African Village Survival Initiative

Community Commercial Kitchen Project


Current kitchen and future vision

Help equip these African led economic institutions

ironiff Ironiff Ifoma, Uhuru House Director

"With 71% of our community in south St. Petersburg living at or below the poverty level, we must pull together collectively and create self-sustaining institutions that bring about community commerce. These institutions will be models that can be reproduced in every city."

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$22,449 more needed for construction and equipment

See Equipment Needed

Read the Kitchen Business Plan

Healthy Connections August 1, 2010 - APEDF is moving rapidly to raise the remaining funds to complete this economic development project in response to the worldwide economic crisis and its impact on an already impoverished African community.

For the African community in South St. Petersburg who face poverty and joblessness at alarming rates, the Uhuru House community commercial kitchen will be an engine of economic development and a model to be replicated across the country. This institution will create jobs and open up opportunities for community-based businesses for caterers, food vendors and entrepreneurs, who in the past have been locked out because of limited access to affordable commercial-grade facilities. It will also provide trainings and skill development and classes in nutrition and cooking.

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Recent News

Health Uprising

On Saturday October 9, 2010 in Oakland, California, the APEDF and Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles are proud to present "Uhuru Wellness Festival: Health Uprising". We must take control of health in our community. This festival will inform, entertain and inspire our community to take action for positive transformation.

Find out how you can participate.
UPrinting

APEDF has been awarded a Platinum Sponsorship by Uprinting.com including a $1000 printing donation

Now, in its 30th year, everyone can be a part of the Uhuru Pies annual Thanksgiving pie sale. Make your pledge today to sell 5, 10, 20 or more pies to support the economic self-reliance programs of the African People's Educational and Defense Fund.

Learn How

The African People's Education and Defense Fund wants to give a special thanks and congratulations to Dan Tanz & Lisa Watson who celebrated their wedding on August 7, 2010 as a special fundraiser for APEDF. Dan & Lisa encouraged their loved ones to donate to APEDF in lieu of gifts and we were happy to present them with this plaque on their special day.

On August 5th, 2010, Green America certified the African People's Education and Defense Fundas one of the first "Green Business Allies"

On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the Oakland branch of the African People's Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) hosted a forum entitled "Oakland's Health Disparities in Black and White." The forum brought members of the health industry and the African community together to address the "toxic mixture of conditions such as poverty, pollution, poor education, substandard housing, a shortage of grocery stores, cheap fast food, violence, unemployment, and racism [that] combine to make people sick."

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Temple News May 2010 - "Students support Uhuru and the African People's Education and Defense Fund by donating. Sit back, and spend money on something you can feel good about, without draining your account. Uhuru Furniture is spending money on a good thing. All profits from the store go to a project called the African People.s Education and Defense Fund, which allocates money to return resources back to the black community..."

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