African Voices: Episode 15!

Click the link below to see the full details of news, events and music featured on the podcast.

 Intro:
Welcome to African Voices, episode 15! In this episode, we highlight local news as well as news from the African Continent. Upcoming events, Advice on African hair braiders, an Eritrean dish, music from DJ Ziggs, and an Africans in Chicago interview with______.Local News:

Drivers License for ALL passes through Illinois Senate
In a historic bi-partisan vote in the Fall Veto Session, the Illinois Senate passed SB 957 in support of the Highway Safety Bill!

Please call House Speaker Madigan at 217-782-5350 or 773-581-8000 and ask him to call and pass the bill in the House during January Veto Session. Here’s a script when you call:

“Hello, my name is ________. I am with ______________ (organization/institution), a member of the Highway Safety Coalition. I want to thank Speaker Madigan for supporting driver’s license bill SB957/HB6228, which ensures that ALL drivers are licensed and insured. I would like to ask him to please call and pass the bill next month. Thank you very much.”

African News:
Egypt: Egypt opposition backs referendum ‘No’ vote
Egypt’s opposition National Salvation Front has urged supporters to vote “No” in a looming referendum on a controversial draft constitution.

However, it said it could still call a boycott if its demands for the ballot – including the judiciary acting as overseer – were not met.

The opposition says the draft document, backed by President Mohammed Morsi and his supporters, is too Islamist.

The controversy has prompted mass demonstrations across Egypt.

In a separate development, conciliation talks called for Wednesday by the head of the armed forces have been postponed, with no new date announced.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20696571

South Africa: South Africa’s Jacob Zuma to face Kgalema Motlanthe challenge-
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma will face a challenge for the leadership of the ANC next week from his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe.
Mr Motlanthe’s spokesman Thabo Masebe said that Mr Motlanthe had accepted his nomination to stand as ANC leader.
Mr Zuma has received most nominations, but his critics say he has failed to tackle South Africa’s problems.
The African National Congress leader will be overwhelming favourite to win elections due in 2014.
The ANC has gained more than 60% of the vote in each of the national elections held since
the end of white minority rule in 1994.
But it is facing increasing accusations that it is not doing enough to boost economic growth, or to combat corruption.
Mr Masebe said Mr Motlanthe had agreed to run for the ANC leadership after being nominated by the most branches in three of South Africa’s nine provinces.
“He’s always said branches must be given a chance to express their free will,” Mr Masebe said.
Mr Motlanthe was also available to continue serving as deputy president, or as a member of the party’s national executive committee, he said.
Although there has been months of speculation that Mr Motlanthe would run against Mr Zuma, this is the first confirmation that he would accept his nomination.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20713435

Mali: Django Sissoko named as Mali prime minister

Malian interim President Diouncounda Traore has appointed a new PM, less than 24 hours after his predecessor was forced to resign by the military.

Django Sissoko, an official in the presidency, has been named to succeed Cheick Modibo Diarra, who has been under arrest since his resignation.

The appointment was announced on state television.

The role of the military in the forced resignation of Mr Diarra has been condemned by the UN and many countries.

But Capt Amadou Sanogo, who led a coup in March, said Mr Diarra had not been forced to quit and the military had only facilitated his resignation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20687562

Upcoming Events
Liberian Christmas CelebrationSaturday, December 15, 2012  
10:00 PM (CST)
Corpus Christi Social Hall
4910 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL

Citizenship Workshop
Saturday, December 15
9:00-11:00am
Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago IL 60640

To fill out the citizenship form, please bring the following:

• Have your Green Card, Social Security Card, State ID or Driver’s License
• List of places you have traveled to since you received residency
• List of where you lived, worked, and/or studied for the past 5 years
• Information about your spouse including: name, date of birth, Social Security number, Green Card number, and/or date and place your spouse because a citizen (if applicable)
• Information about your children including: name, address, date of birth and Green Card number (if applicable)
• If you are married, have your date of marriage available
• Information about previous marriages for both you and your spouse (if applicable): date of prior marriage, date the marriage ended and reason the marriage ended
• If applicable, information about any arrests: reasons of the arrest, date, place and disposition
• For men only: Selective Service number and date of registration, call (847)-688-6888 if you don’t know
• Money Order/Cashier’s Check for $680.00 payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security

If you qualify for citizenship, or you’d like to volunteer, call us at: 312-949-9980!

