis in humans. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Tekabe for his his continued scientific efforts.
Nina Ashenafi Richardson, who was elected to the Leon County bench in Florida on November 4th, 2008 and received the oath of office from Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court Peggy A. Quince on Friday, January 30, 2009, is the first Ethiopian-American judge. Born in Ethiopia, Nina came to the U.S. as a young girl and was raised by her late father Professor Ashenafi Kebede, the renowned Ethiopian composer and musicologist, who was the Founder and first Director of the National Saint Yared School of Music in Ethiopia. Judge Nina, a mother of two, was also the the first African-American woman to head the Tallahassee Bar Association and the first African-American to lead the Tallahassee Women Lawyers (TWL). Tadias congratulates Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson on her accomplishments!
In a rare gesture by the White House, chef Marcus Samuelsson was invited to prepare the Obamas’ first State Dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. First Lady Michelle Obama called Marcus “one of the finest chefs in the country.” And as Politico reported: “The importance was not lost on Samuelsson. Waking up on Wednesday morning, after about three hours of sleep, he had not yet come down from his high. ‘It was the biggest dinner I cooked in my life — in terms of the occasion,’ said the chef, born in Ethiopia, raised by a Swedish couple in Sweden and now a naturalized American.” We extend our congratulations and wish Marcus Samuelsson continued success!
Mehret Mandefro was named by President Obama as one of the 2009/2010 White House Fellows. Mandefro is a Primary Care Physician and HIV prevention researcher. She was a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania and a Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. Her research addresses the intersection of violence prevention and HIV prevention and the application of digital media in translating research. She completed a Primary Care internal medicine residency at Montefiore Hospital where she founded a nonprofit called TruthAIDS that is focused on health literacy efforts among vulnerable populations. She received a BA cum laude in Anthropology and a Medical Doctorate from Harvard University, and a Masters of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a Fulbright Scholar. We congratulate Dr. Mehret Mandefro on her accomplishments!
Dr. Abraham Verghese is the author of the well received Cutting for Stone, an epic novel about a young man’s coming of age in Ethiopia and America. From fascinating social and political portraits of Ethiopia in upheaval, Cutting for Stone zooms into a territory where few have gone before: the drama of the operating theater and the mysteries inside the human body. There can be no doubt that Verghese is one of the most seasoned writers of his generation. Verghese’s own career as a physician in the United States has taken him from his grueling days as a foreign medical graduate (recounted in The New Yorker article, The Cowpath to America) to becoming the voice of empathetic medicine. As Founding Director of Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at the University of Texas and in his current role as a Professor at Stanford University, Dr. Verghese is a champion in the field of Medical Humanities.
Haile Gerima, the internationally acclaimed director of Teza, Sankofa, Adwa, Bush Mama and other feature films and documentaries, sparked a healthy discussion among the Ethiopian American community this year about the tumultuous years of the Mengistu era as depicted in his latest film Teza as told by an idealistic Ethiopian doctor who recounts dreams and nightmares. The film made its U.S. premiere in Washington D.C. this past fall.
Ted Alemayuhu, founder & CEO of U.S. Doctors for Africa, a California based non-profit organization, played host to the first-ever African First Ladies U.S.-based health summit on Monday, April 20, 2009 in Los Angeles. The event, which included a performance by Natalie Cole and a luncheon hosted by California first lady Maria Shriver, engaged the First Ladies in identifying top priorities for the coming year related to maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and Education. We congratulate Mr. Alemayuhu on his continued innovative approach to bettering the lives of millions of Africans!
Ethiopian American artist Julie Mehretu was a subject of a PBS documentary that aired on October 28, 2009. Mehretu has exhibited in some noteworthy venues – The Museum of Modern Art in New York (the only Ethiopian artist whose work is represented in MoMA’s permanent collection), The Whitney Biennial, The Istanbul Biennial, The Busan Biennale in Korea, The Walker Art Center, and her work is currently on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego.
Tommy T, bass player for the New York-based multi-ethnic gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, released his first solo album entitled The Prestor John Sessions this year. The album includes collaborations with Gigi, Tommy T’s brother & bassist Henock Temesgen, members of the Abyssinnia Roots Collective, and a bonus remix including Gogol Bordello bandmates Eugene Hütz and Pedro Erazo. Tommy describes The Prestor John Sessions as “an aural travelogue that rages freely through the music and culture of Ethiopia.” Most importantly, the title of his album has inspired scholars to research the true identity of Prestor John. We congratulate Tommy on his album!
Above:Little Ethiopia – Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy
of Tsehai Publishers, May 31, 2009).
