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May, 2009 Volume 7

IDS Walk ictures

ob Listings

ign Up! ext Volunteer Event… eed My Starving hildren

ne People… y erald Montgomery

hank you etter from AIM

Thomas Mwicigi CEO of Uhuru

Clothing…talks about his Freedom & Passion

Dear Friends, 

 

 We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for all your support over the past few months. The Red 10 events held May 16th to May 17th were a great success.   The Red Affair, which was held on May  16th  2009, was  indicative of how  young people can come together and show support for a good cause.  The night was filled with  positive  vibes  and  music  played  by  DJ’s  from  different  African  countries. Thank you to all the DJs who showed up that night to show their support.  Although you would expect that people would be too tired to show up for the walk to be held on May 17th 2009 after a hard night of partying, we had about 50 people 

 

show  up  bright  and  early,  ready  to  take  on  the  10k walk.  The  Tiyumba  Dance Company and Central do Brasil Capoeira Group provided drumming, dancing and singing during the whole walk, which kept the morale of the Red 10 walkers going. The weekend was capped off by a wonderful barbecue catered by Tuma’s Catering.  All in all we were able to raise over $4300 towards the MN AIDS project! Thanks to the help of Africa Health Action (AHA), we were also able to get 25 people tested!!  Below  is a  list of  the  sponsors who  showed  their  support  that we would  like  to recognize for their efforts in making this weekend possible:  

• Red 10 Committee • Sam the designer  • African Health Action (AHA) • Accents Telecom • Tuma's Catering • Tam Tam's Restaurant • FROST by Kenny 

 We intend to make this an annual event so be on the lookout for the next one. In the  meantime,  please  join  us  on  June  6th  at  7  –  9  pm  for  another  volunteer opportunity at Feed My Starving Children  in Eagan, MN. How can we expect  the world to change for the better if we don’t take the first step ourselves?  Once again we  thank you all  for your continued support and we  look  forward  to 

 

 

 

bigger and better things in the months to come.   AIM 

 

 

 

   

UHURU CLOTHING ON FREEDOM AND PASSION

By Eva Githina    

 How manto  find  sperson wcan tell yplace  toAfrican dor  vitengwrap  skirtime we nhave to sin  the  rurandom  pthrough possessioof the timstylish  apback in A Thomas MDecembeto  find sofailed,  hethe  storesales  racexperiencAfricans the markthought populatiosomethinmakes us After  his was inspithat  he wear.  Afcouple of

they told him they would willingly buy and wear those designs. Up until  this point, Thomas had simply been  trying  to  create  a  couple of  shirts 

y  times have you gone  to  the mall omething  African  to  wear?  As  a ho  has  a more  afro  centric  style,  I ou that the Mall is definitely not the   go  shopping  for  contemporary esigns or the more traditional Kente e  outfits,  head  wraps,  tie  and  die ts, Maasai  sandals etc. Most of  the eed something African to wear, we earch high and low for such apparel  n‐down  strip malls or make  trips  to eople’s  houses,  because we  heard the  grape  vine,  that  they  are  in n of African clothing  for  sale. Most e though, we end up obtaining such parel  from  our  relatives  who  are frica. 

wicigi  had  a  similar  experience  in r of 2007 when he went to the mall mething African  to wear. When he   sought  help  from  a  Sales  Clerk  at  who  rudely  told  him  to  check  the k  at  the  back  of  the  store.  This e  got  Thomas  thinking  about  how do  not  have  anything  out  there  in et  that  is geared  towards  them. He that  considering  the  huge  global n  of  Africans,  we  ought  to  have g  that  is  for  us,  by  us  and  that  feel good.  

negative mall  experience,  Thomas red to create a couple of designs so could  at  least  have  something  to ter  sharing  these  designs  with  a  his friends, they were so impressed, 

for himself and his  friends  to wear, he had not thought  of  transforming  his  newly  realized passion  into  a  business.  Thomas  went  on  to create Uhuru Clothing and he named  it Uhuru, which is the Swahili word for Freedom. He chose that name because of  its meaning, and due  to the  fact  that growing up people would  tell him that he wasn’t going  to be  successful when he tried  new  things.  Uhuru was  to  represent  the freedom  to  do  whatever  he  believed  in  no matter what people thought. He believes other people  relate  to  Uhuru  because  everybody desires freedom in one way or another. 

