Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., in partnership with The Senegalese Association of America and the NYC Council of African Imams today, hosted nearly 40 city agencies and community organizations at a forum for African immigrant families in Northern Manhattan. The purpose of the event, which is the latest in a series of events the District Attorney is holding for immigrants throughout the borough, to provide important information on services available to the African community.

“New immigrants are particularly vulnerable to fraud, which is why it is important for  law enforcement and city agencies to reach out to our growing immigrant communities and make them aware of available services, programs, and resources,” said District Attorney Vance. “For the first time, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office is hosting a series of events specifically for the African immigrant community.  The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, along with our partners in the city and law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and the African community, is committed to empowering immigrant communities and families with tools and information to fraud.”

The forum addressed members of the borough’s burgeoning African community on three main topics: crime prevention, education, and resources for the community. Manhattan is home to a large African immigrant population, the majority of whom have settled in Central Harlem. The African immigrant population in Central Harlem, which hails primarily from West Africa, makes up 23 percent of the immigrant population in the Community Board 10 district. That makes it the second largest immigrant community, after the Latin American population.

Last November, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office hosted a roundtable discussion on domestic violence and the criminal justice process for African clergy and members of the African media, providing them with vital information and statistics on these topics so that they will be better able to educate their community. In October, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office conducted a Fraud Prevention Seminar for more than 200 people to provide the African community the tools and information they need to prevent them from falling victim to immigration fraud and other type of abuses.

In 2011, the District Attorney’s Community Affairs Unit hosted or participated in more than 1,400 meetings and events. http://manhattanda.org/community-affairs-unit

Participating Organizations:

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Community Affairs Unit

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Immigrant Affairs Program

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Special Victims Bureau

Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence

Mayor’s Office of Adult Education

New York City Department of Consumer Affairs/Office of Financial Empowerment

New York City Department of Education, Office of Adult & Continuing Education

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

New York City Police Department's Community Affairs Bureau/

New Immigrant Outreach Unit

Office of City Councilwoman Inez Dickens

Office of Congressman Charles B. Rangel

Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer

Office of New York State Senator Bill Perkins

City College of New York

CONNECT

Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs (DIPA), New York State Department of Labor

Harlem Community Justice Center

                                         NYC Commission on Human Rights

Harlem Hospital Center, The Center for Victim Support

Harlem Hospital Center,Medina Clinic

HELP USA

Islamic Cultural Center of North America

Legal Aid

Manhattan Legal Services

Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership

Safepath Benefits

Sanctuary for Families

Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families

The Children’s Aid Society - Family Wellness Program

The Family PEACE Program

Violence Intervention Program

Collaborators and Partners:

The Senegalese Association of America

Council of African Imams

African Hope Committee

African Leadership Project

African Services Committee, Inc.

African Women for Good Governance

Africans4Humanity

The Malian Association of New York

Burkinafasso Association

Downtown Baptist Church

Sengalese Catholic Association of America

The Council for Young African Leaders

Uganda American Association of Greater New York