2024-09-10T17:06:28-07:00 2023-12-31 832920581 New England Accounting & Tax LLC 3 Basswood Blvd Worcester MA 01605 990 2023-01-01 815319066 Washington West African Center WASH 4045936215 19203 36th Ave W 210 Lynnwood WA 98036 Pa Ousman Joof COO 2024-09-10 true true Awa Bah ACCA P03180622 7743145725 2023 2024-08-08 14:25:15Z 19203 36th Ave W 210 Lynnwood WA 98036 1106058 false X N/A X 2019 WA 1 Community programs - maintain community integration and cohesion in the form of regular grandma connections and events. 2 Adult literacy programs - provide adult learning classes in English, Math and Arabic as well skill training for the youth. 3 Back to school program - support K1-K12 pupils and their families in preparing for the new academic year. 4 Grocery, cash, bill payment assistance - assist eligible community members with free groceries, cash assistance for college going youths, bill payment assistance rental assistance, utilities, and many more. 5 Traditional Marriage Counselling - West African culture generally encourages families to settle disagreements and disputes using the family support system. As a result, WAWAC provides a safe and confidential outlet for spouses going through a hard time to resolve differences amicably without having to resort to the courts which often comes with very heavy financial burden, and sometimes consequences that negatively impact families 3 0 13 0 383025 1106058 0 0 0 383025 1106058 0 0 122467 492180 11385 106376 240947 571924 363414 1075489 19611 30569 138374 218219 1831 51107 136543 167112 X The mission of Washington West African Center WAWAC is to connect West Africans in Washington with local resources and bridge the gap between us and the wider community. Our activities cover a wide range with a goal to inform and educate our community members ways and means to discover and reach their full potential. Since 2017, we have provided a host of culturally relevant services based on our community?s needs. We have structured programs and activities for every age group in our community - from a Grandma's monthly hangout, adult learning classes, annual back to school get-together, awareness and advocacy, transportation services, cultural appreciation, sounds of Africa festival, employment support, a Drop-in-Center to help people with language translation and interpretation, employment assistance, rental assistance to bill payment services etc. The COVID-19 pandemic only widened the divide we were trying to forge. For example, a good number of people in our community who qualify false false 384342 Drop-In Center: Our Drop-In Center offers a range of essential services to community members at no cost. Whether They are seeking housing assistance or bill payment, resume building, job application support, legal or medical services, technology skill development, academic help, research assistance, or a quiet workspace for tasks like printing, scanning, or notarizing documents. In 2023, 40 residents applied for health insurance benefits and/or scheduled a preventive doctor's visit. 25 residents received translation help and guidance for judicial system. 20 residents received guidance for school paperwork. 565 received a human service referral such as housing and food. 32 residents apply for educational and/or job opportunities. 10 residents received immigration/legal support pro bono. 50 residents received logistical support to medical and legal appointments. 100 residents received translation help and guidance for judicial system. 115303 Special Events: We actively organize and participate in community events to reach out to the broader community, raise awareness about our services, organization, and West African culture, and foster connections that promote inclusivity and collaboration among diverse groups. 115302 Outreach & Advocacy: Since majority of our West African languages are not written and the community struggle to understand messages communicated via English, WAWAC has found effective the production of audio-visual materials in different local languages which we share with the community through social and ethnic media as well as make announcements during our own events we organize throughout the year such as our annual Back to School and Grandma Appreciation day, Sukuri Ndogu, Iftar, Kids Arts Exhibition and Talent Show etc. We have established several partnerships with community- based organizations and groups such as Islamic Center of Puget Sounds, Bilal Islamic Center, Seattle Gambian Grandma Association, Mission Africa, the organizations of different West African Countries Such as Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast etc. Communities of Color Coalition, UW Bothel and Seattle, Edmonds Food Bank etc. with whom we share information and attend each other's events. We create culturally appropriate audiovisual materials in different West African languages that we often share on socials and ethnic media. This informs the community about needed services and available opportunities that they don?t typically have access to. Over 100 different audio-visuals outreach materials created in over 15 different West African languages reaching over 8000 West Africans in the state on different programs we implemented. We organized and participated in 30 different Covid-19 vaccine clinics leading to over 5000 West Africans being vaccinated. 153736 768683 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 false 13 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 3 0 false false false false false false false true false false false true true true true false false false false false Pa Ousman Joof 4045936215 525 112TH ST SE APT F324 Everett WA 982085059 Pa Ousman Joof Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X X 101667 0 0 Kaw E Bah Director 0.20 0.00 X 0 0 0 Gloria Walton Chairman 0.20 0.00 X 0 0 0 101667 1 false false false 0 1106058 1106058 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1106058 0 0 0 0 101667 76250 25417 0 348535 233518 108046 6971 0 0 41978 28125 13013 840 0 905 905 0 0 11385 11385 0 0 57586 57586 83548 79371 4177 0 0 79397 79397 13692 13692 0 0 0 0 590 590 3208 3208 Outreach Events 181853 181853 Contract Services 78820 78820 Special Event Expenses 33601 33601 Community Assistance 28438 28438 10286 10286 1075489 768683 200430 106376 138374 212905 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5904 590 5314 0 0 0 0 0 138374 218219 1831 51107 1831 51107 X 36772 191676 99771 -24564 136543 167112 138374 218219 30569 X false false false X 230593 222500 382988 1105875 1941956 0 0 0 0 230593 222500 382988 1105875 1941956 0 0 1941956 9 37 183 229 0 9 37 183 229 0 0 230593 222509 383025 1106058 1942185 X 0.00000 0.00000 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 5904 590 5314 5314 11193 Direct Deposit Payable 37678 GA Income Tax 1235 WA Cares Fund 744 