US Africa Institute

05/26/2026

We look forward to celebrating Africa Day today, honoring LATTC as a Black Serving Institution and advancing South LA Black Cultural District!

We are honored to be joined by our special guests of honor:

Ambassador Ezra Chiloba Simiyu, Consul General of the Republic of Kenya in Los Angeles

Curren D. Price Jr., Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 9

Dr. Alfred McQuarters, President of Los Angeles Trade–Technical College

The event will also bring together elected officials, diplomats, educators, students, advocates, and community organizations to celebrate Black excellence, educational opportunity, cultural heritage, global engagement, and community empowerment.

Parking:�23rd Street Parking Structure (Levels 3 and above)�Access: 244 W. 23rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Event Location on Campus:�Culinary Arts/E3 Building, Room 106A

We are honored to welcome Ambassador Ezra Chiloba Simiyu, Consul General of the Republic of Kenya in Los Angeles, as our special guest of honor in celebration of Africa Day at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

📅 Tuesday, May 26, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015

This year’s celebration will honor LATTC’s historic designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI) and highlight the advancement of the South LA Black Cultural District initiative.

The event will bring together elected officials, diplomats, educators, students, advocates, and community organizations to celebrate Black excellence, educational opportunity, cultural heritage, global engagement, and community empowerment.

We warmly invite the community to join us in celebrating Africa Day and
honoring LATTC’s historic designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI) and highlight the advancement of the South LA Black Cultural District initiative
For additional information, please contact:
U.S. Africa Institute Kenya Consulate Los Angeles
📧 [email protected]

05/22/2026

U.S. Africa Institute was honored to join Black community leaders last night at the Building Power Session in Austin, Texas. We look forward to collaborating with community organizations and philanthropic partners such as St. David's Foundation to advance impactful initiatives across our communities.
The initiative aims to empower communities to define their own health priorities and help shape the practices, policies, and systems that support them.

05/22/2026

We are honored to welcome Ambassador Ezra Chiloba Simiyu, Consul General of the Republic of Kenya in Los Angeles, as our special guest of honor in celebration of Africa Day at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

📅 Tuesday, May 26, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015

This year’s celebration will honor LATTC’s historic designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI) and highlight the advancement of the South LA Black Cultural District initiative.

The event will bring together elected officials, diplomats, educators, students, advocates, and community organizations to celebrate Black excellence, educational opportunity, cultural heritage, global engagement, and community empowerment.

We warmly invite the community to join us in celebrating Africa Day and
honoring LATTC’s historic designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI) and highlight the advancement of the South LA Black Cultural District initiative
For additional information, please contact:
U.S. Africa Institute Kenya Consulate Los Angeles
📧 [email protected]

05/22/2026

Join Us for Africa Day Celebration!!

Honoring Los Angeles Trade-Technical College’s Black Serving Institution Designation and Advancing the South LA Black Cultural District

U.S. Africa Institute, in partnership with Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC), proudly invites students, faculty, community leaders, diplomatic representatives, and members of the diaspora to join us for a special Africa Day Celebration on:

📅 Tuesday, May 26, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015

This year’s celebration will honor LATTC’s historic designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI) and highlight the advancement of the South LA Black Cultural District initiative.

The event will bring together elected officials, diplomats, educators, students, advocates, and community organizations to celebrate Black excellence, educational opportunity, cultural heritage, global engagement, and community empowerment.

We warmly invite the community to join us in celebrating Africa Day and honoring LATTC’s historic designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI) and highlight the advancement of the South LA Black Cultural District initiative
For additional information, please contact:
U.S. Africa Institute
📧 [email protected]

05/12/2026

After fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Olivia Andre and her family endured an unimaginable journey in search of safety and stability — including the heartbreaking loss of her younger brother along the way. Now, after nearly six months in ICE custody and a legal battle that drew national attention, the 19-year-old asylum seeker has finally been reunited with her family in Maine. Olivia speaks exclusively to Antonia Hylton on her experience in the Dilley Detention Center, “most of the officers don’t treat you well…They just consider a criminal or an immigrant.” Olivia says her mental health suffered, “I was always scared”, adding “I was thinking this was the end of my life.”

After fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Olivia Andre and her family endured an unimaginable journey in search of safety and stability...

04/13/2026

Join Our Immigration Detention Visitation Program

A meaningful opportunity to offer compassion, connection, and support to individuals in detention.

