GALLERIES

October 2007: 20th Anniversary of Africare House

In October 2007, Africare celebrated a milestone: two decades of residency in Washington, D.C.'s Shaw community and, specifically, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Africare House. Once an elementary school, the building now known as Africare House serves as Africare's international headquarters as well as Washington's "House of Africa."

After its founding in Hawaii in November 1970, Africare was permanently re-incorporated in Washington, D.C., in May of 1971. For most of the subsequent 16 years, the organization rented space in various office buildings. When the time came to establish a permanent headquarters, Africare chose as its location Washington's Shaw area ― symbolizing our deep roots within the African-American community and affirming the historical bonds between that community and Africa. Shaw had thrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a center of African-American intellectual and cultural life. We moved into Africare House in the spring of 1987, and the building's official opening celebration was on October 8 of that same year.

Thus, in October 2007, Africare hosted an anniversary block party for our neighbors and friends in Shaw. The family-friendly gathering provided visitors with a chance to experience the international culture of Africare House (including African food and entertainment) and an opportunity to learn more about our work in Africa.

View photos of the celebration here.

 

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(Updated, Jan. 14, 2008)