2016
Founded in Chicago, IL in 2005, the United African Organization
is a dynamic coalition of African community-based associations
that promotes social and economic justice, civic participation, and
empowerment of African immigrants and refugees in Illinois.
As the legitimate representative voice of the diverse
African immigrant and refugee community,
the United African Organization works to:
Build the leadership and organizational capacity of the community
Advance public policies to increase opportunities and support for
immigrant and refugee integration
Ensure that African immigrants and refugees have an active role in
multiple civic arenas
Promote community development and access to social services
Serve as a viable model of African unity and empowerment
UAO Special Initiatives
Podcast Project by the United African Organization
INVEST In UAO!
UAO fills an important gap in the Illinois community landscape.
Support our efforts to give voice to the social and economic justice aspirations of
the African community!
Invest in us.
For more information, visit our website at www.uniteafricans.org,
or call us at 312.949.9980
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
UAO organizes at the forefront of immigration and refugee issues.
UAO Executive Director
Alie Kabba, Alderman Will
Burns and hair braiders
from around Illinois join
together to lobby for the
Illinois Hair Braiders Act
in Springfield, IL.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
Dir Biyabir Anbessa Yasir
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Ethiopian Proverb
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
ADVOCACY
UAO advocates on behalf of the African community, in
partnership with other immigrants rights organizations.
Community members at a
rally for Comprehensive
Immigration Reform in
Washington, D.C.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 The egg shows the hen where to hatch.
African Proverb
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
COMMUNITY RESEARCH
UAO conducts community research to understand the
characteristics, issues and challenges of the African
immigrant and refugee community.
Africans In Illinois Refugee Policy Brief African Cab Driver’s
2009 2009 Health Survey
2013
http://uniteafricans.org/ http://uniteafricans.org/african- http://uniteafricans.org/
africans-in-illinois refugee-policy-brief-volume-1- cabdrivers-health-study
number-2
African Community
Resource Guide
http://uniteafricans.org/
resources/community-guide
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
UAO connects African immigrants and refugees to vital resources
and information. Interested in being connected?
Visit our website, www.uniteafricans.org or call us at 312.949.9980
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.
Nunya, adidoe, asi metunee o.
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
La science est le tronc d'un baobab qu'une seule personne ne peut embrasser
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org Akan and Ewe ( Ghana, Togo, Benin Proverb)
SHARING COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES
Through various multimedia platforms,
UAO reaches out to the African community
in Illinois and beyond. This includes African
Voices, a community news podcast, and
Africans in Chicago, an oral history project.
Find out more at www.africansinchicago.org
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 Until the lion has his or her own storyteller, the hunter will
always have the best part of the story.
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
“A moins ce que le lion ait son propre narrateur, le chasseur aura
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org toujours la belle part de l’histoire”
Ewe (Ghana, Benin, Togo) Proverb
EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY Wisdom is like fire. People take it from others.
Hekima ni moto hupatikana kwa jirani.
UAO holds various workshops and conferences to promote
La sagesse est semblable au feu. On l'obtient chez le voisin.
community development and empowerment.. Now in it’s 10th year, Hema (Democratic Republic of Congo Proverb)
the annual UAO Chicago Summit on African Immigrants &
Refugees returns to Bronzeville in May for discussions on critical
issues facing the community today.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
UAO connects African immigrants and refugees to vital resources and
information. We ensure that African immigrants and refugees are able to
access needed services.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 People are people through other people.
“Ubuntu ungamntu ngabanye abantu”
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981 Xhosa (South African) Proverb
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
PROMOTING COMMUNITY WELLBEING
UAO promotes the health and well being of the African community by
ensuring access to healthcare, research and connecting members to resources.
Kafui draws blood to
test for Hepatitis B
immunity.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
PROMOTING CITIZENSHIP
UAO promotes citizenship
and civic engagement.
Soumare becomes a U.S. citizen after applying 2 times and attending 4 interviews. The family has It's better to give than to receive.
lived in the U.S. for almost 20 years. He cis now registered to vote. He can also file a petition for
Fitia mifamaly maha-tsara fihavanana.
his wife and older Donner est mieux que de recevoir.
son who are
Malagasy (Madagascar Proverb)
undocumented.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
UAO holds FREE EL/Civics
classes to help community
members integrate better into the
society.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981 Learning expands great souls.
Namibian Proverb
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
www.africansinchicago.org
PROMOTING AFRICAN CULTURE
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing.
Zimbabwe Proverb
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
YOUTH ORGANIZING
UAO organizes youth of color to be agents of change within our
communities. The African Youth Forum is held annually in March
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 One hand does not catch a buffalo.
Asi deka melea todzo o.
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Une seule main ne peut pas attraper un buffle.
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org Ewe (Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Togo) Proverb
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
UAO promotes justice and family re-unification by
providing immigration legal services
Ablewavi is united with
her daughter in
Chicago after about 11
years of separation.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
A MODEL OF PAN-AFRICAN UNITY
UAO works as a coalition of African community-based
associations to promote social and economic justice, civic
participation, and empowerment of the African community.
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980 Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.
Bondei (Kenya, Tanzania) Proverb
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
UAO promotes a positive image of the African community.
Unity is strength.
Abayita ababiri bajjukanya
Umoja ni nguvu.
Ganda (Uganda) Proverb
10 West 35th Street, Tel: 312.949.9980
Suite 4D9-1 Fax: 312.949.9981
Chicago, IL 60616 www.uniteafricans.org
10 West 35th Street,
Suite 4D9-1
Chicago, IL 60616
Tel: 312.949.9980
Fax: 312.949.9981
www.uniteafricans.org
www.africansinchicago.org