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The BPAF is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) open-membership organization that was created in 1997 in order to promote a widespread appreciation of current social, economic, political and other issues affecting relations between Americans and peoples of African descent around the world.
It seeks to mobilize all sectors of the American society especially regarding U.S. foreign policy and international relations. The BPAF is based in Boston with a membership throughout New England.Our organization’s mission emphasizes connecting African peoples with each other and with their friends and allies.
History of the Boston Pan-Africa Forum — some highlights
- Our team of members and leaders has been long lasting – starting out as “The Boston Support Group for TransAfrica,” in the late 1970s, to the formal transformation to the BPAF in 1997, until now.
- Our most significant accomplishments include:
- Organizing the first formal gathering of the African Americans who had served the US as Foreign Ambassador. This led to their own first organization of their members.
- Organizing the “Free South Africa Movement” in the Boston area, in collaboration especially with “The Fund for a Free South Africa.” As part of the TransAfrica led national program, we are credited with leading the American “Anti-Apartheid Movement” to victory in the mid 1980s. In the Boston area we led the successful movement to ban the sale in the U.S. of the South African “Kruger-rand” gold coin.
- Helping to organize and host the first visit to Boston of the then recently-released-from-prison Mr. Nelson Mandela. TransAfrica organized the national visit of Mr. Mandela.
- As the inaugural event for the BPAF Inc. itself, hosting a reception in Boston, at the Museum of the National Center for Afro-American Artists, of the then recently-elected U.N. Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan.
- Organizing the New England Regional planning conference for “the National Summit on African,” and sending a delegation to that conference in 2000, that produced a Policy Plan of Action (cf. www.africasummit.org for the policy plan)
- Hosting numerous forums and receptions concerned with issues, leaders, and events throughout the African continent, and the African world-wide diaspora. Guest speakers have ranged from former heads-of-state, to civic and political leaders, and leading academics and writers.
Membership form : see side bar
BOSTON PAN AFRICAN FORUM
BPAF Board 2017,
Prof. Joyce Hope-Scott, President
Mr. Kobena Bonney, Vice President
Mr. Al Hope Jr., Clerk/Secretary
Treasurer temporarily vacant post
Prof. Alex Asare
Prof. N.T. Izuchi
Prof. Reginald Jackson
Ms. Mimi Jones
Ms. Cristalina Pereira
SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD
Willard R. Johnson, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus MIT
Jemadari Kamara, Ph.D. Associate Professor U.Mass Boston
Pearl T. Robinson, Ph.D.Associate Professor Tufts University