Norton to Speak at First Annual Young African ConneXions Summit, Today
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will give remarks at the first-ever annual Young African ConneXions Summit today, Friday, July 17, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. at the Howard University School of Business Auditorium (2600 6th Street NW). The summit, presented by the Mayor's Office on African Affairs, aims to build connections between the District's African immigrant community and young professionals from Africa on topics such as leadership, technology, education, and the importance of creating sustained linkages. The summit will be followed by a Mandela Day of Service on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Both events are free and open to the public and are held in commemoration of the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. Norton was one of the four activists whose visit to the South African Embassy in 1984 sparked serial protests and arrests at the embassy against apartheid and helped get U.S. sanctions on South Africa. When Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013, Norton was part of the congressional delegation that traveled to South Africa for his funeral service.
"One of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the District of Columbia are people from the many countries of Africa," Norton said. "It is timely for an increased dialogue between our African immigrant community and African young professionals, who are increasingly visiting the nation's capital. I particularly applaud the Mayor's Office on African Affairs for this first summit leading up to tomorrow's Mandela Day of Service."