African Voices Seeking Volunteers

AFRICAN VOICES is looking for volunteers and interns for our 2005-2006 SeasonAFRICAN VOICES, a not-for-profit cultural arts organization, is dedicated to fostering cultural understanding and awareness through literature and the arts.

Established in 1992, African Voices publishes a quarterly literary magazine and sponsors literary readings, art exhibitions, writing workshops and other community programs. We also co-organize REEL SISTERS OF THE DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL & LECTURE SERIES with Long Island University, Media Arts Dept., Brooklyn Campus. Interested volunteers should respond to our volunteer coordinator at blackberrybeauty@netzero.net.

Volunteers will help us organize and promote the following programs:

Cultural Circle Conference: The Circle Conference connects writers and visual artists with resources they need to pursue careers in publishing and the arts. The Circle offers information on grants, writing programs, retreats for artists and writers, artists' residencies and other programs. One of the forums popular workshops is a panel on protecting and promoting literature and art on the Internet.

Ellie Charles Artists Awards Benefit & Scholarship Program: African Voices presents the Ellie Charles Artists Awards to honor artists, community activists and other educators for their contributions to society. The program is an annual benefit for African Voices. Past honorees include poets Sonia Sanchez and Amiri Baraka, photographer Gordon Parks, actress Ruby Dee, and award-winning authors Walter Mosley and Wole Soyinka.

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival: Reel Sisters is an annual film festival co-organized with Long Island University, Media Arts Dept., Brooklyn Campus during Womenâ's History Month. The three day festival screens more than 25 films by women of color across the globe and provides opportunities for women filmmakers. For information visit www.reelsisters.org.

Rhymes, Rhythms & Rituals: Founded in 1997, Rhymes is a poetry concert in the park series featuring local bands, poets and a children's storytelling corner. The summer series has hosted concerts in Prospect Park, Fort Greene Park, Bryant Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Empire Fulton Ferry State Park. Past concerts have featured legendary jazz percussionist Roy Ayers, poets Lynne Procope, DuEwa Frazier, Mos Def, Michelle Courtney Berry, Saul Williams, asha bandele, The Universes, Amiri Baraka and Jessica Care Moore.