Resources for Immigrants in NYC

Refugee & Immigrant Support

• The International Rescue Committee
• Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York
• The Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture
• CAMBA
• The Ansob Center
• Arab American Family Support Center

Legal Assistance

• New York Immigration Coalition
• The HIV Law Project
• New York Lawyers For the Public Interest
• Legal Services of New York & Harlem Legal

Language & Literacy

• The International Center of New York
• Literacy Assistance Center of New York

Domestic Violence & Family Support

• Safe Horizons
• Sanctuary for Families

Substance Abuse Prevention & Care

• Harm Reduction Coalition
• Exponents
• Osbourne Association

LGBT Networks

• GMAD (Gay Men of African Descent)
• Liberation for All Africans
  A network of African lesbians, gender nonconforming and transgender people
  based in the U.S.

Immigrant HIV/AIDS Service Providers

• Latino Commission on AIDS
• Hispanic AIDS Forum
• Mexicanos Unidos
• Alianza Dominicana
• Caribbean Women's Health Center
• William F. Ryan Community Health Center

Microcredit for Immigrant Entrepreneurs

• ACCION
• Project Enterprise

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. a group, organization, or web site to add to our partners & links.

African Organizations in the U.S.

New York City

• African Refuge
  
• Association des Freres Ivoiriens d'Amerique (A.F.I.A.)
• Caribbean Women's Health Association
• Sauti Yetu: Center for African Women
• Liberation for All Africans (a network for African LGBT people)
• The Coalition of Ethiopian Women for Mutual Support
• Darfur People's Association of New York
  
• Dwa Fanm [Haiti]
• FLAM [Mauritania]
• The Gambian Society in New York
• The Gambian Youths Organization
• Guinea Development Foundation
• Haitian Americans United for Progress
• Haitian Centers Council
• Nah We Yone [Sierra Leone]
• National Council of Ghanaian Associations
• The Malian Association of New York
• Association of Malian Women
• The Togo Association
• Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians
• The Pulaar Speaking Association
• United African Congress
  

Rochester

• Somali Community Outreach & Education Center
  

Syracuse

• Somali Bantu Community Organization

Connecticut

• African Community Development Council
  

Indiana

• African Community International
  

Maryland

• African Women's Cancer Awareness Association
  

Massachusetts

• Multicultural AIDS Coalition (Jamaica Plain)
  

Minnesota

• Somali Justice Advocacy Center
• Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota
  
• Sub-Saharan African Youth & Family Services in Minnesota
  
• Minnesota African Women's Association
  

New Hampshire

• Somali Development Center
  

Seattle

• Horn of Africa Services

Washington, D.C.

• African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation
• Africa Action
• African Diaspora for Change
• Al-Fatiha (a national organization for LGBTIQQ Muslims)
• Ethiopian Community Development Council

Mission & History

Our Mission

Founded in 1981 by Ethiopian refugees to give a helping hand to other newcomers, today African Services is a multiservice human rights agency based in Harlem and dedicated to assisting immigrants, refugees and asylees from across the African Diaspora.

Our programs address the needs of newcomers affected by war, persecution, poverty, and global health inequalities. We provide health, housing, legal, educational, and social services to more than 6,500 people each year. Staff representing more than 20 countries and speaking over 25 languages provide culturally and linguistically relevant support to this diverse and growing community.

Expanding HIV prevention and access to AIDS treatment and care is central to our mission. African Services has taken this work from Harlem to the frontlines of the global pandemic and now operates three health and community development centers in Ethiopia.

We are committed to challenging stigma and discrimination at all levels and supporting individuals, families and communities most impacted by AIDS. Combined with life-saving treatment, this care and support has transformed thousands of lives.

Our History 

African Services Committee was begun in 1981 in Bronx basement apartment by Asfaha Hadera. Asfaha arrived in the United States having experienced first-hand the realities of refugee life. Asfaha fled his home country of Ethiopia in 1977 for refugee camps in Sudan, before emigrating to the U.S. in 1979. Upon arrival, he saw a lack of assistance for others, like himself, who were refugees from conflicted areas throughout Africa. So, he established the organization to give a helping hand to other African newcomers and, with Kim Nichols, began refugee resettlement programs in New York City.

As immigration from the continent increased and our offices expanded to their current home in West Harlem, and African Services' priorities widened to include broader support services for African immigrants coming to the United States including:

• HIV/STD/TB/Hepatitis B and C testing

• Diabetes & Blood Pressure Testing

• Hospital Escort & Medical Interpretation

• Legal Services & Immigration assistance

• Case Management & Family Support

• Housing Placement Assistance

• Independent Living Skills Program

• Food Pantry & Nutrition Support

• ESL Classes

• Community Outreach & Health Education

• Advocacy & Policy Work

The services have expanded to serve over 12,000  people each year in our Harlem location and continues to grow each year.

Above photo of ASC Founder and Co-Executive Director, Asfaha Hadera courtesy of Vitamin Angels/ Matt Dayka

Our Staff

African Service Committee's staff and board members reflect the communities we serve, representing more than a twenty countries and speaking over twenty-five languages.

We possess diverse backgrounds and expertise in medicine and nursing, epidemiology and biostatistics, social work, law, education, policy advocacy and community organizing, program development and evaluation, development and communications. Together, our staff work to meet the changing needs of the African community and have remain a trusted partner to immigrant communities in the New York City and an ally to people living with HIV around the world.

Leadership

Asfaha Hadera, Founder 

Amanda Lugg / Mulusew Bekele, Co-Executive Director 

Nathalie Weeks, Senior Advisor

Staff

Amanda Lugg, Director of Advocacy and LGBTQ Programming

Mulusew Bekele, Director of Program Operations

Nathalie Weeks, Mental Health Counselor

Paola Roche, Chief Administrative Officer

Aida Diallo-Diagne, Director of Housing             

Afi Akakpo, COVID-19 Outreach Specialist

Chrystelle Ade Touvoli, Supervising Family Social Worker

Emily Goldberg, Health Education Officer

Halimatou Konte, Testing Center Coordinator                     

Ralford Goulbourne, Fiscal Manager 

Aminat Sabak, Director of Pro Bono and Legal Development 

William Pugliese, Supervising Attorney 

Corinne Donaldson, Senior Staff Attorney

Corinne Sweeney, Legal Advocate

David Corrigan, Legal Advocate 

Bath Bilissalou, Legal Advocate 

Patricia Vazquez, Law Graduate/ Legal Advocate 

Kelly Keown, Law Graduate/ Legal Advocate

Bobby Molano, Legal Advocate

Lucia della Paolera, DOJ Accredited Representative

Abdoul Nikiema, Fiscal Assistant

Adama Traore, Patient Navigator 

Adizatou Maiga, Family Case Manager

Ailsa Hoayek, Housing Placement Assistant 

Bineta Diouf, Case Manager

Carine Lagahi, Housing Placement Assistant

Danait Yemane, HIV Project Coordinator

Daouda Ndiaye, Patient Navigator

Emmanuel Ndabishuriye, Data Entry Specialist 

Ibrahima Sankare, Outreach and Testing Assistant

Issoumaila Zou, Testing & Outreach Assistant

Mada Sene, Family Case Manager

Rokhaya Gueye, Testing Center Assistant

Joseph Wilkenson, Peer Worker

Yacine Gassambe, Receptionist / Food Pantry Coordinator