\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t“In the past 10 years, our population and community has grown, so we needed a bigger space,” said Chuks Ojidoh, the director of community programs for Acomi. “We also needed to be more accessible to people who live in different areas of the city.”<\/p>\n
All programs at the flagship 101-421 Kennedy St. office, including after-school drop-ins and the income tax program, remain unchanged.<\/p>\n
The Nassau Street North office offers Acomi’s clients — as well as other non-profit or community groups who may borrow the space — the use of a boardroom, a multi-use lecture room and a kitchenette. The lecture room features a projector, whiteboard and TV.<\/p>\n
“Anybody who wants to use here for an event doesn’t have to bring anything,” Ojidoh said. “We are trying to empower local groups.”<\/p>\n
Ojidoh anticipates the organization’s seniors and youth groups will particularly benefit from the space, which sits next to a bike path and major bus route.<\/p>\n
The community has shown great interest in the new space in the short while since it opened, Ojidoh said. The multi-use room is almost booked solid until the end of December. It hosted three events before the official opening date.<\/p>\n
“The community loves it,” said Acomi president Titi Tijani. “Instead of having a meeting at someone’s home, come have your meeting here. It elevates and builds capacity — the feel of being professional.”<\/p>\n With the new location comes the launch of a mailbox system for partner organizations. For groups that may work remotely, having an address linked to an office adds legitimacy, especially for grant applications, Tijani said.<\/p>\n “It’s better that you use a professional address,” Tijani said, adding that Acomi notifies members when their mail arrives.<\/p>\n Founded in the fall of 2007, Acomi now works with about 35 affiliate members.<\/p>\n New to the Acomi team are Rami Saad, project manager, and Dorothy Lynnette Harmon, the youth engagement co-ordinator.<\/p>\n “I’m looking forward to adding more to the African community, and to be open to all other communities,” Saad said.<\/p>\n Harmon recently graduated from the University of Winnipeg’s urban and inner-city studies program and the international development studies program. Before that, she studied community economic development.<\/p>\n “I’ve been all over the place and have so many ideas,” Harmon said, adding that Acomi is the perfect place to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n Tijani and her team see the new office as a launch pad for Acomi’s future endeavours. Tijani says the next step is opening a community centre, with housing for Black Canadians and a daycare.<\/p>\n “So that’s a long-term project, but of course not too long,” Tijani said, with a chuckle. “It’s been a dream of our community to have an Africa centre where we can have a gym space for youth programming … to have activities and to host different kinds of events.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t