 Once Thomas decided to launch Uhuru Clothing his  goal was/is  ‘to  position  it  as  a  brand  that provides a  lifestyle  to Africans and people  that desire  to  identify  with  Africa,  African  designs, symbols  and  heritage;  many  understand  and express what  freedom means  in  their everyday lives  and  it  resonates  well  with  consumers because  there  is  a  sense  of  ownership  to  the meaning of Uhuru (Freedom)’.   As  a  business,  he  found  it  challenging  to convince  store  owners  that  his  clothing would appeal  to  Africans.  The  store  owners  did  not believe  that  there  was  an  African  customer base. He  also  encountered  the perception  that the West has more to offer compared to Africa. As we all know, American made clothing is very popular back home and especially more so  if  it is  by  a  well  known  American  or  European designer.  Thomas  has  stepped  up  to  this challenge  by  creating  an  African  brand  that  is both  stylish  and  affordable. His  customers buy Uhuru Clothing  because  they  like  the message on his shirts and that the quality is obvious.  Thomas has been  in business  for 1½ years. His advice to other budding entrepreneurs is that,   

 "If you are thinking of opening up a business, it  has  to  be  something  that  you  are passionate  about…because  if  you  get  into something  to make money,  the  first  hurdle you meet,  the  first  time  someone  says  you can't do it, that is when you give up… {[F]find something  you are passionate about,  that  is what you should get into. It is so much easier then  to believe  in yourself,  if  it  is  something that  you  are  passionate  about}.  Because when  someone  says no,  you will  look  for an alternative".  Uhuru  Clothing  is  solely  owned  by  Thomas Mwicigi who works with a team of designers led  by  Ced  Nzomo.  Initially,  he  designed the  shirts  himself,  but  as  Uhuru  Clothing grew  he  realized  that  he  could  not  do everything  (i.e.  designing, marketing,  and advertising)  all  by  himself.  He  now employs graphic designers.   Thomas  considers  repeat  customers  his greatest resource because there are some who will  buy  each  new  design  by  Uhuru Clothing.  They  also  give  him  feedback  on what he needs to work on, which for him is essential  to  creating  a  great  product. Thomas believes  that  to be  successful,  “it  is important  to  get  feedback  because,  if  you create  something  and people do not buy  it, you have to listen to why they do not like it".  When  working  with  his  graphic  designers, they  seek  inspirations  from  what  they  are passionate  about  and  then  develop  their concepts  from  there.  Uhuru  Clothing  is currently working on a project  that  seeks  to donate mosquito  nets  to  Kenya  for  every  t‐shirt they sell.   This  is a project that Thomas is  passionate  about.  He  is  also  inspired  by other designers such as P‐Diddy and Kimathi of Jamhuri Wear. Thomas believes strongly in sharing  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired  and 

especially because he was helped out by others in the industry. He especially thanks Kimathi for being so supportive.   A wise African leader, Nelson Mandela said, “as we  let  our  own  light  shine,  we  unconsciously give other people permission  to do  the  same”; so we  ask  that  you  place  your  light  on Uhuru Clothing’s website  and  check  out  the  fabulous designs featured.  

