Past Pro Bono Consultant Listing (Partial Listing)

Ms. Afrika Abney does not mention volunteer when she provided pro bono services for over 16 years.

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She provided pro bono services for a wide variety of small businesses, churches, dance centers, schools,coffeehouses, and non profits. Some of them include Barnard E.S., H.D. Cooke, E. L. Haynes PCS, Calvin Coolidge High School, Roots PCS, Eliot Middle School, Potter's House (Sounds of Hope), Malcolm X Park Circle, DC Public Libraries (MT. Pleasant and Petworth),Free DC, African American Women's Resource Center, CEASE Fire, All Souls Church, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, District Bridges, and Charles Sumner School Museum.

Some of the services that Ms. Abney provided for the above listing include career presentations, email marketing, social media marketing, community/social justice activism, event promotions, meal preparation, greeting guests, bulletin board management, grants panelist, flyer design, flyer dissemination, and photography.

Selected Pro Bono Experiences

African American Women's Resource Center (Septima Clark Contest)

Washington, DC

2018

Assisted Ms. Cassandra Burton with the promotions for the African American Women's Resource Center’s Septima Clark Oratory Contest. "The purpose of the contest was to promote and encourage teenage girls to empower themselves through effective and convincing speeches on issues that affect them and their communities."

District Bridges

2016

Help stuff eggs for an event scheduled for March 22, 2016.

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​​Sunday School Worship Leader

All Souls Church

Washington, D.C.

December 2015

Served as a Sunday School Worship leader.

Career Day Presentations

Washington, D.C.

Calvin Coolidge High School, 1996 (Invited by Ms. Angela Cook)

Roots Public Charter School, 2016  (Invited by Mama Bernida Thompson)

Eliot Middle School, 2016 (Invited by Ms. Ophelia Morgan)

H.D. Cooke, 2012-2013 

Conducted career day presentations at several schools.

"In 1977, Mama Bernida Thompson launched Roots Activity Learning Center on North Capitol Street where infants and preschoolers, including her children, learned foundational songs, games and stories as they participated in activities inspired by the African-centered curricula that she developed.

Nearly a decade before launching Roots Activity Learning Center, Mama Bernida taught in Ohio, and later at Brookland Elementary School in Northeast and Seton Elementary School in Northwest. Though teaching had been a lifelong dream for Mama Bernida, she said she developed her African-centered pedagogy while participating in study circles on the campus of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio during the 1960s.

In 1999, at the request of parents in the community, Mama Bernida launched the accompanying Roots Public Charter School during what had been the beginning of the District’s charter school movement. She said that move served as an opportunity to provide an independent, African-centered education that children could access at no cost.

From that moment, Roots Public Charter School would operate in tandem with Roots Activity Learning Center, with the former serving students from first to eighth grade and the latter taking in children as young as six weeks old all the way up until four years old.

Soon after opening, Roots Public Charter School received accreditation from the Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association. It also became accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. "

"I have known Ms. Afrika Abney for several decades. Individually, she is a very creative person who has made significant contributions to her community, particularly young people. She has a positive attitude towards learning and leadership." - Principal Bernida Thompson, Roots Public Charter School, February 17, 2016

"Ophelia Morgan

Manager, Strategy and Logistics

Eliot Hine MS

Ophelia Morgan is the manager of strategy and logistics at Eliot-Hine Middle School. Elliot-Hine is an International Baccalaureate school. Eliot-Hine has dedicated staff who are committed to serving every student regardless of their history, background, or personal circumstance. In her free time, Ms. Morgan enjoys spending time traveling with her 5-year old and husband."

Meal Preparations

Cease Fire Annual Thanksgiving

Highlands Cafe

Washington, D.C.

2011

Conducted meal preparation services at Highlands Cafe for Cease Fire Annual Thanksgiving held in 2011.

M/C Charles Sumner School Open House

Washington, D.C.

