Bronx Community College (BCC) hosted a panel of activists and educators to discuss the social, economic, and educational needs of African women in New York. Among the panelists were Kadiatou Diallo, president of The Amadou Diallo Foundation Inc.; Natasha Johnson-Lashley, Esq., an attorney specializing in African family issues and producer/host of "The African View"; Sibongile Mblaba, professor at Bronx Community College in the history department; and Madousso Traore, president of Malian Women's Association.

Ethnically diverse African families form one of the fastest growing new arrival groups in New York City. The majority of the African immigrants coming to New York City in large numbers are from Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Guinea and Senegal.

According to a recent report released by the California Endowment and Summit Health Institute for Research and Education entitled "Giving Voices to the Voiceless," recent African immigrants face formidable barriers to healthcare access due to limited English-language skills, lack of resources, the absence of health insurance and the lack of awareness of how to get through the healthcare system.

Few healthcare providers in the United States understand the various African cultures and how to communicate and interact with their patients. Language barriers have a huge impact on the entire range of social functions, especially education, employment, housing, politics and law. African immigrants with limited English skills are generally unable to assist their children with educational efforts. And the stress and complexity of everyday life in a foreign country engulfed with racial discrimination and the lack of economic opportunities for adequate income can manifest themselves in mental illness and depression.

The ultimate goal of the forum was to focus attention and awareness on the unique situations that African women and their families face as new immigrants to the United States, particularly New York City, and to create a line of communication between the African women and the larger community.

"African women are underserved and under-resourced, and they need to be in touch with their local politicians and with their community so that they may have complete access to the services and resources that the community has to offer," said Johnson-Lashley. "African women need a forum and a voice where they can have an open dialogue about 'quiet-as-kept' issues and how to seek help when they need it."

Kadiatou Diallo, herself an immigrant from Guinea (West Africa), became an activist and community leader after the tragic murder of her son by New York Police Department officers in 1999. She said, "We have to encourage African women to come forward to get access to community services that they may not be aware of. We have to empower African women to get an education and to utilize the health and social services that are available so that they won't feel and become isolated when they come to America."

A number of community-based agencies that provide legal, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, health and other family services, to newly-arrived African women and other immigrant populations, participated in the event, including: African Services, Bronx Health Link, Morris Heights Health Center, Safe Horizon, Bronx Community College admissions office and Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership. There were over 60 community residents and college and high school students also in attendance.