PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: ZION TROD ROOTS & CULTURE MUSIC AND DANCE SERIES
EVERY THIRD SUNDAY AT CPAC, BROOKLYN A FUND-RAISING PROJECT FOR ETHIOPIA
The Women’s Auxiliary of Local Number One of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated (EWF) launches a fund raising entertainment series for the organization’s projects in Ethiopia on Sunday, July 18, 2010. The Fund Raising effort takes the form of a Monthly Dance and Concert dubbed “Zion Trod Roots & Culture Sundays” to be held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Cultural Performance Arts Center (CPAC) at 1020 East 48th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11203 (corner of Farragut Road).
The Zion Trod Fund-Raiser is geared toward the development of the Shashamanne Land Grant in Ethiopia (land given to the Black People’s of the world by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, for black people in the diaspora who desire to return to the Motherland.) A minimum of 2/3 of the income received from the event is designated for the following projects in Ethiopia:
(1) A Vocational Training Institute (with a proposed Orphanage)
(2) A self-sustainable Model City to accommodate those repatriating from the West
(3) An ongoing Rainwater Harvesting Program (building concrete tanks for families in the to have
access to water during times of drought and for domestic farming)
The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated (the “EWF” or “Federation”) is a membership organization, incorporated August 25, 1937 in the State of New York, and is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 4 (civic league, social welfare) tax exempt organization operating under the New York State Not-for-Profit laws.
The organization was incorporated in 1937, during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. Blacks in the West gallantly supported Ethiopia’s war effort, sacrificing their meager pennies despite the hardship of the Depression, many even volunteering to go to Ethiopia to help the country defend itself against Mussolini’s army. A delegation of three prominent Harlem figures, all leaders of The United Aid for Ethiopia, were sent to seek an audience with His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, who was in exile in Bath, England at that time. In response to their request, the Emperor empowered his personal physician, Dr. Malaku E. Bayen, to travel to New York and establish the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, with a Constitution and By-Laws designed as a guide to organize and protect the Black peoples of the world. The preamble of the Constitution reads as follows:
“We, the Black Peoples of the World, In order to effect Unity, Solidarity, Liberty, Freedom and Self-determination, to secure Justice and maintain the Integrity of Ethiopia, which is our Divine Heritage, do hereby establish and ordain this Constitution for The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated.”
“The EWF was given the responsibility by our 1937 Constitution and Bylaws to organize and pave the way for the repatriation of the Black Family to Africa, and now the women of the organization and others in the Black community, including the Rastafarian community, are invited to come together to defend and protect our family and future generations,” said Gem Morrison, a member of the Local One Executive Committee and International President of the organization. “The Women’s Auxiliary is calling upon the singers and players of instruments who have long sung about Africa, Ethiopia and Shashemanne, to come forward and support this fund raising series with their God-given talent.”
All members of the media and the general public are invited to attend the FREE press party and Launch event on Sunday July 18, 2010 at CPAC from 3:00 pm – 6 p-m. Concert and Dance follows.
For membership information, to volunteer to help, to make a donation or to request a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Federation, please email the Women’s Auxiliary at ziontrod@gmail.com, or call 212-433-0868. You may download a copy at www.ziontrod.org. The email of Local One is EWFLocal1@yahoo.com.
CONTACT:
G. Eveta Morrison 212-433-0868 or Victoria Hyde at 347-285-4465
Mailing Address: EWF Local Number One Inc. Women’s Auxiliary, 154 Howard Ave., Brooklyn NY 11233
2010 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
President: Albert Smith (Wolde Selassie) | 1st Vice President: Leylond Yorke (Gabre Selassie) | 2nd Vice President: Marie Domond | Financial Secretary: Rondell Baptiste (Haile Giorgis) | Treasurer: G. Eveta Morrison (Sister Gem Askala Mariam) | Recording Correspondence Secretary: Barry Gordon | Chaplain: Lynval Samuels | Sergeant-at-Arms: Mark Russell (Ras Abuba) | 3 Other Elected Officers (Directors): Victoria Hyde, Sylvia Jordan (Queen Mother), Tadesse Makonnen (Wolde Mariam)
http://www.ziontrod.com
