1. Policy Advocacy with TransAfrica Forum
Hepburn Center Internship
Summer 2009
Ntshadi Mofokeng ‘12

2. About TransAfrica Forum
Founding principle
“We believe the success of Afro-Americans is bound up with the emancipation of all African peoples and also other dependent peoples and laboring classes everywhere…”
- excerpt, Declaration of the 5th Pan-African Congress (1945)

3. A Quick History
Established by the Congressional Black Caucus in September 1976 as a private advocacy group
Incorporated July 1st, 1977 in Washington DC, with Randall Robinson as Executive Director
Early work was in southern Africa and Haiti
Orchestrated crucial protests during the 1970s and 1980s outside the South African Embassy in Washington DC which led to high profile arrests including Rosa Parks’

4. Organizational Setup Seven person full-time staff Department Breakdown
Communications
Legal
Public Affairs
Public Outreach
Specialization by region: Africa, the Caribbean and Afro-Latin America

5. Mentors Imani Countess, Senior Director of Public Affairs
Key task: shaping TAF’s policy positions
Representing TAF at conferences and visiting topical countries
Mwiza Munthali,
Public Outreach Director
Key task: implementing public outreach activities
Runs the Arthur Ashe Foreign Policy Library
Hosts AfricaNow weekly radio show

6. Hot Issues Africom - militarization of aid
Vulture Funds - exploitation of highly indebted poor countries
President Obama’s Trip to Ghana - opportunity to reshape foreign policy
Effects of Global Financial Crisis - failure of US economic policy punted through the IMF’s recommendations

7. Events: Cabral/Truth Circle
Topic: Africom and the Militarization of Africa
Model for public education
Short film presentation
Book reading
Case study
Expert panel
Audience participation

8. Event: Film Festivals DC Caribbean Film Festival
African Diaspora Film Festival
Model for collaboration:
Interest groups
Partners with experience
Accessible sites

9. Event: Poetry and Protest
Day of the African Child 16 June
Model for cross-cultural engagement
Providing historical context
Honoring Dennis Brutus, South African poet
Inviting local poets
Hosting Comrade Fatso, Zimbabwean poet

10. Focus on President Obama’s Trip to Ghana
Weekly/Bi-Weekly Meetings
Produced Briefing Book and Sign-On Letter
Model for forming a coalition
Emphasizing general principles
Building up support

11. Writing: Policy Briefs
Piracy in Somalia
Change in Zimbabwe
Format
Issue
History
Previous policy
Policy recommendations
Call for progressive US Foreign Policy

12. Take-Home Message
TransAfrica Forum is a very robust advocacy organization
The staff are supportive of interns and encourage individual development
Many opportunities to initiate ideas, gain experience and interact with a variety of organizations

13. Some of the 2009 Summer Interns
Overall, a very fulfilling experience
Some of the 2009 Summer Interns