The National Bar Association, the oldest and largest association of African-American attorneys and judges in the United States, will partner with the Constituency for Africa (CFA), to strengthen linkages and ties in Africa and in the African Diaspora.
With more than 20,000 practicing members, the National Bar Association is an extraordinarily influential national network that has much to offer Africa and African countries that are building democratic institutions, establishing good governance practices, building global trade alliances and establishing government regulations based on the rule of law.
The Constituency for Africa (CFA), is a leading Washington, DC based education and advocacy organization. For more than 22 years, CFA has been working to educate the American public about Africa and African issues, and engaging US policy-makers around a number of key policy initiatives for Africa. In recent years, CFA has focused much of it's attention on mobilizing the African Diaspora in support of Africa, and building partnerships between African countries and the Diaspora in North America and in the western hemisphere.
On Wednesday, April 17th, from 4 – 6 pm, in Room B338 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the National Bar Association and Constituency for Africa will be caucusing with NBA members and key Africa policy stakeholders around critical issues affecting Africa, and the role that the Bar can play in helping in Africa. The meeting is being hosted by Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York. Invited guests for the brainstorming session include other Members of the US Congress, Members of the African Diplomatic Corps, US Government Officials and leading African advocacy organizational representatives.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Attorney Patricia Rosier, who will be coming in as the next President of the National Bar Association, is encouraged by the collaboration with CFA. Said Rosier, "It is really exciting for the NBA to partner with CFA to engage in Africa. There are many NBA members already working in Africa, in the Caribbean, in Brazil and elsewhere throughout the Diaspora, but they are not connected and thus there is very little synergy of effort. We are hoping to correct this distortion through the partnership with CFA." Rosier further noted, "I also envision that the National Bar Association will look to develop partnerships with the US Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and other US Agencies, as well as with the World Bank and the African Union, to bring to bear the tremendous talent of the National Bar to have a positive impact in Africa".
CFA's President and CEO Melvin Foote, is also encouraged by this collaboration. Said Foote, "We have long known about the potential of the National Bar Association, as well as our other national Black organizations to impact in Africa. We are hoping that the relationship with the National Bar Association can develop into a "model" that can be used to show the way for Black engineers and scientists, Black medical professionals, Black sororities and fraternities, as well as Black entrepreneurs, to positively and constructively engage in Africa".
For those wanting to attend the April 17th meeting, they can register with Kevin D. Judd at <kevin@juddlawfirm.com>
