History

In February of 2020, Jessica Norwood invited a group of organizational and business leaders from around the country to convene in Africatown to create a healing circle to share personal stories of the lived experiences of women of color in the new America. That is where the idea to create a new legacy for people of the African Diaspora was born.

In July of 2021, in the spirit of Ujamaa, the group was expanded to include a group expedition to the US from Suriname to Africatown to learn of its history. That meeting included national and local community leaders and business owners interested in the economic development of the area in relationship with national and global connections for trade and to provide linkage to similar community development projects in the US and throughout the Global South.

The organization is in the process of purchasing a parcel of land that will become the home of the business center operating in the spirit of ubuntu.

In February of 2022, Africatown and Suriname commemorated the first international trade agreement, a direct outcome of project. Local indigenous woods craftsmen of Suriname will create hand carvings of projects to be sold in Africatown.

Mission

The Port of Africatown is a registered 501 c3, community development corporation, focused on growing business opportunities and trade in the Africatown Region and throughout the diaspora.