African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) is a development agency dedicated to serving entrepreneurs, specifically African communities adjusting to the United States. AEDS also puts on the Little Africa Festival in St. Paul to showcase entrepreneurs, build networks of relationships, and support artists.
Transcript
Opening: This is Minnesota’s Legacy: A look at the organizations and people who have benefitted from Minnesota’s unique Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
BRITT AAMODT: Somalia. Nigeria. Ethiopia. Kenya. Liberia. Immigrants from those and other African nations have made Minnesota their home. And for one day, every summer, the creativity and diversity of those cultures is celebrated in Hamline Park. Audio music, sfx crowd, sounds of celebration
DR GENE GELGELU: We do the Little Africa Festival and Parade every year the first week of August.
AAMODT: In 2008, Dr. Gene Gelgelu founded African Economic Development Solutions, which offers business development training for African immigrants in Minnesota. It also hosts the annual celebration.
GELGELU: It's here in Saint Paul to showcase the resilience and hard work of African immigrants in this country.
AAMODT: The Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund allows the organization to make this a free public event.
GELGELU: Africa Festival is about showcasing the diversity of African immigrant here using the arts and culture. Audio music, other SFX, outdoor fair, food maybe
AAMODT: From noon to 9 p.m., the Little Africa Festival and Parade showcases Minnesota’s African community with music, dancing, art, fashion and, of course, lots of delicious food.
Closing: Minnesota’s Legacy is a production of AMPERS, with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, more at ampers dot org.