December 2015

Served as a M/C Charles Sumner School Open House held in December 2015. Other tasks furnished upon request.

Photographer Charles Sumner Open House

Washington, DC

​April 2015

Served as a M/C Charles Sumner School Open House held on April 25, 2015. Other tasks furnished upon request.

Free DC (Emancipation Day Parades)

Washington, DC

​2010 - 2015

Joined Stand Up! for Democracy (FREE DC) in DC and other DC Statehood groups for the commemorative parade to honor the 3,100 enslaved persons released from bondage on April 16, 1862.

Malcolm X Park Circle

Washington, D.C.

​2009 - 2015

Parents Rock (Read - In)

Petworth Library and Mt. Pleasant Library

Washington, D.C.

March 10, 2012 - Petworth Library

June 15, 2013 - Mt. Pleasant Library

Read to a group of children as a parent.

DCPS' Beautification Day 

Barnard,  2009 - 2011 

H.D. Cooke, 2012-2013

Took photos

Parent Chaperone

Barnard - 2009 - 2011

H.D. Cooke - 2012 - 2015

E. L. Haynes - 2016 - 2017

To be present as an adult at a social event for young people to encourage correct behavior. 

Potter's House

Sounds of Hope

​Washington, D.C.

2007 - 2012

Sounds of Hope is good food, good music, for a good cause. On Friday nights since 2002 musicians and other performance artists have entertained here to raise money for their favorite charity. Volunteers help with set up, serving and clean up and receive free dinner and dessert for their time. Organized by Mary Shapiro

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

Washington, DC

Grants Panelist

1997

​"The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) relies on volunteer citizen panelists to evaluate and rate grant applications at various times throughout the year. Panelists review applications, provide comments, and score applications in order to advise on proposals submitted to the agency’s various grant programs.

​Residents of the District of Columbia metropolitan area are encouraged to apply to serve as a panelist. Selected panelists will demonstrate expertise through involvement in one or more sectors of the creative economy in the District. Individuals with arts and humanities backgrounds make the strongest candidates (i.e. artists, arts administrators, arts educators, gallery professionals, curators, art critics, etc.). CAH supports panel diversity in all forms: age, race, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation, artistic discipline, location, etc."

(Tony Gittens and Jose Dominquez) 

"Tony Gittens is Founder and Director of the Washington, DC International Film Festival. Now in its 37th year, Filmfest DC brings the best of world cinema to the District of Columbia in a spirit of celebration and cooperation. Tony served as Executive Director of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the official cultural agency of the District of Columbia, from September 1996 to July 2008, serving 3 mayors. He was a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet and represented the city's cultural interests at numerous cultural settings."

"Jose Dominguez is the Executive Director of Pyramid Atlantic Art Center.

The mission of Pyramid Atlantic is to build communities that give life to papermaking, printmaking and artists books. He is a veteran of the area's non-profit community and brings more than fifteen years of experience in non-profit management and youth program development to the position. Mr. Dominguez has managed grants at the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, developed events such as the DC Hip Hop Theatre Festival at the DC Art Commission, and directed after school programs at

the Young Playwright’s Theater and the Shakespeare Theatre.

Mr. Dominguez received his BA from Southern Methodist University and his MFA in Fine Arts  from the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.

Black Voices for Peace 

2001 

Black Voices for Peace was primarily a volunteer organization. Ms. Abney served as an Outreach Consultant for the organization and assisted with disseminating announcements for events that the organization hosted.

It was under the direction of Mr. Damu Smith. Ms. Felicia Eaves was the Co-Vice Chair for Black Voices for Peace at that time.

In 2001, Ms. Abney had the opportunity to work with Mr. Damu Smith, founder of Black Voices for Peace. He was born "in 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri to Sylvester and Vernice Smith in Minnesota, and president of the Organization of Afro-American Students, Mr. Smith led a protest and takeover of the school's administrative offices to demand a Black studies program. "

More about him at:https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/smith-damu-1952-2006/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damu_Smith