Education Resources
Bergen County Cooperative Library System
Visit your local library and discover more about the diverse history, culture, languages and arts of the African Diaspora. The Bergen County Cooperative Library System is comprised of 74 public libraries in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Counties. www.bccls.org.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - African American Literature (Course)
African Americans in Literature examines the literary, cultural and social significance of both black characters and black writers and why Afro-centric literature continues to remain on the outside of mainstream literature consumption. Close attention is paid to the early writings of this genre, exploring themes and concepts seen in African-American literature from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Themes to be discussed will include ethnicity, sexuality and the resistance of oppression. The course will also explore comparative relationships between black writing then and now, as well as the parallels of certain stock characters that appear in both white and black writers' works. Possible texts may include writings by Frederick Douglass, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Suzan Lori Parks and Zadie Smith. -- For additional information about this course offering please contact:
Fairleigh Dickinson University
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2000
http://view.fdu.edu
Ramapo College of New Jersey - Africana Institute
Ramapo College of New Jersey offers African and African American history and culture courses related especially to the experiences of African people living in the Americas. The program provides students with knowledge and an understanding of an Afrocentric world view and traces the roots of oppression of African people. Additionally, they encourage students to continue their involvement in African American scholarship and make strong contributions to the increasingly multicultural American society by becoming proactive members of their communities. The college also hosts an annual "State of the African-American Professoriate Conference." -- For additional information please contact:
Ramapo College of New Jersey
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
(201) 684-7500
http://www.ramapo.edu
Bergen Community College - Focus on Africa Initiative
The purpose of this initiative is to encourage students, not only to learn more about the issues and challenges facing Africa today, but also to consider their own involvement in the solutions. The Focus on Africa web site introduces students to some of the critical problems facing Africa's poorest countries and invites them to research these issues: http://www.bergen.edu/foa/
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Community Organizations
Kopeyia Ghana School Fund, Inc.
Founded in 1988, the Kopeyia Ghana School Fund is providing a generation of children in the impoverished West African village of Kopeyia with access to the education that will empower them to revitalize their local economy. By combining the hard work of Kopeyia villagers and contributions of the local government with American volunteer assistance and financial support, this non-sectarian 501(c)(3) organization has helped the people of Kopeyia make impressive strides toward a better standard of living and economic self-sufficiency.
http://www.kgsf.org
Urban League for Bergen County
The Urban League for Bergen County is a chapter of the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.
Urban League for Bergen County
106 Palisade Avenue
Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 568-4988
urbanleague.bc@verizon.net
Nathaniel Briggs
NJ NAACP - Bergen County
PO Box 1136
Teaneck, NJ 07665
Ms. Falana S. Alston-Muhammad
National Council of Negro Women
Bergen County Section
Englewood, NJ
(201) 679-8623
alstonfs@aol.com
