On Sunday, June 27th 2010, Volta Association and Metropolitan Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and the Montgomery County Maryland African Affairs Advisory Group will host Africans and friends of Africa at the grand opening of the African Cultural and Resource Center (ACRC), located at 1523 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 in the Universal Evangelical Church Building opposite the Holy Cross Hospital from 12:00pm – 2:00pm.

The African Cultural and Resource Center will operate as a venue where the African community will come to access culturally appropriate health education materials, free computer training, free job search help, resume writing, obtain information on various subjects and English classes for non English speakers. The African Cultural and Resource Center aims at providing programs and services that will educate the underrepresented one at a time.

Several leaders from the African community involved with the Volta Association of the Washington, D.C. Metro area, the Montgomery County Maryland African Affairs Advisory Group and some area non-profits realized the need to have a common place to help African new comers transition into work and life in the U.S. Personal experiences from members of the African community propelled these leaders to work together to create the African Cultural and Resource Center. Mr. Edwin Agbonyitor, the President of Volta Association and Ms. Doris Dzameshie, Secretary of the Volta Association were able to identify a venue at the Universal Evangelical Church which is now being used for the ACRC. The vision for the center is that it will cater to the needs of all Africans. All African organizations are being encouraged to join in this exciting endeavor.

Volta Association focuses its programs on the promotion of technology and cultural heritage of people from Africa especially those from Ghana, Togo and Benin in the Diaspora. Metropolitan Community Development Corporation (MCDC) is Bethel World Outreach Churches' Center for Social and Economic Development. The Montgomery County Maryland African Affairs Advisory Group facilitates communication between the County government and the African community. The Volta Association and MCDC, two non-profit organizations with 501(c) (3) status will manage the ACRC with support from the Montgomery County African Affairs Advisory Group. Donations and volunteer help are being solicited in order to support the work of the Center.

Listing of the African Cultural and Resource Center Founders

Edwin Agbonyitor – President, Volta Association; William Ayenson – Elder, Universal Evangelical Church;

Mumin Barre – Member, African Affairs Advisory Group; Doris Dzameshie – Secretary, Volta Association;

Amie Jallah – Executive Director, MCDC & Member, African Affairs Adv. Group; Daniel Koroma – Chair, African and Caribbean Advisory Group; Rev. Kennedy Odzafi – Member, African Affairs Advisory Group and Volta Association.



Press Release

For Immediate Release 6/16/10

Mr. Edwin Agbonyitor

301-922-1262/edwinkobla@yahoo.com

Ms. Doris Dzameshie

301-875-3610/dzuglo@hotmail.com

Volta Association

P.O.Box 4721

Silver Spring, MD 20914

Ms Amie Jallah

301-495-8970/amiejallah@att.net

MCDC

8238 Georgia Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20910