Uhuru Clothing

One People By Gerald Montgomery

Rsurprisinmean thaof melanifacilitatoraccentuafundamencitizen ofconsiderethe AfrikaAfrican ncitizen ofdoes not Africans looking fo The primthemselvmet themthey are tit! If an Ebusinesshim wherever respwould moand man,Kenya ththe continthe otherneed in ththemselvother scetwo realizoverflowiwould beall Africastand on

Americannever ref

Americans, the continent on which our nations, or rather countries, were founded. Likewise the French, [west] Russians and Norwegians hardly ever volunteer themselves as Europeans for the benefit of

eferring to someone as African, gly enough, does not absolutely t he or she has an abundance n in his or her skin and the s of his or her fives senses are ted to maturity because, tally, he or she need only be a

an African nation to be d African; as is the case with ans of South Africa. I say an ation because one cannot be a Africa. Such status simply exist. With that said, not all are… now what is the word I’m r?

ary reason “Africans” even call es African is because we have here, in the United States, and rying to oblige us. Think about thiopian while in Kenya on encounters a Kenyan who asks e he is from he would never ond, “I am an African.” He st certainly confess before God “I am, an Ethiopian.” While in e two are obviously standing on ent of Africa each appearing to

to be indigenous, so there is no e slightest to refer to

es as Africans in this or any nario. Being educated men, the e SHE is a continent ng with nations and therefore a gross misnomer to call them ns, not allowing each nation to its own.

s, Canadians and Mexicans er to themselves as North

Americans even while visiting America. So why [then] should Liberians, Ghanaians, Nigerians, Somalis, Cameroonians, Ivoirians, Zimbabweans, Guineans, Egyptians (yes I said Egyptians) and the other forty-four nations of Africa call themselves Africans to accommodate our [American] ignorance? They can no more be African citizens than we can be North American citizens. Such status simply does not exist. Fortunately for us those who are from African nations do not take offense to our ignorance, but are delighted when we [Americans] are educated enough to ask, “…but where in Africa are you from?” It is much [much] too easy for us to throw them all in an “African” barrel and seemingly just as insulting to not quantify each nation. God forbid we have to learn about fifty-two more countries when we can simply call them all Africans, making it one country (a la Sarah Palin) list their habitations as trees their provisions as bananas and be do with it! Even primates are separated in to genus, which are broken down further still into species to the glory of each creature. Well then, why not Africans to the glory of all of her nations? But this essay isn’t about the acceptability of calling a Sierra Leonean, African. I personally have little qualms with this label when used properly as I’m sure many Pan-Africans who wish to unite under it don’t [either]. This is about finding our father. Africa is the name of the landmass and we all know that the earth is the mother. And we as bastard children, we Americans with an abundance of melanin in our skin and the facilitators of our five senses accentuated to maturity, [we,] are being called African-Americans.

We are being called by the name of a woman who is nameless instead of our father’s name like any bastard children would. African-American only signifies that we are the sons and daughters of a woman, not the sons and daughters of a specific woman. And a woman without a name is a whore. So in essence we have been reduced to orphans. Rwanda, now that’s a mother’s name. Botswana, now that’s a mother’s name. Uganda, now that’s a mother’s name! Perhaps in our quest to find our father’s name we [African-Americans] take time to seek out the name of our mother. What do I mean by “our father’s name?” Simple, by what name are we to call all people with an abundance of melanin in their skin and the facilitators of their five senses accentuated to maturity? What makes, Algerians, Angolans and those of us that have been displaced here, the Diaspora, the same; just as children with different mothers but the same father our siblings? Without question we can rule out “African-American” because that word cannot survive outside the United States. I am uncertain, to date, if this term is indicative of my race or nationality; neither of which this term is a proper representation. “African” isn’t nearly as exclusive as African-American but is ultimately too inclusive in its most fundamental use. Not all Africans are black anymore than all Europeans are white. Now “Black”, though on the surface is believed to be more offensive than it is descriptive certainly lays claim to all of our father’s children in one breath. And what of “Negro,” which like Black is too easily altered to antagonize but is as specific to us as DNA. And lastly, it is no longer a secret that “people of color” or “colored” is an even bigger barrel than the African barrel; lumping all non-whites together and

