Hello world!!!
I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been very busy academically and professionally lately, but happy. A couple Fridays ago, I attended African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation's (AIRF) 13th Annual Youth Awards Ceremony. I shared my personal story as a former student, and the impact AIRF's Catching Up Program (CUP) had on me during and post-high school. Also, I presented awards to recipients of the Cultural Heritage Award and Academic Excellence Award. Being an alumnus, an event like this is close to my heart and personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA of
SHERO, specifically advocating for service and education.
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| Dr. Wanjiru "Mama" Kamau (Founder of African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
In the photo above, I am seen affectionately hugging Dr. Wanjiru Kamau, who we loving call Mama Kamau. Mama Kamau is the Founder of the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation, and has been a mother to all of us in the AIRF-CUP. She is one of my role models and forever mentor. If you will like to know about my personal story regarding AIRF and more information about this wonderful organization and their programs, read the post I wrote few months ago when I hosted their 2013
End-of-Year Youth Conference.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
Along with my invitation as an AIRF-CUP alumnus, I was asked to speak about what AIRF meant to me when I was in High School and how it affected me after I graduated from high school years ago. At the event, I shared my personal story as a former student and the impact AIRF's Catching Up Program (CUP) had on me during and post-high school. I spoke about the importance of service and mentoring, and how AIRF is an organization that truly justifies these two things. I spoke about how each member of AIRF assisted me in a variety of ways, especially Miss Bertha Hyera (former AIRF-CUP youth coordinator) and Mama Kamau. In addition to my personal story and advice for the students, three other alumni and my friends spoke about their experiences and gave remarkable advice.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
In addition to my speech, I was asked to present awards to recipients of the Cultural Heritage Award and Academic Excellence Award in the AIRF Catching Up program. Recipients were girls and boys in Elementary, Middle, and High School.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Ms. Sohna Oulare (AIRF-CUP student and Miss Guinee North America 2013 finalist) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting the Cultural Heritage Award |
The
Cultural Heritage Award went "to students who carry with them an obvious pride for their cultural heritage. Whether they are entering pageants to be the youth representative of their country of origin, writing poems to educate others about their country, have learned to read, write and speak in their language, can remember and name more African countries then their peers on any given day, or speak proudly of their heritage, lineage or countries’ foods, these children have all shown what it means to be proud of one’s culture."
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Adorable Moment of the Night!
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson receives a hug from Cultural Heritage Award recipient |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Cultural Heritage Award recipient |
In the last two photos, I am pictured with the youngest winner of the Cultural Heritage Award, and second youngest winner of the night overall. I also had the pleasure of sitting on the same table with him and his mother. He is very deserving of this award; such a smart and sweet boy!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and attendees |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and attendees |
Below are photos of some of me presenting the Academic Excellence Award to the many recipients. This Award was given to "students who have a GPA of 3.0 and above." Congratulations again to these remarkable and smart students!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting the Academic Excellence Award |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting the Academic Excellence Award |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting the Academic Excellence Award to Miss Berkit |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting the Academic Excellence Award |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting the Academic Excellence Award |
After all the music, dance performances, documentary viewing, speeches, Award presentations, and delicious dining, we had the opportunity to mix and mingle with students, parents, mentors, and AIRF Board members. Overall, I had an amazing evening with good company, good food, and many laughs. It's always a pleasure seeing familiar faces and getting to know new people.
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Left-Right:
Ms. Asteria Hyera (AIRF-CUP Youth Coordinator), Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, and Ms. Gathoni Kamau (daughter of AIRF Founder, Dr. Wanjiru Kamau) |
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Sierra Leonean Sisters
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Miss Haja Kalokoh (beautiful singer, AIRF-CUP student, and current student at my high school Alma Mater) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and event keynote speaker Ms. Rahama Wright (President/CEO of Shea Yeleen) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Miss Pamela (AIRF-CUP student) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Mr. Freddy Possian (friend since High School days) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Miss Adja Koite of Her Right To Literacy (friend since High School days) |
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Mama Kamau and Her Legacy
Ms. Asteria Hyera, Mr. Freddy Possian, Mama Kamau, Miss Adja Koite, and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
Below is a photo I took with members of Parkwood All-Stars dance group. They're a group of talented, beautiful, and smart girls in the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation's Catching Up Program, and currently in Middle School. After taking this group photo with them, they all wanted to wear my crown. So I decided to crown all of them and other girls at the event, one at a time, a 'Miss' of their various countries of origin.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Parkwood All-Stars dance group |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowning a princess from Ethiopia |
There she is... Miss Ethiopia 2014 (unofficial) while she does her queenly wave. As you can see in the photo above, Miss Berkit is truly an African Queen!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowning a princess from Liberia |
There she is... Miss Liberia 2014 (unofficial). As you can see the beautiful smile in the photo above, Miss Sandra is truly an African Queen!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowning a princess from Ethiopia |
There she is... Miss Ethiopia 2014 (unofficial). As you can see the beautiful smile in the photo above, she's truly an African Queen!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowning a princess from Liberia |
There she is... Miss Liberia 2014 (unofficial). As you can see the beautiful smile in the photo above, she's truly an African Queen!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowning a princess from Ethiopia |
There she is... Miss Ethiopia 2014 (unofficial). As you can see the beautiful smile in the photo, she's truly an African Queen! Last but not least, there she is... Miss Guinea 2014 (unofficial). As you can see the beautiful bright smile in the photo below, she's truly an African Queen!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowning a princess from Guinea |
That's what being young is all about. You have the courage and the daring to think that you can make a difference. You're not prone to measure your energies in time. You're not likely to live by equations. - Actress and Civil Rights Actress Ms. Ruby Dee
Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.
Photo credit:
African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation
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