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
New York (Tadias) – Congressman Mike Honda, (D-CA), Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Ethiopia and Ethiopian Americans, has released a statement on health care reform submitted by various Ethiopian American organizations. Honda represents the 15th Congressional District of California, which includes Silicon Valley, home to a sizeable Ethiopian immigrant population. Below is the press release from the Congressman’s office:
For immediate release
October 28th, 2009
Over the past several months, the debate on health care reform has produced extensive dialogue amongst many communities in our nation. From dining room tables to talk radio, our country has engaged in a uniquely American process fueled by the diversity of opinions we enjoy.
This is why today, as Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Ethiopia and Ethiopian Americans; I am honored to present statements on health care reform submitted by the Ethiopian American community. These statements have been offered by the community to ensure that their voices are heard during these historic times. I formed the Caucus in 2003 with the goal of providing a legislative voice to the Ethiopian American community, and to strengthen a long-established relationship between Ethiopia and the United States. As the largest immigrant group from the African continent, Ethiopian Americans extend themselves to every aspect of American society, thereby making a real impact on American culture.
Health care is a critical issue to the Ethiopian American community. Presently fewer and fewer Ethiopians have health insurance, and therefore cannot afford good medical care. Much like countless other Americans, many hard working Ethiopian Americans are employed in the hospitality services and small business industries. Many jobs in these sectors fail to provide any health insurance benefits to employees and their families. As a result, most of members of the community are not in a position to get preventive help and basic medical services. In addition, many original Ethiopian refugees from the 1970 refugee admission boom are starting to become eligible for Medicare. These issues allow the Ethiopian American community to provide unique insight into the current debate.
While we all may have different ideas about how best to achieve health care reform, there is a fundamental consensus that the need for health care reform is dire. The following statements show that opening up the conversation to all areas of our diverse nation provides for a healthy and robust debate.
If you are interested in submitting your own statement, I encourage you to contact my office and ensure your voice is heard. The Congressional Caucus on Ethiopia and Ethiopian-Americans works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Ethiopia and is a legislative voice for Ethiopian-Americans across the United States. The Caucus serves the Ethiopian-American community as it continues to grow in population and influence, and supports the community’s interests both here and in Ethiopia.
Above:Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Creigh Deeds speaks
to the Ethiopian community at Meaza Restaurant in Arlington,
Virginia, on Saturday, October 17th, 2009.
(Photo by Matt Andrea/EA4C).
Source:Ethiopian Americans for Change
Monday, 19 October 2009
Ethiopian-Americans for Change (EA4C) officially endorses Gubernatorial Candidate Creigh Deeds, Leiutentant Gubernatorial Candidate Jody Wagner, and State Delegate Candidate Charniele Herring.
EA4C is a non-partisan organization dedicated to mobilizing the vast Ethiopian-American community in order to get more engaged in the United States political process and to value the significance of one vote.
A month ago, EA4C sent out personal invitations to both the Republican ticket and the Democratic ticket and asked both parties to come out and speak to the Ethiopian community. The Republican ticket was not able to attend due to scheduling conflict. The Democratic ticket accepted our invitation enthusiastically.
Thus, on Saturday, October 17th, Creigh Deeds along with Chair of the Democratic National Committee and current Governor Tim Kaine, a representative from Jim Moran’s office, Jody Wagner, and Charniele Herring all came out to speak to the Ethiopian community and to ask for their vote.
Each candidate spoke for 10 minutes and then a questions and answer session was held where individuals were able to ask tough questions. At the conclusion of the event, EA4C conducted a phone text poll where those in the audience and those who were asking questions through EA4C.org were asked to vote for their preferred candidate. 100% of the vote came in for Deeds, Wagner, and Herring.
Thus, as a consequence of that vote, EA4C officially endorses the Democratic ticket. We endorse Criegh Deeds to be the next Governor of Virginia, we endorse Jody Wagner to be the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and we endorse Charnel Herring to be the next State Delegate representing Alexandria.
With over 14,000 registered Ethiopian-American voters in the 8th Congressional District (Alexandria) alone, EA4C believes that the Ethiopian community can have a DECISIVE impact on the outcome of the November 3rd vote. There are over 80,000 Ethiopians who live in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a deeply purple state where elections are often won by less than the margin of error, the Ethiopian vote is one that has emerged as a potentially vital voting bloc.
– Learn more about Ethiopian-Americans for Change at EA4C.org or email info@ea4c.org.
