Program areas at APEDF
Community and Youth Programs: APEDF operates Uhuru House community centers and programs for economic development, health and culture in St. Petersburg, FL, St Louis, MO, Oakland, CA and Philadelphia, PA to improve the lives and condition of African people and to build unity, self-determination, leadership and participation in solving community problems. APEDF continued community development work in north St Louis as part of the Black Power Blueprint program to revitalize the neighborhood and create community-generated self-reliance programs. The Black Power Vanguards Community Basketball Court was completed in August 2022 to provide recreation, fitness and youth programming to improve physical and mental health, teamwork, social and analytical skills for community cohesion. APEDF provides an affordable, licensed community commercial kitchen in St Petersburg, FL where over 15 caterers, food vendors, cooks and entrepreneurs were able to create or operate food-related businesses and self-sustaining economic activity. APEDF continued work to build the Uhuru Jiko Bakery/Cafe in St. Louis with creation of construction plans, workforce development program, full interior demolition and capitalization. APEDF held our annual Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service in three cities in January 2022. Family and cultural events with African musicians, Spoken Word and a Halloween Haunted Festival are held at monthly marketplaces and other occasions. APEDF provided low cost housing rentals in St Louis to three families facing increasing rental prices and foreclosures. Completed construction of 4plex apartment building for workforce program housing.
Health and Wellness Programs: To address the grave disparities in infant and maternal mortality faced by African women, APEDF conducted the African Doula Project in 2022. Fourteen African women were fully trained as birthing assistants and were also provided business development classes with curriculum created by APEDF to afford the doulas successful self-employment. APEDF continued work to build the Uhuru wa Kulea "Freedom to Nurture" African Women's Health Center in St. Louis. APEDF held its 15th annual Health Fair in Philadelphia reaching hundreds with information on nutrition, exercise, health care modalities and fitness workshops. In 2022 the St Louis Gary Brooks Community Garden provided over 1,000 pounds of fresh food free to the community, cultivated by scores of volunteer gardeners throughout the growing season. The garden produce was distributed at the weekly One Africa One Nation Farmers Market in St Louis, along with produce for sale from area Black farmers and workshops on gardening and healthy eating. The Black Power Vanguards Community Basketball Court completed in St. Louis also combats higher rates of Black youth and adult obesity, diabetes, cancer and other health indicators.
Economic Development Programs: APEDF operates two community economic development One Africa One Nation marketplaces in St. Louis and Philadelphia, generating community commerce and addressing food apartheid and insecurity. With USDA funding support and accepting SNAP benefits, the St Louis Farmers Market was held weekly from April to October 2022 providing fresh food in where the nearest supermarket is over 3.5 miles away. The markets provide low cost vending opportunities for over 120 vendors in Philadelphia and 40 vendors in St. Louis. Cultural performances, children's activities and workshops on gardening, cooking and nutrition are offered. APEDF operates Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles and Uhuru On the Move self-sustaining economic development institutions for the African community in Oakland, CA and Philadelphia, PA collecting and selling used furniture and housewares and offering residential moving services, making these accessible and affordable to all. Provides employment, skills training and volunteer opportunities for over 100 people in the African community. APEDF also provided employment for 5-10 local Oakland and Philadelphia artists to create furniture and household decor with hand painted and upholstered African designs.
Media and Educational Services: APEDF operates a low power noncommercial FM community radio station reaching over 100,000 St Petersburg Florida residents where 70% of African families live below poverty level. The station is also accessible by cell phone app and internet. Programming empowers the African community with their own voice for news, information and culture. Public health information and weather emergency information are critical roles of the station in this location. With 90% of all media controlled by a handful of large corporations, APEDF provides access to the airwaves for unsigned local talent and African artists all over the world to promote sharing of African culture. APEDF also provides free broadcast and journalism training for community members and students who then produce live programming. APEDF promotes local business and community activities on air to build economic prosperity and involvement for the African community. APEDF held the 9th annual Book Fair at the Philadelphia marketplace promoting black authors, independent publishers and booksellers; featured education resource providers, poetry readings, spoken word, storytelling and literacy activities.