Heal Our Communities: Hosted By the Amadou Diallo Foundation

On Thursday, September 29^th, President and CEO, Gabriel M. Vonleh participated in a deeply impacting event hosted by the Amadou Diallo Foundation at Riverside Church in Harlem, NY. Amadou Diallo was a 23 year-old college student from Liberia, that was shot 41 times by NYC Police officers as he stood in the doorway of his Bronx home on February 4, 1999. The event, aptly named “Heal our Communities,” is an initiative launched by Amadou’s mother and president of the foundation, Kadiatou Diallo, that focuses on healing racially divided communities through education..

Mr. Vonleh, along with an esteemed group of civil rights activists, local community leaders, and the mothers of men who have lost their lives at the hands of police officers, gathered to commemorate Diallo’s legacy and take part in an open panel discussion on issues of social justice, education, health, activism, and ongoing advocacy. The forum also had a special tribute segment entitled “Mom, I’m Going to College,” in reverence of the final words Amadou uttered to his mother.

Panelists included:

Gabriel Vonleh, President and CEO of Morris Heights Health Center

Rueben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Borough President

Reverend Al Sharpton, National Figure and President of National Action Network

Shaun King, Social Justice Reporter for NY Daily News

Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner (man killed during NYPD arrest)

Graham Witherspoon, retired detective for the NYPD

Dr. Thomas A. Isekenegbe, President of Bronx Community College

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