Related: First Read: The day in politics by NBC
In advance of President Obama campaigning for Creigh Deeds next week in Virginia’s upcoming gubernatorial contest, Team Deeds has just announced that Bill Clinton — along with Terry McAuliffe, whom Deeds defeated in the Dem primary — will stump for Deeds tomorrow in Northern Virginia. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/10/19/2102728.aspx
New York (Tadias) – You may have noticed the 09.25.09 poster released by a group called Ethiopian-Americans for Change. The group says a website will be launched next week. Meanwhile, the group has informed us of their preparations to host Ye Eyasu (Joshua) Generation Inaugural Award, along with several other events scheduled for September 25th, 2009 in Washington D.C. They are currently accepting nominations for the award. Tadias interviewed three of the twenty organizers and volunteers of the organization to get more details. Emebet Bekele, Mike Endale, and Teddy Fikre gave the following collective answers.
From left: Emebet Bekele, Mike Endale, and Teddy Fikre (Courtesy photo).
Can you please tell us a bit about the “Ye Eyasu (Joshua) Generation
Inaugural Award”? What is the objective?
Emebet: The Eyasu Generation Award is an award that recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the next generation. Too often, young Ethiopians are not recognized for their participation and contributions in our community. The truth is, there are countless Ethiopians who make tremendous contributions in the areas of science, law, medicine, sports, and more. Ethiopian-Americans for Change wants to show the riches of talent that we have in our community by celebrating outstanding young Ethiopians who have and continue to make an impact in their communities. In the process, we aim to motivate and encourage the next generation to aim for the heavens and excel in their endeavors—that they are not too young to make a change.
What is Ethiopian Americans for Change? and how did it come about?
Teddy: Ethiopian-Americans for Change is the evolution of Ethiopians for Obama. During the 2008 Presidential election, Ethiopians for Obama registered thousands of Ethiopian-Americans who had never voted before. Our hard work led to the Obama campaign releasing a letter thanking our community for the contributions that we have and continue to make in America. This was truly a historic milestone; never before has a presidential candidate sought our vote and thanked us for our contributions. In our own small way, we took part in a momentous event as America elected the first African-American—and a man whose father came from our next door neighbor in Africa — to the White House. America started noticing the Ethiopian community after seeing our “Yechalal” poster plastered at every Ethiopian restaurant and market and even non-Ethiopian restaurants like Bus Boys and Poets in DC. In fact, a major article was written about the Ethiopian community after a reporter noticed the Yechalal poster while eating at an American restaurant. After the election, we had a choice to make. Disband Ethiopians for Obama and go back to our usual routine, or have the audacity to believe that we can organize our community and make our vote one that is valued by every politicians and our voice heard by every opinion and policy maker. After months of brainstorming, we put together the blueprint and started seeking out Ethiopians that we had met along the way last year to form the backbone of Ethiopian-Americans for Change. As a result, we have over 20 amazing Ethiopians working across the nation to turn an audacious thought into a realistic idea. Ethiopian-Americans for Change combines the best of grass-roots organization with the efficiency of a well lubed machine. Our motto is “Leadership is what you do not what you are,” thus there is no such thing as the president, chief, executive, or head honcho. We all have the title of organizer and volunteer, and we sit at a figurative circular table, no one more important or no voice less valuable than the next. There is diversity and abundance of talent inside Ethiopian-Americans for Change, we range from our 20s, 30s, and 40s. We have lawyers, teachers, musicians, technicians, engineers, artists, multiple organizers who have attained their MBA and Masters in various fields. Individually, we have made our own impacts in various ways; by forming Ethiopian-Americans for Change, we have decided that now is the time to have the fierce urgency to make a big change.
Are you a formal organization or is the group still a social network of like-minded people from the 2008 Presidential campaign?
Mike: Ethiopian-Americans for Change is a formal organization. We are currently pursuing a 501 (3) C status and have the goal of being a formal non-profit organization before the end of this calendar year. However, we maintain our core identity of being a network of like-minded people who have a passion to be a part of a big change and give back to our community and to our country.
Please describe the award process and your selection criteria.
Emebet: Nominees are received from the general public via info@ethiopiansforchange.com Upon receipt of nomination, we do a cursory vetting to ensure that the person is legitimate and meets the requirements of the award rules. The nomination process runs through September 12, 2009. Once September 13th comes around, we will take all the nominations and submit them to a judging panel that consists of well known and respected Ethiopians. Their job is to narrow the field down to a list of 30, three in each category. The top 30 candidates will then be posted online so that people can vote for their favorite nominee. The top ten will be selected to be highlighted at the 09.25.09 event. The overall winner will receive a grant and a special trophy recognizing his/her contributions. But in the end, all nominees will be celebrated in the weeks leading up to 09.25.09.
Why limit the age group to only 30?
