Washington, DC — Ambassador Andy Young, the Members of the Board of Directors and President Leonard H. Robinson, Jr., are proud to announce the appointment of Noah A. Samara as Chair of The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, succeeding Andy Young who rises to Chair Emeritus and will remain actively involved with the institution as it continues to evolve at a determined pace.
Noah Samara, an Ethiopian American and founder of WorldSpace, Inc., in 1990, was educated in England and the United States and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Georgetown University Law School. WorldSpace initiated broadcasts to Africa in 1999 and to Asia in 2000. Service to Latin America and the Caribbean is projected for 2006, thus producing a potential global audience of 5.2 billion people. Mr. Samara was also the co-founder and innovator of XM Satellite Radio Inc.
"Mr. Samara is an extraordinary example of the talent, skill and innovativeness evident in the people of Africa - - and the obvious constructive impact this has on America," said Leonard Robinson, Jr., President of The Africa Society. "I know that his leadership, creativity and dedication to international understanding will be a great asset to our work."
The Africa Society, founded in 2001 as the successor institution to the historic National Summit on Africa, was inaugurated at Discovery Communications, Inc. in January 2002. Its mission is to educate and inform all Americans about the continent, people and diverse cultures of Africa, and to foster understanding and meaningful interaction between over one billion Americans and Africans.
Through the various educational and information programs of The Africa Society, including "Teach Africa" for teachers and students, the "Ambassador Andrew Young Lecture Series on Africa," the "Issue Forum Series at Howard University's Ralph Bunche International Center," and the "Presidential Tours of Africa series" in partnership with Discovery Communications, Inc., - - Americans across the nation are becoming more informed and better educated about the 800 million people who live in the world's second largest continent, and the birthplace of all humankind.
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"The Africa Society builds critical bonds between Africa and America," said Noah Samara. "I am honored to serve as chairman of the Africa Society's board of Directors and eager to embrace the Society's work that could bring remarkable benefits to both Africa and America."
Mr. Samara will assume his responsibilities as Chair of the Board on May 25 when Andy Young formally passes him the gavel. He will be joined by Judith McHale, President and CEO of Discovery Communications, Inc. and businessman Tim Bork, Founder of the National Summit on Africa - - as Vice Chair and Second Vice Chair respectively.
