The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Michael Stulman (202) 546-7961

Africa Action to Host US - Africa Policy Forum

February 19th Event Under the Theme of: "Projecting Change and Continuity Under the Obama Administration"

WASHINGTON

*WHAT:*
Engaging Unheard Voices in Foreign Policy is the first in a series of policy forums hosted in conjunction with Howard University.

*WHERE:
*Howard University
Blackburn Center
2400 6th St. NW
Washington, DC 20059*

WHEN:
*Thursday, February 19th
1:00pm-5:00pm
Informal Reception 5:00-7:00pm
*
WHO:
Official Opening:
Emira Woods*, Co-Director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, Chairperson of the Africa Action Board of Directors

*Keynote Address *
*Semhar Araia*, Africa analyst and lawyer, Member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team. Semhar formerly served as an Africa Analyst for The Elders, a US House of Representatives foreign policy legislative assistant, and an international law attorney for the implementation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace agreement before the Eritrea- Ethiopia Claims Commission.

*Professor Shadrack Gutto*, Renowned African scholar, author and educator. Professor Gutto is the Director of the African Renaissance Studies at the University of South Africa. He teaches, writes and researches in the areas of jurisprudence, constitutional property and human rights law at the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

*Experts Panel*
Conflict and Militarism
*Professor Mahmood Mamndani*, Renowned author and expert in African history, politics
and international relations. He has been named as one of the top 100 public intellectuals in the
world by the US magazine Foreign Policy in May 2008 in July 2008. Professor Mamdani
currently teaches at the Columbia University.

Economic Policy
*Neil Watkins,* Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network

Environment, Climate Change and Food Security
*Leslie Fields,* Program Director of the Environmental Justice program at the Sierra Club.

Global Health Policy
*Krista Johnson,* professor in the African Studies Department at Howard University.

To download the Flyer, Visit:
https://www.africaaction.org/docs/AA_HUPolicyForum2.pdf

**For Media Inquires, or to schedule interview prior to the forum,
E-mail or Call Michael Stulman

Africa Action is a national organization that works for political, economic and social justice in Africa. Through the provision of accessible information and analysis combined with the mobilization of public pressure we work to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational institutions toward Africa. The work of Africa Action is grounded in the history and purpose of its predecessor organizations, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), The Africa Fund, and the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), which have fought for freedom and justice in Africa since 1953. Continuing this tradition, Africa Action seeks to re-shape U.S. policy toward African countries.