Teddy: We are not making a statement that we only value Ethiopians under the age of 30. To the contrary, I am 34 years old, I would have loved nothing better than to make the age requirement 35 or younger. And I am sure that someone else in our group who is 38 would love for the age requirement to be 40 or younger. At the end of the day, we hope that this award is not seen as a slight on those who are not 30 or seen as a generational disrespect. We are after all the products of our mothers and fathers, in our community, no voice is valued more and no respect given to more than those who have sacrificed so that we can thrive in America. However, this award is meant to encourage and motivate the next generation and let them know that there are countless positive voices amongst their peers whose voices get drowned out by the noise of contemporary lifestyle and focus on self-indulgence. This is a way to celebrate those who work hard and are rarely given a platform to be recognized.
Will there be an official ceremony where the awards are given out?
Emebet: The award will take place as part of the 09.25.09 events. On that day we will celebrate a milestone for the Ethiopian community in the United States. We encourage everyone to come out with their children, family and friends and join the festivities. stay tuned for more information.
Why is the website so cryptic? It simply says “09.25.09: History will be Made.” What does that mean?
Mike: 09.25.09 simply means that there will be a historic moment that will take place on September 25th, 2009. We promise that full details of 09.25.09 will be released very shortly. In fact, if you follow us on Facebook or twitter, you will be one of the first to find out about the details of 09.25.09.
What happens after the award process? Are there opportunities for sponsorships, scholarships or any other perks attached to the award?
Teddy: Yes, we are working with sponsors to provide a significant grant for the overall winner of the Eyasu Generation Award. This grant will be either in the shape of a scholarship or a check that will further the awardee’s endeavor in his/her particular area of expertise.
How do people join Ethiopian Americans for change? What are the requirements?
Teddy: We will be releasing our website very shortly with detailed information about Ethiopian-Americans for Change and ways that people can get involved in the 09.25.09 event and other events we are planning into the future. If you are interested in learning more, email us at info@ethiopiansforchange.com
Thank you all and good luck
Teddy: Thank you to Tadias Magazine for giving us this time and the platform to get our message out. At the end of the day, that is what Ethiopian-Americans for Change is all about, Ethiopians working side by side with other Ethiopians to make a change and to let our collective voices be heard.
New York (Tadias) – A fundraiser was held last night for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty at Etete, a popular Ethiopian restaurant in Washington, D.C.
The event was hosted by Ethiopian-American businessman Henok Tesfaye, President of U Street Parking, Inc., who was featured in a December 2006 issue of the Washington Post as one of D.C.’s young, successful entrepreneurs.
The fundraiser attracted a diverse crowd of both Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians who paid between $500 and $2000 per contributor in support of the the Mayor’s 2010 re-election campaign.
The Washington Metropolitan Area is home to one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the country, and the District of Columbia government has officially recognized the Amharic language as a way to provide services within the growing community.
Tadias Magazine attended the event and we had the opportunity to ask the Mayor a few questions. Stay tuned for Senait Assefa’s interview with Mayor Fenty. Photos from the event are posted below courtesy of DJ Photography.
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty at a fundraiser held in D.C at Etete on Thursday, July 30,
2009. (courtesy of DJ Photography).
A fundraiser for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty at Etete on Thursday, July 30, 2009.
(Courtesy of DJ Photography)
The event was hosted by Ethiopian-American businessman Henok Tesfaye,
right. (Thursday, July 30, 2009. Courtesy of DJ Photography)
Senait Assefa (Tadias) interviewed the Mayor at the event. (Thursday, July 30,
2009. Courtesy of DJ Photography)
Above:23 year-old Yohannes Abraham (left) and 28 year-
old Addisu Demissie (right). Photo – Marvin Joseph–The Root/
The Washington Post.
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Thursday, April 9, 2009
New York (Tadias) – The election of Barack Obama as President has empowered and expanded the visibility of minorities in political leadership. The Root, a daily online magazine published by Washington Post and Newsweek Interactive, has named two Ethiopian Americans on its list of 10 dynamic young leaders to watch for in Obama’s Washington.
28 year-old Addisu Demissie and 23 year-old Yohannes Abraham are both graduates of Yale University. Both arrived at the nation’s capital after being initiated into politics, in what The Root describes as “the grueling two-year campaign, counting delegates, crunching polls, spinning the press, working doors and phones, managing armies of volunteers, reaping millions of new voter registrations and logging thousands of hours working for change.” Mr. Demissie is now serving as the National Political Director for Organizing for America, while Mr. Abraham is an Assistant to the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs at the White House.
Mr. Abraham had joined the Obama presidential campaign in 2007 helping to win Obama’s first victory in Iowa. He campaigned in South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, and North Carolina before becoming the Regional Political Director in the battle-ground state of Virginia, his native state.
Canadian-born Demissie had previously worked on Kerry’s campaign and served as a key aide for Terry McAuliffe, before joining the Obama campaign and working as Get Out the Vote Director in Ohio.
Abraham and Demissie are cited by The Root as two of ten young Black Obama aides to watch in Washington Politics.
