User:Kigan28/THE AFRICA SOCIETY

The Africa Society
The mission of The Africa Society is to be the premiere entity that engages and educates Americans about the countries comprising the continent of Africa and to create, through partnerships, a better understanding of its peoples, diverse cultures, histories and economies.

The founder of the Africa Society Leonard H. Robinson was a professor of African Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Senior Fellow at the University's Center for Development and Democracy under the John W. McCormack Institute.

In 1997, Robinson founded the LHR International Group, Inc., a political policy consulting firm specializing in the analysis of U.S. foreign policy for the heads of state and foreign ministers of African and Asian nations. In 2001, he founded The Africa Society as a direct outgrowth of the historic National Summit on Africa. The Summit held a historic conference on Africa in Washington, D.C. from February 16-20, 2000, which involved the participation of several continental Africans and over 8,000 Americans from every state. With a grant from the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Society was established with the prime goal of educating all Americans about Africa.

Robinson was the author of several articles and publications, and served on a number of boards. He has been listed in the Who's Who in America publication since 1985.

Leonard Robinson passed away on July 25, 2006 after battling health problems. 

Bernadette Paolo was named President and CEO of The Africa Society in 2006, succeeding the deceased President and Founder of the organization, Leonard H. Robinson, Jr.

In February 2000, the National Summit on Africa's Dialogue and Celebration of Africa changed the face of American policy toward the continent. Never before had such a large community of people, representing every state in the union, come together in support of Africa. Six extraordinary regional summits and three policy forums were held in major cities throughout the country setting the stage for this significant gathering. The National Summit on Africa's culminating event in Washington, D.C. brought together another 8,000 participants, delegates, and partners whose collective strength demonstrated to the world that Africa matters!