We invite you to be part of our Immigration Detention Visitation Program—a meaningful opportunity to offer compassion, connection, and support to individuals in detention.

Visits take place on the second Thursday of each month from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with transportation provided for participants.

Date: Second & Fourth Thursday of each month
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Transportation: Provided

Your presence can make a powerful difference. If you are interested in joining, please contact us to register. A valid ID is required, and a dress code will apply.

Email us or use the link below to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSsk0NULfCP08yV2eaWWlYAUUuxKIDmWFvtvgI8x0B8QVJlg/viewform

03/31/2026

Black immigrant communities deserve to be informed, protected, and empowered!!

We have distributed Know Your Rights cards in multiple African and Caribbean languages to immigrant communities across college campuses, schools, churches, restaurants, and community spaces. These cards are designed to help individuals understand and assert their rights.

📢 Help us spread the word — share with your networks. Need copies both printed and digital versions? Please feel free to email us 👇🏾 📧 [email protected]

03/25/2026

ICE agents are now deployed at airports across the country. While their stated role may include logistical support, their presence in these federal spaces requires all immigrant travelers to remain alert, informed, and prepared.

At U.S. Africa Institute, our priority is to ensure that you have the information and tools needed to protect yourself and your loved ones.

🛫 Know Your Rights at the Airport
Regardless of your immigration status, you have fundamental rights:

You have the right to remain silent
You have the right to ask: “Am I free to go?”
You have the right to speak to a lawyer
You have the right to refuse to sign anything without legal advice
🗣️ What to Say if Approached
If you are questioned by an officer, stay calm and use these statements:

“I choose to remain silent.”
“I want to speak to a lawyer.”
“Am I free to go?”
⚠️ Do not answer questions about your immigration status
⚠️ Do not sign anything without legal counsel

❌ What NOT to Do
Do NOT provide false documents
Do NOT lie
Do NOT run or resist
Do NOT sign documents without understanding them
📄 What to Carry
If applicable, carry:

Valid identification (passport, driver’s license, or state ID)
Immigration documents (if you have them)
⚠️ Travel with Caution
You may be at higher risk if you:

Have a deportation or removal order
Have a pending immigration case
Have missed court dates
Have prior immigration enforcement history
👉 If unsure, consult an immigration attorney before traveling

🚨 If Someone is Detained
Stay calm
Document the situation if safe
Ask for officer name and agency
Contact a lawyer or hotline immediately
🧳 Prepare Before You Travel
Save a lawyer’s contact on your phone
Share your travel plans with a trusted person
Keep copies of important documents
Have an emergency plan for your family
🤝 We Are Here to Support You
U.S. Africa Institute continues to stand with immigrant communities—especially African and Caribbean immigrants—who face disproportionate challenges in the immigration system.

We remain committed to:

Know Your Rights education
Legal referrals
Community support and advocacy
📞 Emergency Support Hotline
1-844-363-1423 | 1-844-878-7801

03/21/2026

The State of Black Immigrants in Austin, TX!

Dear Community Members, Partner Organizations and Supporters,

We invite you to join us for an important and timely conversation at the Immigrant Services Network of Austin (ISNA), where the U.S. Africa Institute will present key findings on the State of Black Immigrants in Austin.

This in-person listening session will bring together service providers, advocates, and community leaders to deepen our collective understanding of the challenges impacting Black immigrant communities across Austin and Texas.

During this session, U.S. Africa Institute will share insights and findings on:
• Access to and gaps in service provision
• Trends and realities of immigration detention affecting Black immigrants
• The impact of deportation policies and enforcement practices
• Service provider experiences and frontline observations
• Opportunities for collaboration, advocacy, and policy solutions

This session is designed to center your perspectives, strengthen partnerships, and inform a more equitable and responsive approach to supporting Black immigrant communities.

Event Details:
📅 Monday, March 23, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Room 13
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin
4700 Grover Ave
Austin, TX 78756

Your voice and expertise are critical in shaping solutions that reflect the realities on the ground.

We hope you will join us for this important conversation.

Warm regards,
U.S. Africa Institute

03/11/2026

ICE Detention Centers Have Become Death Chambers for Black Immigrants�
Statement from U.S. Africa Institute on the Death of Haitian Asylum Seeker Emmanuel Damas in ICE Custody
Read more: https://mailchi.mp/f67b66212228/this-giving-tuesday-stand-with-immigrant-communities-13887873?e=7187c47e88