In lieu of gifts for my 30th birthday (which is this Saturday!!!), I'm asking you to donate money to an amazing non-profit, the African People's Educaiton and Defense Fund. I first came into contact with APEDF 10 years ago when I was a student in St. Pete, and I have seen with my own eyes how the work they are doing is changing the world. See, for example, the incredble, transformational project it is involved in building in St. Louis - known as the "Black Power Bllueprint" (www.blackpowerblueprint.org) This is a concrete economic development plan that is rooted in the black working class community and fueled by African self-determination. It's also part of the broader Uhuru Movement, led by African people and making a call to white people (like myself) to stand in solidarity with the right of the black community to reclaim control of their resources, lives and the power to self-govern. This is the road to genuine peace - no more police murder, ...mass incarceration and colonial genocide, no more endless U.S. wars of aggression. This is the way.

Right now the Black Power Blueprint -- which has already opened a beautiful community center in north St Louis -- is working on a basetball court, a community marketplace, a commercial kitchen, a venue space and culutral center and more!

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT APEDF....
African People’s Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) is the baddest nonprofit on the planet with programs to address the grave disparities in economic development, health and education faced by African people and defend the human and civil rights of the African community!
Want to support positive economic development and transform African communities and lives this holiday season? The Black Power Blueprint projects of APEDF are transforming abandoned properties and rebuilding African prosperity in St. Louis, Missouri!
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APEDF just renovated an abandoned building for the Uhuru House African community center which has quickly become vital organizing center and venue for community events.
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APEDF demolished the condemned buildings next door to the Uhuru House and created an outdoor event space where the Halloween Haunted Night was held, a community garden is in progress and the One Africa! One Nation! Marketplace will begin in the spring to build community commerce and incubate black businesses.

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The third phase of Black Power Blueprint projects is creation of the Uhuru Jiko Community Commercial Kitchen with Uhuru Bakery/Cafe and future home of the African Independence Workforce Program providing food business skills, work experience and housing for previously incarcerated black men and women.

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