Welcome to the African Community Center of West Michigan
Who We Are
The African Community Center (ACC) is a West Michigan community-based organization assisting in refugee integration. We coordinate educational programs and social services that empower and support African refugees and other immigrants to become self-sufficient. Our programs and services strengthen their language, social, and cultural competency in their new environment. This is primarily accomplished through volunteers contributing their time and energy to making the transition into West Michigan successful. The Center’s staff assesses community needs and addresses the obstacles to successful integration through creating sustainable programs, while also advocating for refugees in order to make West Michigan a more aware and friendly place.
For more detailed information, download About the African Community Center by clicking on the link.
Humanity_for_Africa_Inc._-_The_African_Community_Center_.docx
Core Values
1. Mutual Assistance - Helping each other is the African family tradition, and a crucial aspect for successful integration.
2. Cultural Adjustment - To know what our own stories are, discover what is required of us here, and work on developing the knowledge and skills needed for successful living
3. Cultural Heritage - Preserve who we are. That part of us is African. We are here. That makes us American. Discovering and valuing what we are as African Americans, and passing that understanding to others.
4. Hospitality - Anyone who comes through our door will be offered something. Real welcoming is not just by mouth, it is by action.
5. Practice empathy - We try to understand others from their own position and try to support them from their position while adjusting in new society.
6. Learning - Acquiring the new knowledge and skills we need to adjust in this new society.
We value the richness and preservation of African cultures, learning together in mutual assistance, and hearing and communicating the voice of new African refugees and other immigrants.
Our Hope
Our hope is that African immigrants feel so at home in the Greater Grand Rapids area they say, ’ At this point, this is where we belong.’ And we see a West Michigan in which African immigrants make culturally sensitive, long-term, sustainable adjustments to life in the Greater Grand Rapids area.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to support, empower and encourage the new African Refugees and other immigrants to become self-sufficient. We attempt to achieve this by strengthening language, social, and cultural skills.
Target Population
The African Community Center of West Michigan (ACC). serves mostly African refugee and immigrants. They participate in a process: 1) refugees, 2) permanent residents, 3) citizens. Their needs for support, etc. vary as their status changes. Currently, Humanity for Africa is the only organization available to African immigrants they can choose to come to for specified services. We serve men, women, and youth. Most live in greater Grand Rapids area.
