Policy Advocacy with TransAfrica Forum Hepburn Center Internship Summer 2009 Ntshadi Mofokeng ‘12

About TransAfrica Forum Founding principle “We believe the success of Afro-Americans is bound up with the emancipation of all African peoples and also other dependent peoples and laboring classes everywhere…” - excerpt, Declaration of the 5th Pan-African Congress (1945)

A Quick History  Established by the Congressional Black Caucus in September 1976 as a private advocacy group  Incorporated July 1st, 1977 in Washington DC, with Randall Robinson as Executive Director  Early work was in southern Africa and Haiti  Orchestrated crucial protests during the 1970s and 1980s outside the South African Embassy in Washington DC which led to high profile arrests including Rosa Parks’

Organizational Setup  Seven person full-time staff  Department Breakdown  Communications  Legal  Public Affairs  Public Outreach  Specialization by region: Africa, the Caribbean and Afro-Latin America

Mentors Imani Countess, Senior Director of Public Affairs  Key task: shaping TAF’s policy positions  Representing TAF at conferences and visiting topical countries Mwiza Munthali, Public Outreach Director  Key task: implementing public outreach activities  Runs the Arthur Ashe Foreign Policy Library  Hosts AfricaNow weekly radio show

Hot Issues  Africom - militarization of aid  Vulture Funds - exploitation of highly indebted poor countries  President Obama’s Trip to Ghana - opportunity to reshape foreign policy  Effects of Global Financial Crisis - failure of US economic policy punted through the IMF’s recommendations

Events: Cabral/Truth Circle  Topic: Africom and the Militarization of Africa  Model for public education  Short film presentation  Book reading  Case study  Expert panel  Audience participation

Event: Film Festivals  DC Caribbean Film Festival  African Diaspora Film Festival  Model for collaboration:  Interest groups  Partners with experience  Accessible sites

Event: Poetry and Protest  Day of the African Child 16 June  Model for cross-cultural engagement  Providing historical context  Honoring Dennis Brutus, South African poet  Inviting local poets  Hosting Comrade Fatso, Zimbabwean poet

Focus on President Obama’s Trip to Ghana  Weekly/Bi-Weekly Meetings  Produced Briefing Book and Sign-On Letter  Model for forming a coalition  Emphasizing general principles  Building up support

Writing: Policy Briefs  Piracy in Somalia  Change in Zimbabwe  Format  Issue  History  Previous policy  Policy recommendations  Call for progressive US Foreign Policy

Take-Home Message  TransAfrica Forum is a very robust advocacy organization  The staff are supportive of interns and encourage individual development  Many opportunities to initiate ideas, gain experience and interact with a variety of organizations

Overall, a very fulfilling experience Some of the 2009 Summer Interns