Mandela Day 2019
Honoring Madiba's commitment to social justice and his lifetime of service to others.
Please join Bridgewater State University and South Africa Partners in partnership with Senator Jason Lewis in honoring Nelson Mandela's birthday and welcoming this year's Young African Leadership Fellows to Massachusetts.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Mass. State House, Hall of Flags
Speakers Include:
Senator Jason Lewis
Representative Nika Elugardo
Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Executive Director, South Africa Partners
Jackie Jenkins-Scott, Mandela Memorial Commission
Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) Fellows
Performance by South African artist, Neo Gcabo
Please join us after the program for refreshments and a reception with the YALI Fellows.
About Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated on July 18, Nelson Mandela's birthday, to commemorate his commitment to social justice and his lifetime of service to others. The United Nationals General Assembly declared Mandela Day an international holiday in 2009 via an unanimous decision. The message behind Mandela Day is everyone has the ability and responsibility to change the world for the better.
About the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In 2019, the Fellowship provides 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they return home. The Fellows, who are between the ages of 25 and 35, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.
Neo Gcabo
Neo is an R&B and neo-soul vocalist and arts administrator from Pretoria, South Africa. She is a recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a music business degree. Fusing traditional South African styles, Gcabo is heavily influenced by the likes of Miriam Makeba. Neo has toured internationally with the University of Pretoria Youth Choir and since had the opportunity to perform with Grammy Award–winning artists Esperanza Spalding and John Oates. Most recently, Neo has spent time working at La Roque MGMT, a boutique artist management company and has worked as the Attendance Manager for the Berklee Five-Week program. Neo currently works for Dunamis, a non-profit organization providing professional development training to artists and arts managers. She is the Green Mile Program Facilitator and Artist-in-residence.
This Event is Sponsored By:
