The Tigrai Community in North America (TCNA)

The Tigrai Community in North America (TCNA), Inc. is a non-political, non-governmental, non-profit organization for which a tax-exempt status has been requested and awaiting a positive response from the United States Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). TCNA is a nonsectarian organization, which embraces a policy prohibiting discrimination against people because of their creed, race, color, gender, or political opinions.  

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES

The specific objectives and purpose of this corporation include activities:

• To provide information and facilitate integration of new refugees, assylees and other Tigean Ethiopian immigrants into the American society;
• To provide social, and intercultural centers for the Tigrean Ethiopian refugees, asylees and immigrants in the United States of America;
• To promote and encourage self-reliance to Tigrean Ethiopians in the United States
• To assist the distressed newcomers from Tigray, Ethiopia materially, socially and psychologically on a humanitarian basis, without any ethnic, linguistic, political, or religious prejudice;
• To promote better understanding and cooperation among Tigrean Ethiopians and other diverse ethnic communities in the United States of America;
• To defend and protect Tigrean Ethiopian refugees, asylees and immigrants, against violations of their human and civil rights and to foster the pursuit of their happiness secured for all by the constitution of the United States of America;
• To promote Tigrean Ethiopian cultures in American society, and to promote better understanding and appreciation of these cultures;
• To educate American-born Tigrean Ethiopian children and youth to appreciate and preserve their ancestral traditions and cultures of Tigray, Ethiopia;
• To educate Tigrean Ethiopian newcomers in multilingual setting about the danger of Aids and substance abuse and other social ills;
• To provide and coordinate multilingual counseling services for both family and individual on all challenges associated in dealing with new environment;
• To provide mediation service in community or group social conflicts among Tigrean Ethiopians, other Ethiopians and or Americans;
• To coordinate legal services for the most needy Tigrean refugees, asylees and immigrants;
• To facilitate referrals and other health care services for the most at risk Tigrean Ethiopian migrants, refugees and asylees
• To assist at risk Tigrean Ethiopians in housing in an emergency situations;
• To provide social services referrals for distressed and/or underprivileged Tigrean migrants, refugees and asylees;
• To provide educational and preventive services to second generation Tigrean Ethiopians who face intercultural adjustment difficulties and problems.
• To provide a center where community members can meet and exercise their common cultural activities, support and communicate with each other based on their traditions and customs.
• To conduct all other activities permitted under the District of Columbia nonprofit Corporation Act  

Governance and Management of Tigrai Community: 

The corporation shall have directors and collectively shall be known as the Board of Directors. The business and affairs of TCNA shall be conducted under the direction of the Board of Directors. A director may simultaneously serve as an officer of the corporation if so authorized and approved by the Board. Directors will be allowed to choose, recommend and select people who are able to and willing to work with them in their specific areas based on education, experience and willingness to serve. Each director shall hold office for a period of two years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

Committees

PUBLIC RELATIONS

This committee will be made up of volunteers Journalists, Writers, radio personalities and other communication experts.

• Develop and provide adequate and positive information of the community to the community members and others
• Build bridges between Tigrean Americans and Tigrean Ethiopians by providing timely and relevant information on all fields.
• Develop a community newsletter that reflects the challenges and achievements of the community here and back home.
• Collaborate with experts in the United States and Tigrai to collect, organize and house an inclusive and modern museum of our historical heritage including books, artifacts and archeological findings.

HEALTH

This committee will made up of Tigrean physicians and health professionals

• Provide counseling and education on HIV aids
• Educate our young people from falling into trap of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease
• Provide education and outreach on drugs and alcohol
• Encourage and facilitate Tigrinya and other medical professionals to provide assistance by traveling to Tigrai’s most needed areas.
• Conduct financial and material collection to support existing poorly staffed and equipped medical facilities in Tigrai
• Support the development and sustenance of professional medical ethics and facilitate technology to support them.

ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY

This committee will be made up of business people financial experts

• Educate the community on methods and ways of becoming self-sufficient in the United States. Make available information on Micro enterprise and other available support
• Provide information and support on ownership of housing
• Provide information on how to start new business collectively or on an individual bases
• Create an environment through which both Tigrean American and Tigrean Ethiopian can collaborate to create an investment
• Create avenue to attract American business to invest in Tigrai, Ethiopia
• Encourage Tigrean Americans to invest in their ancestral land
• Assist in introducing available resources, natural wealth, and untapped tourist industry that includes one of the oldest civilizations in the world such as Axum obelisk rock hewing churches and archeological sites.

EDUCATION

This committee will me made up of university professors and educators and researchers in the field of education.

• Recognizing that the main venue for succeeding is through education, we will support our youth to excel in their education by providing tutoring, after school program and counseling
• Support technical education in Tigrai by providing trainers and equipment.
• Develop sister schools between American and Tigrean schools
• Encourage American educators to assist schools in Tigrai
• Establish Support the cultural and artistic association in Tigrai
• Assist high achieving Tigrean students to get an opportunity to come to the United States for technical training.
• Work with parents to support them in their struggle to assist their children in a society that they might not fully understand
• Assist parents and children in accessing scholarship and other educational support.
• Encourage invention and creative mind in all segments of our society and develop a reward mechanism to support the creativity.
• Provide or refer community members into ESL program and other basic educational services.

SOCIAL SERVICES

This committee will be made up of Counselors and social service specialists in both public and non profit organizations

• Support our community in facilitating all available support services through public in addition, private services such as Medial Assistance, Food Stamps, Public housing ext…
• Provide referral services to all public and private service providers in the area.
• Provide services or referrals to counseling and other mental health support

LEGAL

This committee will be made up of lawyers and legal experts

• Assist any Tigrean refugee, asylee and immigrant with available legal protection
• Assist the community in finding legal representation when and if needed.
• Educate our community in their legal rights and responsibilities

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

This committee will be made up of people who are deeply rooted in the community and are known leaders in the community

• Develop and facilitate good working relation within the Tigrinya community

• Develop collaborative spirit with other Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian community members both here and abroad.