Our pillars
Explore our programs and find the best way for you to participate.
Amplifying our voices where decisions are made.
Workshops help African immigrants and refugees understand civil, workplace and immigration rights, including encounters with law enforcement. Sessions share practical information and resources, not individual legal advice.
How to participate: Attend an upcoming workshop or request a session for your community group.
Through our partnership with New American Leaders, ACN helps immigrant community members prepare to represent their communities in public office and civic leadership, whatever their political leaning. We recruit promising leaders, help them prepare, and sponsor their participation in NAL's national training events, so more voices from our communities are heard where decisions are made.
How to participate: Interested in public leadership? Contact ACN to learn about upcoming New American Leaders trainings and sponsorship.
ACN strengthens African community participation in local boards, committees and civic discussions, bringing community priorities into decision-making. This includes collaboration on data collection and visibility for African immigrants and refugees.
How to participate: Apply through Get Involved to be considered for a committee seat.
Bringing African communities together across cultures.
A facilitated conversation series connecting African, African American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino communities over shared meals and cultural experiences. Participants explore identity, shared history, family and belonging while building relationships across the Black diaspora.
How to participate: Join us at the next gathering or volunteer to cook and host.
Together with the Coalition of African Organizations in West Michigan, ACN brings African-led organizations, community leaders and partners together to share their work, reflect on common challenges and shape collective priorities. These gatherings foster partnerships and strengthen a shared community voice.
How to participate: Organizations can reach out through our Partnership form.
Knowledge, skills and opportunity for every generation.
Know Your Rights education makes civil, workplace and immigration rights easier to understand through learning and discussion. Participants explore everyday situations and encounters with law enforcement using practical information and resources; sessions are educational, not individual legal advice.
How to participate: Sign up for a session or invite us to your school or community center.
Moments of the internship
Hands-on internships connect African immigrant and refugee youth with corporate spaces and community projects, supported by mentorship and career development. Focus areas include social media management (SMM), marketing, web design, accounting and community organizing, alongside postgraduate data science projects that turn data into insights for community advocacy.
How to participate: Apply through the Internship form on Get Involved.
Interactive training builds the knowledge, attitudes and practical skills needed to work respectfully across cultures. ACN combines cultural competency fundamentals, dialogue with community voices, practical communication tools and cultural immersion through food, music and storytelling.
How to participate: Book a training for your organization through Contact.
Career readiness workshops help students and young professionals strengthen resumes, LinkedIn profiles, interview skills and professional communication. Career fair activities connect participants with employers, universities and community partners to explore internships, education and career pathways, while celebrating ACN interns.
How to participate: Attend, or volunteer as a speaker or mentor.
Building livelihoods, businesses and wealth.
ACN supports access to learning for adults in the African immigrant and refugee community as part of its economic empowerment work. Contact ACN to discuss current learning opportunities and your education goals.
How to participate: Register through Contact or at our next enrollment event.
A directory showcasing African-owned businesses and supporting connections within West Michigan’s African community. Business owners can contact ACN to ask about listing their business.
How to participate: Business owners can request a listing through Contact.