WA Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax 332 WA SUI Employer -75 51107 Form 990, Part III, Line 4d OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Outreach & Advocacy: Since majority of our West African languages are not written and the community struggle to understand messages communicated via English, WAWAC has found effective the production of audio-visual materials in different local languages which we share with the community through social and ethnic media as well as make announcements during our own events we organize throughout the year such as our annual Back to School and Grandma Appreciation day, Sukuri Ndogu, Iftar, Kids Arts Exhibition and Talent Show etc. We have established several partnerships with community- based organizations and groups such as Islamic Center of Puget Sounds, Bilal Islamic Center, Seattle Gambian Grandma Association, Mission Africa, the organizations of different West African Countries Such as Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast etc. Communities of Color Coalition, UW Bothel and Seattle, Edmonds Food Bank etc. with whom we share information and attend each other's events. We create culturally appropriate audiovisual materials in different West African languages that we often share on socials and ethnic media. This informs the community about needed services and available opportunities that they don?t typically have access to. Over 100 different audio-visuals outreach materials created in over 15 different West African languages reaching over 8000 West Africans in the state on different programs we implemented. We organized and participated in 30 different Covid-19 vaccine clinics leading to over 5000 West Africans being vaccinated. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Building Community Power: For our community, being powerful means having the capacity and agency to shape our own destinies, to access opportunities and resources, and to actively participate in decision-making processes on issues that affect our lives and livelihoods. It means breaking free from systemic barriers, discrimination, and marginalization. Our organization plays a crucial role in supporting this empowerment. We are the catalyst for our community's empowerment, serving as a trusted resource, advocate, and facilitator. We provide a platform for West African immigrants to access essential services, education and support, thereby increasing our self-reliance and resilience. Through capacity-building programs, training and resources, we equip community members with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate challenges effectively and advocate for their rights. We actively engage in policy advocacy to address systemic issues and dismantle the structural barriers that hinder our progress. We work alongside lawmakers, policymakers and other development partners to create more equitable policies, fostering an environment where we can thrive. We foster collaboration with other community-based organizations, ensuring a united front in addressing common challenges and amplifying our collective impact. In 2023, WAWAC mobilized our community members to join the Non-profit Association of Washington and the Washington Immigrants Solidarity Network WAISN at the state Capitol to advocate for some policy changes. Watch the videos https://www.yo utube.com/watch?v=vz7-lPsDqI4&t=3s. Similarly, we provide our grandmas with logistical support and the platform for them to interact and make decisions about their lives and livelihood. On April 27th 2024, the grandmas held their 5th annual conference. Read on https://www.facebook.com/wawestafricancenter/posts/pfbid0caSVDJjNQZ7YqWb7KxEjM5VPZYkBftA9SXSJ2hivx1T4Y8uqbxRQ6fwLtPfTmxEl orhttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.821030290052107&type=3&ref=embed_post. In essence WAWAC's role is to provide the tools, resources, and a supportive network that empowers our community members to become agents of change in their own lives. We strive to create an environment where West African immigrants can define their destinies, access opportunities, and actively participate in shaping a more inclusive and equitable society. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Seniors Program: The elderly are the pillars of our community for they steadfast in ensuring that the values that keep us together are served and maintained. However, our elders are often at risk of being lonely due to their children?s busy schedules. Our grandmas have great tendencies to have high blood pressure, diabetes complications and other underlying preexisting health problems because of lack of exercise and poor food choices. To address or mitigate this complication, WAWAC strives to bring our grandmothers together once every month in a space where they can interact, establish a sense of belonging and enjoy community and be a support group among themselves. At the monthly hangout meetings, our grandmas engage in projects like singing along, knitting and hand weaving, discussing and exchanging ideas on how to make their community more cohesive and productive. In addition to providing transportation support to hangout meetings, WAWAC also supports them with transportation back and forth to medical appointments, the Masjid and to visit each other. In 2023, the grandmas continued monthly hangout activities and held a grandma conference Annual Islamic conference of the Seattle Gambian Grandma's Association, cleaned the Masjids, visited the sick and the families of deceased members of the community, offered traditional marriage counseling, and participated in social and community events. Traditional marriage counseling is an important socio-cultural support system to keep families together and avoid using the courts, which can be financially and socially expensive with evident-based devastating effects on kids in instances where divorce becomes the end result. Our Grandma's counseling services support systems based on peace building, reconciliation and family unification plays an exceedingly important role in saving marriages and keeping families together. Through this system in tandem with our religious leaders, we resolved disputes and saved 3 marriages in 2023. Currently, the Grandma's Hangout program has 140 active members. See video links below for more details of this program. Attending these events allow the grandmothers to readily and more effectively assume their traditional role of supporting and bonding with their grandchildren and the community. This is important because it allows for the handing down of critical local traditions and the installation of crucial family values in the children. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Form 990 was reviwed by the Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 No documents available to the public.