December 4, 2009

An enchanting evening engaged all honored guests, members of the board of directors of AHEAD, Inc., "friends of AHEAD, Inc.," and valued patrons at the AHEAD, Incorporated, Third Annual Gala and Awards Dinner-New York City, New York, held in the glow of the George Washington Bridge, at the illustrious River Room on the Hudson River on Thursday, December 3, 2009. The evening began with great enthusiasm as the galas' co-masters of ceremony, television news anchor and personality Cathleen Trigg-Jones (AHEAD BOD) and theatre, movie, and television personality Lamman Rucker (AHEAD BOD), emersed the gathering of over 120 patrons in appreciation for the work AHEAD, Incorporated has performed in Tanzania and the Gambia for over 28 years.  

This magnificient event served as an opportunity to celebrated the lives and accomplishments of five individual honorees in a variety of areas of human endeavor, for answering the call of altruism and selflessness to the human condition. Each of these dynamic humanitarians embody the message and the mission of AHEAD, Incorporated and the tireless work that we are committed to, in remedying the catastrophic challenges in healthcare, environment, clean water, and opportunity faced by our friends in the coast region of Tanzania and the Gambia.  This years honorees were:

• Humanitarian, The Honorable David Dinkins, (Former Mayor of NYC, NY)--Recipient of the President JK Nyerere History Maker Award
• Humanitarian Montel Williams, (Television/radio personality and Social Activist)--Recipient of the Vanguard Award for Social Change
• Humanitarian Rosemond Pierre-Louis, (Manhattan Deputy Borough President)--Recipient of the Advocacy for Women Award
• Humanitarian George Hulse, (Healthcare advocate)--Recipient of the Corporate Visionary Award
• Humanitarian Brian Harper, MD, (Healthcare advocate)--Recipient of the Advancement of Public Healthcare Award

Each individual shared with the collective their insight and passion for the work that they do, and one by one, welcomed the opportunity to support AHEAD in our effort to make palpable differences in the lives of scores of people within the African diaspora, who struggle to exist disease free, sustain reliable clean food and water sources, and develop educational and economic opportunity.  AHEAD extends a most heart felt thanks to all of our honorees for their time, their voice of compassion, and their eloquence.  AHEAD sincerely thanks the arduous work of Donna Williams, DDS (AHEAD BOD) and her organizing committee for a thrilling experience.  Most of all, AHEAD thanks those friends, new and old, for your unrelenting support and generosity.  Begin planning for your attendance at this exciting event for 2010. We look forward to your participation in this and all other AHEAD events, as AHEAD marches toward our 30th anniversary in 2011.

July 13, 2009

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The construction of AHEAD's latest girl's secondary school dormitory is now complete!  With hard work and commitment from so many local villagers, AHEAD volunteers, and AHEAD supporters from around the world, this wonderful edifice for living and learning will soon be equipped with furnishing and be prepared to open within a season.  The female students in need of local, safe, and comfortable housing are thrilled to be the first group to christen this new facility.  It not only will serve as a place for lodging, but will also host residential life learning opportunities for its inhabitants.   W.E.B. Dubois once said, "Education is that whole system of human training within and without the school house walls, which molds and develops (wo)men.  Executive Director for AHEAD, Elvira Williams notes, "these all-girl secondary school living-learning centers enrich the education of each student by developing minds outside of the classroom. This facility will preserve the mission of AHEAD not only by enhancing residents’ quality of life, but also by providing a fine learning environment for these young women to grow and succeed."  With a new building, fresh paint, fresh furniture and finishes, this building will serve as a fresh start to a bright future for these AHEAD student-scholars.

AHEAD and the Masaki Hospital Project, Tanzania

With this project and our addtional programming, AHEAD focuses on reducing maternal and fetal mortality in Tanzania and the Gambia. We recognize fellow advocates and leaders such as Dr. Helene D. Gayle, President and CEO of CARE, who speak truth to this catastrophic calamity, as AHEAD continues our struggle to eradicate unnecessary and unacceptable death.

No mother should die giving birth

By Helene D. Gayle

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Friday, July 10, 2009

I stood up and applauded for women everywhere when I heard the news.

The United Nations Human Rights Council, including the U.S., recently recognized maternal death as a human rights issue.

With this groundbreaking resolution comes a global commitment to protect and empower women and girls. This is a sign the issue is finally being taken seriously.

For the past 15 years, governments have failed to meet the commitments made and targets set to reduce the more than half a million maternal deaths every year. So what comes next?

Preventing maternal deaths can be done. I have no doubt. To get there requires three well-coordinated actions: sustain political leadership, secure adequate resources and strengthen health systems.

Political will from top to bottom must drive this campaign. Throughout the struggle for safe motherhood, women have lacked powerful advocates.

Their voices and needs are rarely heard in policy forums or even in their own communities. Recognizing maternal health as a human rights issue is a positive step, but only effective if it translates into action. We must ensure safe motherhood is a fundamental right leaders deliver on.