Click to see 09.25.09 pics

Last year, 09.25.09, we made history.  Never before has a major league baseball team held an appreciation day with for the Ethiopian community.  On September 29^th, 2009, the Washington Nationals did exactly that.  Ethiopian-Americans for Change, in partnership with the Washington Nationals organized the first ever Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day at the Nationals Baseball Park.

What took place was an amazing sight to behold.  Singers and performers from across the spectrum came together and performed for free for this historical occasion.  Mahmoud Ahmed, Yehune, Wayna, Tsegaye Sellasie, Zakki, Richmond Punch, Munit Mesfin and DJ Mamush put on a show of a lifetime.  In addition, the amazing artist Solomon Asfaw painted live a beautiful painting that represented the true essence and beauty of Ethiopia.  Almaz Restaurant stepped up in a major way and provided free Ethiopian food for all that attended.  Lastly, Ethiopian businesses from all over the DC metro area sponsored the event and made Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day possible along with the sponsorship provided by Coca Cola, Wachovia, Bank of America, and Starbucks to name a few.

Over 300 people came out in the middle of rush hour to take part in this historical celebration of our community.  Mayor Fenty released a letter thanking the Ethiopian community for our contributions to the city and to the nation and the City Council introduced a resolution, written by CM Graham, thanking the Ethiopian community for our contributions to the United States that date back to the early 1800s.  The inaugural Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day was a smashing success by any measure.  Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day was a family event; parents, children, and young working professionals alike came together to celebrate our community.

This year, we are at it again.  As great as the event was last year, we encountered quite a few challenges.  First, we had less than two months to put together an event that would usually take at least 8 months worth of planning.  Second, the event was on a Friday afternoon, where most folks are still working and find it difficult to trek through rush hour to take part.  This year, Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day will be held on a Saturday.  So, on Saturday, 08.28.10, we will build on the momentum from last year and put together an event that will truly celebrate the diversity and accomplishments of our community.

This event marks the continuing growth of our community in our new home the United States.  In 2008, we took part in a coalition that elected the first black president; that very year, for the first time ever, a Presidential candidate released a letter thanking Ethiopian for our contributions to the United States.  There are hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians who work relentlessly and make contributions to America.  On Saturday, August 28^th, Ethiopian-Americans for Change, in partnernship with the Washington Nationals will once again thank our community, and we will have a chance to celebrate as ONE.  Will you be there??

Volunteer Call

click to go to Facebook Volunteer page

The Inaugural Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day would not have been possible if it was not for the amazing contributions and sacrifices of countless organizers in every corner of America and in Canada.   By working together, we were able to pull off an amazing feat in less than two months.  This year is no exception, we will need a large volunteer pool in order to put this event together.  So this is a call to action, if you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Ethiopian-Americans for Change, please email us at volunteer@ea4c.org.  You can also join the Facebook Fan Page by clicking on the picture below.  This will enable us to communicate with volunteers quickly and effectively.  We need volunteers not only in the DC area, but in every big city where there is a large Ethiopian community.

The specific committees we are looking to fill are as follows:

• Media/PR Committee
• Sponsorship Committee
• Music/Band Committee
• Post Baseball Celebration
• Eyasu Generation Award Committee
• Events Coordinating Committee (logistics planning)
• Vendor Committee
• Regional Coordinator Committee (organizers outside of the DC Market)

When you send the email, please include your full name, contact info, and which committee you want to volunteer for.  All volunteers will get a full access pass for all Ethiopian-American Appreciation Day that will guarantee free access and a chance to meet the singers and performers during the event.