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Nathan S.
White
Executive Director
Afrifest Foundation
Tel: 612-281-6318 . Fax:
612-225-1888
Web:
http://www.afrifest.org
http://www.myspace.com/afrifest
http://www.facebook.com/afrifest
http://twitter.com/afrifest
Email:
info@afrifest.org
Festival Motto:
"Enlightenment, Diversity, and
Unity"
AFRIFEST
•A Non
Profit Annual African Summer Festival in the Twin
Cities, MN
A recreation of the
very popular and successful African Festival of the
Arts fair of Chicago which attracts over 250,000
est. attendees over the 4 day Labor Day Weekend
after 17 years. Bringing together diverse African,
American, and Int'l vendors, musicians,
entertainers, and cultural performers to the Twin
Cities. This festival will start a wonderful
tradition to educate, showcase, enlighten, and
bring together Africans, African-Americans,
Hispanics, Asians, and other diverse audiences and
cultures.
•Giving
Back To The Community
Any profits from
this event will be distributed to various 501c(3)
non-profit organizations to address issues like
AIDs, poverty, refugee resettlement assistance,
youth services, business development,
etc…
•Difference
is Key
Our objective is to
offer audiences a unique and culturally diverse
experience unlike any other festival or event in
the twin cities or US for that matter. AFRIFEST
promises to be the BIGGEST Pan African festival in
the Twin Cities; with diverse artists, music, food,
culture, etc. but sticking with the theme of
"Enlightenment, Diversity, and Unity."
•Special
Promotions and Sponsorships
This event will be
promoted and advertised throughout the USA, making
it a destination event in the summer. This will
increase tourism to the Twin Cities and boost
spending to local and immigrant businesses. This
event will also offer local corporations and
sponsors a chance to connect to and serve
underserved and emerging markets.
Nextainment, LLC.
is the executive producer and authorized
representative for PABA and we are looking forward
to working with all sponsors, local government
agencies, community organizations, and the general
public to begin work on a very unique and
worthwhile festival for the Twin Cities. This
festival will define the Twin Cities as a cultural
mega and destination location.
Afrifest
Audience at a Glance
•African-Americans
comprise state's largest nonwhite group. Growth in
Minnesota's African and African-American
populations led the trend toward increasing
diversity. In 2000, 171,731 Minnesotans identified
themselves as Black or African-American, with
another 31,241 identified as Black plus another
race.
•The growth in
Minnesota's African-American population stemmed
from several causes. The existing African-American
population was relatively young, with a high birth
rate compared to deaths. A number of
African-Americans came to Minnesota from other
states, mirroring an overall trend toward
in-migration to the state. Finally, African
immigrants came to Minnesota both from their home
countries and from other U.S. states. For example,
a number of Somalis moved to Minnesota from Africa
as well as from Texas and California.
•More than 90%
of Minnesota's African-Americans live in the Twin
Cities metropolitan area, especially in
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn
Center. Almost one-third of the state's
African-American population now lives in Twin
Cities' suburbs.
•In 1990,
fewer than 5,000 Minnesota residents had been born
in Africa. A decade later, that figure had
increased to more than 34,000.
•By 2002,
nearly 9,000 additional immigrants arrived in
Minnesota directly from various African
nations.
•In fact, 13%
of Minnesota's foreign-born residents in the 2000
Census were from Africa&emdash;a higher percentage
than any other state in the country.
•Most of these
individuals have come to the United States as
refugees fleeing civil strife in Liberia, Somalia,
and the Sudan. Other relatively large African
populations recently arrived in the U.S. include
Nigerians, Ethiopians, and Eritreans.
Sources:
www.minneapolisfoundation.org/immigration/ImmigrationBrochure.pdf
www.mcknight.org/hotissues/overview_censusd.aspx
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