discounting all of their many cultures and contributions as cosmopolitans, African or otherwise. Why do you think white Americans call all people of color minorities? This is an American phenomenon not a global one, because globally whites are the minority! Whatever word we end up with, regardless what our father’s name ends up being, we must not agree on this name simply because we hope that throughout time it will remain impervious to insult or will never be fashioned as a weapon against us. Make no mistake; an evil mind is far more imaginative than a pure heart. Be it Black, Negro or affectionately “the sons and daughters with an abundance of melanin in their skin and the facilitators of their five senses accentuated to maturity,” let us rally around it as children around their father; as brothers and sisters who live for one another and not as individuals. Whatever it is, let us begin to stand erect with our heads held high at the very utterance of it. Let it be the reason I give my last to a Liberian or my best to an Ethiopian; because we are one people!

If you have any comments or questions about this article please email aimminnesota@gmail.com

 

AIMsho

Forhttp

Sign-Up to volunteer – June 6th from 7pm-9pm

 will uld se

  mor://w

be signing up to volunteer at “Feed my starving children”, anyone that is interested nd us an email, children are invited (minimum age is 5yrs).  

e  information  on  “Feed  my  Starving  Children”  please  visit  their  website: ww.fmsc.org/ 

The below map shows the countries that “Feed my starving Children” supports

Feed My Starving Children – June 6th, 2009 Eagan

990 Lone Oak Road, Suite 160* Eagan, MN 55121 USA

651.379.2775 Group Name: AIM (AFRICANS IN MINNESOTA) Meeting Time: 6/6/2009 7:00:00 PM ‐ 9:00:00 PM

 Location: Eagan

FMSC - Eagan

Eagan

Our Eagan facility is located at 990 Lone Oak Road, Suite 160*, just 2 blocks east of Lexington, 3/4 mile east of 35E on the south side of Lone Oak Road.

* On March 1, 2008, the Eagan FMSC site moved to suite 160, located in the same building as the former site.

Please call 763.504.2919

Feed My Starving Children is a Christian 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. A single meal costs only 17 cents to produce, and 94% of all donations goes directly toward the food program.

• We are unable to accommodate groups of youth younger than 3rd grade regardless of the volunteer ratio or packing experience due to food quality and safety reasons.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES May 20, 2009 – May 31, 2009 

  

WWW.INDEED.COM  PT Warehouse http://www.barefootstudent.com/index/listings/page28361.htm?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed  PT Medical Records ROI Specialist http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J8H5K768V778TQ93P6H&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=4d7e65034bfe42c4b12d9c217deef745‐296134993‐VL‐4  PT Field Service Rep http://www.pcrecruiter.net/pcrbin/reg5.exe?i1=PUBLIC&i2=100895786322922&i3=DETAIL&hash=1752368441&pcr‐id=OSC4%2fEl4bt5AzgGk0j%2f0%2fUu5o0ds5bADw7aIQJA6ahmLFgRMerFj39%2bOr6Sj0%2fO3sFA7mVIM2%2bjz  PT Marketing Assistant http://www.barefootstudent.com/index/listings/page28010.htm?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed  Package Handler http://www.employmentguide.com/jobdetails.html?jobid=5490519&wt.mc_id=indeed&CAC‐Indeed&zmc=Indeed  PT Customer Service/Collections http://www.sologig.com/Job/aggregator/Part‐time‐Customer‐Service‐Representative‐Collections/Minneapolis‐MN/J8A5V671C5D505KB0GJ.aspx  Cosmetics Beauty Advisor https://macys.taleo.net/careersection/macys_retail_jsa_career_section/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=42074&src=JB‐10420  PT HR Generalist http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J8G88T60K3VSJP6HF4X  Optical Assistant http://medicalbillingstaffing.com/may12/minneapolis8.html  Testimonial Line Coordinator 

