OUR WORK IN THE USA
Introducing the Boma African Center
ABOUT THE BOMA AFRICAN CENTER
The Boma African Center is a community-based immigrant support and empowerment initiative operating under The Boma Prize for Africa Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the wellbeing, integration, and economic empowerment of underserved African and immigrant communities in the United States and abroad.
Our mission is to provide culturally competent, accessible, and community-centered services that empower immigrant individuals and families to successfully navigate life in the United States while maintaining dignity, stability, and opportunity.
The Boma African Center was established in response to the growing need for trusted immigration support, community advocacy, and wraparound services for African immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, mixed-status families, international students, and other underserved immigrant populations across Maryland, the Washington DC metropolitan area, and surrounding communities.
OUR SERVICES
1. Immigration Support
Through the Department of Justice Recognition and Accreditation Program, the Center plans to provide low-cost and, where appropriate, fee-waived immigration legal navigation and support services focused primarily on family-based immigration and humanitarian matters before USCIS.
Our services include;
- Naturalization and citizenship application assistance
- Green card renewals
- Family petition support
- Employment authorization applications and renewals
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) renewals
- Travel document applications
- USCIS fee waiver assistance
- Immigration information and community education workshops
- Referrals for complex immigration matters requiring attorney representation
2. Support Service
Beyond immigration support, the Boma African Center recognizes that immigrant families often face broader challenges related to housing, employment, mental health, cultural adjustment, language access, unfamiliarity with government systems, trauma, and financial hardship. To address these needs holistically, the Center will provide wraparound support services designed to promote long-term family stabilization, self-sufficiency, and community integration.
Additional community support services may include:
- Case management and resource coordination
- Workforce readiness and entrepreneurship support
- Housing and social service navigation
- Mental health and wellness referrals
- Youth and family support programming
- Community advocacy and cultural integration support
OUR VALUES
OUR PROGRAMS
The Mental Health Access Program
This program provides essential mental health services including free mental health therapy sessions, free one on one rehabilitation counseling, ensuring that immigrants can access the needed mental health support to navigate the anxiety, stress and sometimes depression that stems from the numerous challenges they endure in pursuit of their American dream. Especially when they do not have any health insurance.
The Blessed Tribe Program
This program provides support for immigrants around the DMV area with household supplies such as kitchen supplies, furniture, bedding, clothes, shoes, kids’ toys, etc. We understand the challenges of homelessness, settling in a new environment, and the cost of setting up a home. We are here to ease your transition.
The Government Benefit Program
This program provides education on the different government resources and benefits available at the local, state, and federal levels. The program educates beneficiaries on specific eligibility requirements and provides assistance with facilitating applications as well as offering referrals where and when needed for housing, medical insurance, food stamps, disability, and rehab.
The African Identify Program
African Americans and African immigrants in the diaspora share a history of African ancestry and common experiences of navigating racial and cultural identities in a global context. While African Americans are primary descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to the US, and African immigrants share a voluntary migration experience, we all face issues of racial discrimination, identity formation, and the challenges of reconciling African heritage with life in the US or other Western countries.
This program hopes to affirm African cultural and social identities within the broader African diaspora through speaking engagements, documentary and film screenings, Book clubs, and African tourism.