We are a home away from Home.
Supporting and building our Communities through Education, Service, Entrepreneurship, Empowerment, and Dialogue
Welcome to the African Center for Community Development
We are dedicated to creating a vibrant and inclusive community that embraces the rich cultural heritage of Africa. We strive to foster a thriving and engaged African community by promoting cultural understanding, social and economic integration, and civic participation.
Whether you’re a newcomer to the United States or a long-time resident, the African Center is your home away from home, providing invaluable resources to empower individuals, families, and businesses to thrive in Madison and Dane County.
About us
Our mission:
To promote the well-being of African immigrants and preserve the vibrancy of African cultures in Madison and Dane County through education, service, entrepreneurship, empowerment, and dialogue.
Our Vision:
To facilitate the inclusion of African immigrants into the Madison and Dane County communities while maintaining knowledge and appreciation of their cultures of origin.
What we do
Community Support
We provide comprehensive support services to African immigrants, refugees, and low-income families, helping them access essential resources and assist with integration. Our programs include housing assistance, connecting families to rental support and emergency aid; youth programs, offering educational field trips and mentorship; and older adult services, ensuring our elders receive culturally support and working to reduce isolation. Through our community support programs, we aim to promote stability and well-being, empowering individuals and families to thrive.
Community Building
We bring together African immigrants, refugees, community members and the general public through peer support, education, listening sessions and empowerment programs that foster connection and collective well-being. Through our community building programs, we provide culturally-appropriate safe spaces for meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange, support for leadership and mentorship development, and access to critical community health education and resources.
Economic Development
We work with our partners to empower African immigrants and refugees with financial literacy, workforce training and job search assistance to foster long-term economic stability.
Upcoming Events & Programs
[UPDATED] Paper paths of resistance: Algeria, Vietnam, and the making of Africa-Asia solidarity
Speaker: Nguyễn T. Thuỳ-Trang, PhD Candidate, UW-Madison
Community Panelist: Sadat Abiri, APNP, PMHNP-BC, MPH
Moderator: Isabella Musherure, Mental Health Practitioner (CTSS)
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 5pm - 6:30pm
Location: Goodman South Library, 2222 S Park St, Madison WI 53713
About the Talk: Nguyễn’s dissertation project examines radical psychiatric/psychotherapeutic praxis in Vietnam and Algeria post-WWII, within a broader theoretical framing of Afro-Asia intimacies, postcolonial studies, decoloniality, and critical social theory from the Global South. Against the landscape of liberation wars and decolonization across the two continents, her research brings forth a radical reconfiguration of the psychiatric asylum space by studying the encounter between the seemingly distinct identities of psychiatric patient and political dissident. This is a free public event. We look forward to seeing you!
Free Community Financial Education Workshop - On Zoom
We invite you to a free Community Workshop on Understanding Credit Report and Building Credit. This event is designed for new immigrant and refugee families to help them understand the US banking system and to build confidence in managing their money.
Participants will get a clear understanding of what credit is, how credit scores work, and what shows up on your credit report. This session breaks down the key elements that influence your credit so you can feel more confident managing credit and taking steps to build or repair it.
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 10:30am - 11:30pm
Location: On Zoom. Click on this link to register: https://tinyurl.com/oapdinner25
Get involved
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Join our board, our committees, volunteer in our programs to make a difference.
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Join our board, our committees, volunteer in our programs to make a difference.
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Our Partners