For more information, contact us at:

(312)-949-9980

Leadership Workshop- Give your Fundraising a Boost! Hands on Grant writing!
Saturday, December 22nd
9:30-3pm
IIT Tower Building, floor 6
10 W 35th Street 60616
This workshop is free! Call 312-949-9980 to RSVP

This workshop is an opportunity for hands-on learning and peer exchange around how to make your group’s overall fundraising strategy more diverse and sustainable by fundraising from a broad range of sources, including individual donors, sale of products, special events/benefits, and fee for service. The workshop will provide practical insight on writing successful grant proposals.

If you’re wanting to start 2013 with a big bang, register today and gain practical experience in grant-writing!

Congolese Community Chicago- News Years Party
Saturday, January 5, 2013
8:00pm- 2:00am
Millennium Banquet, 6215 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, IL 60639

Featuring DJ Gordon Banks, The Dance Mission, and The African Kings

Cover: $10 in Advance and $15 at the door
Parking Available
Food and Drinks available
*Prize $25 Gift Card For the Best Dressed

Advice Box
The deadline for hair braiders to apply to receive hair braiders license based on their past experience (Grandfather Option)  is December 31, 2012. After this date, you MUST apply via examination.

In 2011, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issued Hair Braiders License for all in Illinois. It is illegal to practice without a license. The four-page application is submitted to the department with three references to proof past hair braiding experience and application fee of $30.00.

Hair braiding shop owners also need to register their shop with theIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Shop registrations cost $40.00.

For FREE assistance, call us at 312-949-9980 for an appointment to complete your application!

UAO and allies succeeded in passing HB5783, with former State Representative Will Burns as Chief House Sponsor of the bill, that recognizes natural hair braiding as a profession in Illinois, separate from Cosmetology. Under this law, hair braiders are freed from the cost and time spent on irrelevant training for chemically-processed hair treatments. Hair braiders can now pursue their dreams as legitimate entrepreneurs, creating jobs and opportunity for low-income women.

Apply for your hair braiders license today!

Recipe
Eritrean dish
Hembesha (Eritrean bread)

Ingredients (sweet):

1 cup lukewarm milk
2 Tablespoons fresh yeast
1 teaspoon cummin
¼ cup sugar
½ soaked raisins
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
½ margarine or butter
2 cups  flour

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water in a large bowl. Mix the egg and the spices. Add the flour little by little. Knead the mixture for 10 minutes on a floured table.
Allow the dough to rise, covered by a tea-towel, in a warm place. Knead the mixture again and create a round, flat bread (2 centimeters high) from the dough in the frying pan, Allow the dough to rise a second time in a warm place, until its volume has doubled. Decorate the bread with a knife or nails (see picture below).
Bake the bread in the covered frying pan for 10 minutes on a medium to low fire. Turn over the bread and bake it for another 5 minutes. Remove the bread from the frying pan and spread it with some water and butter. Serve warm or cold in wedges.

https://www.eritrea.be/old/eritrea-recipes.htm

Outro: Donation
As 2012 comes to an end, we here at the UAO need your support to advance social justice and empowerment of the African immigrant and refugee community in Illinois. Help us, help you! Be an active voice in the community by making a tax-deductible donation to United African Organization today! In this holiday season, we’re asking you to give whatever you can so we can serve those who need so much more. From our hearts to yours, United African Organization wishes you a joyous holiday season and happy new year