Meet Papa Dia | Bridge builder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Papa Dia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Papa, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The African Leadership Group helps the world, and in particular African immigrants in Colorado, by fostering social, economic, and educational impact.

We achieve social impact by helping integrate African immigrants into the larger American society. One of our newer initiatives, Breaking Barriers, works to foster understanding between African immigrants and African Americans. We believe that by building bridges between these communities, we help better our own community, the state of Colorado, and the world.

We achieve educational impact by promoting the idea that education is the key to a better life. We believe in empowering parents to make the best choices for their children, whether that be a traditional public school, a public charter school, or a private school. We also run a tutoring program after school for students who need a little extra help.

We achieve economic impact first by helping African immigrants get their feet on the ground here, able to support themselves and their families. Once an immigrant can support himself and his family, he can begin to think about starting a business and hiring other people, which helps spread the prosperity around.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am the Founder and Executive Director of the African Leadership Group.

African Leadership Group’s mission is to help the African Diaspora integrate and prosper by connecting cultures, developing strong community leaders, and advocating for economic, social and education impact.

To advocate for the entire African immigrant community across national origin, tribes and language to ensure continuous improvements to immigrant’s quality of life .

One of ALG initiatives is Afrik Impact, our two-week celebration each August where we celebrate proudly and loudly the impact of the African Diaspora in Colorado and to honor our accomplishments .

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Colorado , our mountains are the most beautiful place to visit , I will start there and spend time in downtown area around the 16th street . Have to eat at Pappadeaux seafood restaurant and at Texas De Brazil restaurant .

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to the small but mighty African Leadership Group staff, which does the work of a staff twice its size. We are always busy, aways starting new programs and initiatives, and our staff works hard to keep everything running smoothly.

I also believe all of the ALG committees deserve a shoutout. We now have 13 committees, run by volunteers. They are: Afrik Impact (our big annual event) and fundraising; Health & Wellness; Legal & Policy; Education/Youth Empowerment; Education/Parental Engagement; Education/Tutoring; Public Speaking; Breaking Barriers; Leadership Africa; Homeownership & Financial; Business & Economic Opportunity; Career Advancement; and Women Empowerment.

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