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Padnos International Center 130 Lake Ontario Hall Allendale, MI 49401 Phone: 616-331-3898 Fax: 616-331-3899 pic@gvsu.edu |
Helping African immigrants
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| As the director of the GVSU African/African American studies program, Jacques Mangala impacts the lives of students everyday. Now, in his newly elected position as president of the board of directors of Humanity for Africa, he hopes to have an impact on a bigger stage. Humanity for Africa is a Michigan based non-profit organization dedicated to helping African immigrants adjust to American culture and living in West Michigan. In addition to helping Africans that have immigrated to the U.S., the organization also works to help communities in Africa through outreach programs. "It's our mission to empower the African immigrant population in West Michigan and also pursue humanitarian and development projects in Africa," Mangala said. The organization provides new immigrants with job and language skill training as well as legal and social counseling. Mangala said the group focuses on helping immigrants integrate instead of assimilate into American culture. "I think assimilation has a negative connotation," he said. "Assimilation means you abandon who you are for a more dominant culture. I prefer integration because with integration you stay who are, but bring something new to the table." Mangala, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, can relate to the experience of being an immigrant in a new country. He lived in Europe for 10 years and has been in the United States for seven years. In addition to being the director for the African/African American studies program at Grand Valley, Mangala is also a professor of political science and African studies. He said he is looking forward to fulfilling his role at Humanity for Africa because his is finally able to connect his job at Grand Valley with the larger community. "It's very rewarding to be a part of a project that really matters," Mangala said. Recently, the organization provided books and school supplies for an elementary school in the Congo. In the future, they hope to continue helping African communities in West Michigan and abroad. Mangala said the organization is also working to improve the relationship between Africans and African Americans in the U.S. by hosting events and community forums. |
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| By Jazmine Steele | |