http://medicalbillingstaffing.com/may12/minneapolis8.html  PT Nanny (for July) http://www.barefootstudent.com/index/listings/page27963.htm?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed  Visual Product Coordinator http://jobs.startribune.com/careers/jobsearch/detail?jobId=17623252&viewType=main&networkView=main  PT Fitness Assistant http://www.minnesotadiversity.com/jobs.asp?pagemode=15&jid=1724877  PT Medical Assistant http://medicalbillingstaffing.com/may18/minneapolis8.html  Order Capture/Customer Service Rep http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/ApplyOnline/ApplyStart.aspx?lr=cbprime&siteid=prime_retire01&Job_DID=J8D1B761JDPZFQJ3RZM  PT Teller http://www.minnesotajobnetwork.com/jobs.asp?pagemode=15&jid=1729801  PT DVD Shipper http://www.sologig.com/Job/aggregator/Part‐Time‐DVD‐Shippers‐Needed‐In‐Minneapolis/Minneapolis‐MN/J8E4KR6CZ4JVK7KDRJM.aspx  Shuttle Driver http://www.americasjobexchange.com/seeker/jobsearch/quick?action=JobSearchViewJob&JobSearch_JobId=518518740  PT Insurance Sales http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J7X7B377TF7YCPDLMRD  PT Collector https://ncogroup.taleo.net/careersection/externalcareersitejblist/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=130460  Front Desk Team Member http://www.job.com/my.job/sup/appTo=36150335/p=1/jsOn=1  Retail Merchandiser http://www.allretailjobs.com/cgi‐local/search.cgi?action=ViewJobDetails&TypeOfUser=browse&JobIndNum=2354983&from=indeed 

   Bi‐lingual Call Center Rep https://www.randstadjobs.com/jobboard/JobDetailsDisplayAction.do;jsessionid=kvhyKJqCZPKGB2hHP147JWwz6BxCPS6pT0L6SN7ZbmWlJN0vTCTm!2102573135!‐783891537?activeApplicationId=HOME&currentMenuId=ANONYMOUS.HOME&jobID=27925  PT CMA http://medicalbillingstaffing.com/may12/minneapolis9.html  PT Medical Assistant/Receptionist http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J8H4J1778HFW2V2LS0B  PT Bookkeeper http://jobs.startribune.com/careers/jobsearch/detail?jobId=17665540&viewType=main&networkView=main  PT Account Manager http://www.salesgravy.com/JobBoard/job/24820  PT Customer Service Rep http://www.allretailjobs.com/cgi‐local/search.cgi?action=ViewJobDetails&TypeOfUser=browse&JobIndNum=2356105&from=indeed  PT Customer Service Rep w/SAP http://jobs.startribune.com/careers/jobsearch/detail?jobId=17526868&viewType=main&networkView=main    WWW.SNAGAJOB.COM  Tire/Battery Installer http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=958051&fsr=true  Merchandising Rep http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=1043351&fsr=true  Production Line Team Member http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=509861&fsr=true  Cashier http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=947431&fsr=true  Security Officer 

http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=874766&fsr=true   Retail Sales Rep http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=868647&fsr=true  Delivery Drivers http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=832661&fsr=true  Sales Associate http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=952949&fsr=true  Sales Lead http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=1128245&fsr=true  Server http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=863699&fsr=true  Inventory Taker http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=670589&fsr=true  Customer Service/Sales Associate http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=948725&fsr=true  Sales Associate http://www.snagajob.com/job‐seeker/jobs/job‐details.aspx?postingId=550884&fsr=true  

   

Happy Hour

65 MaiMinn

www.p

Date: June 26th, 2009 Time: 5:30pm

Contact: aimminLinda Obel, Evalyn Gi

n Street SE, Suite 143 eapolis, MN 55414

(612) 746-3970icosarestaurant.com

nesota@gmail.com thina, Wangechi Ruguaru