Howard University’s radio station collects $70,000 during holiday food drive

December 2, 2008

fooddrive.jpg(WASHINGTON) – Despite predictions that people would be less giving this year, donations poured in Thursday, Nov. 20 the Old Post Office Pavilion for the “Annual WHUR 96.3FM and WHUR-WORLD HD2 Food2Feed Thanksgiving Drive.” Volunteers fanned out across 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. collecting monetary donations and non-perishable items. When the day ended, the Howard University owned and operated radio stations collected more than $70,000 in monetary donations along with 15-thousand pounds of canned goods.
The donations were turned over to the Capital Area Food Bank, the largest public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The Capital Area Food Bank will used the funds from the “Food2Feed” radiothon to purchase $60 gift cards from Giant Food to distribute to more than 1,000 disadvantaged families in the region, just in time for Thanksgiving.
It is estimated that there are more than 633,000 people in the region are at risk of, or experiencing hunger. “We know that hunger is not one of those problems we can solve with just one fundraiser. But with the generosity of our listeners and many corporate sponsors, the ‘Food2Feed’ radiothon will make this Thanksgiving a special one for many less fortunate families,” said WHUR General Manager Jim Watkins.
The success of the fundraiser was further ensured with the sponsorship of SunTrust Bank, McDonald’s, Verizon, Giant Food, and the BET Foundation. Each corporation provided volunteers, in-kind services, and donation.

IADB Expert to Discuss “Poverty and Marginalization in the Caribbean” at Howard University

November 20, 2008

WASHINGTON (November 17, 2008) - Dora Currea, Ph.D., General Manager, Country Department Caribbean, Inter-American
Development Bank, is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center on Friday, November 21 at 2 p.m. She will speak on the topic, “Poverty and Marginalization in the Caribbean.” This, against the background of a global economic crisis that is bound to adversely affect the region.
Distinguished international economist the Hon. Richard L. Bernal, OJ, Alternate Exceutive Director of the Inter-American
Development Bank.will be in attendance.
Currea holds a doctorate in urban policy issues from MIT and a master’s degree in municipal finance from Harvard.

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Howard University, Library of Congress host author Chinua Achebe

November 7, 2008

WASHINGTON (October 23, 2008) – The Howard University Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center, the African Studies Department, and the Library of Congress recently co-hosted a symposium and celebratory evening program in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the internationally acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The day long symposium featured prominent scholars, writers, and critics of African literature.
WHO: Featured speakers include Ghanaian author and playwright Ama Ata Aidoo, Dr. Ali Mazrui, Albert Schweitzer, Professor of Humanities at Binghamton University, Dr. Simon Gikandi, and Robert Schirmer, Professor of English at Princeton University. Participating Howard University faculty include: Dr. Mbye Cham, Dr. Eleanor Traylor, Dr. Victoria Arana-Robinson and Dr. Jeanne Toungara.
 WHAT: A symposium and special exhibit in honor of Things Fall Apart. Featured speakers include internationally acclaimed author Chinua Achebe. Howard University faculty will revisit the nature and scope of Achebe’s groundbreaking novel, assessing its importance then and now. The event is free of charge and open to the public.