Home > News & Publications >> Archives
Africa Society Board Elects New President, Pays Tribute to Leonard Robinson and Pledges to Continue Mission
Noah Samara, Esq., Chairman and Founder of WorldSpace Corporation and Chair of The Africa Society of The National Summit on Africa’s Board of Directors today announced the election of Bernadette Paolo as President and CEO of the Africa Society. Mr. Samara stated that “the election of Ms. Paolo is an important step to further the vision and legacy of Leonard H. Robinson Jr., former President and founder of The Africa Society. This action clearly demonstrates the Board’s determination, arrived at on September 11, to fulfill the Society’s mission – to educate all Americans about Africa.”
Mr. Samara added that “Mr. Robinson fought for over 30 years to advance U.S. – Africa relations and realized that only through educating people about the cultures and contributions of Africa and Africans could negative portrayals of the continent be changed. Leonard worked to show the positive images of Africa and bring Africa from the bottom of the U.S. foreign policy agenda to the top.”
Timothy Bork, Vice Chairman of the Board and founder of the National Summit on Africa, stated that “as President of the National Summit on Africa, Leonard led an unprecedented national movement culminating in the largest gathering of Africa-interested people in U.S. history. He then painstakingly forged that energy into the creation of the Society. We are fortunate at this important moment for the Society to be able to turn to Ms. Paolo, the person who so capably worked at Leonard’s side throughout both ventures.”
Robinson, who died on July 25, 2006 was honored at a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral on August 15. Ambassador Andrew Young, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Jr., Congressman Donald M. Payne, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer and Discovery President and CEO, Judith McHale paid tribute to Robinson, a renowned Africanist. According to Luddy Hayden, a Board Member and Manager of International Relations for Chevron, “when Leonard died, the community lost a leader and Africa lost a brother and friend. The outpouring of sympathy and support for this very special leader is unlike anything I have seen for many years. His life mattered to all of us and to Africa.”
Newly elected President and CEO Bernadette Paolo worked with Leonard Robinson for nine years and was instrumental in the founding and development of the Society and in creating and executing its educational programs. She served as the Vice President and Legal Counsel of The Africa Society as well as the National Summit on Africa and was initially the Summit’s Director of Field Operations –entrusted with the responsibility of organizing regional summits throughout the United States. Paolo has more than 20 years of Africa-related experience that includes 12 years in the U.S. Congress, culminating in her serving as Staff Director and Counsel for the Subcommittee on Africa. Ms. Paolo also has worked as an international consultant with a private law practice in Washington, DC, as well as a professional writer and educator.
The Africa Society’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders in the corporate, Africanist, and NGO communities including Chair Emeritus, Ambassador Andrew Young; Chair, Noah Samara, Chairman and Founder, WorldSpace Corporation; Vice Chairs, Judith McHale, President and CEO, Discovery Communications, Inc, and Timothy Bork, Esq.; Founder & President, Skye, LLC; Treasurer, Dr. Leroy P. Gross, President and CEO, Inomed Inc; Secretary, Ambassador Ayalew Mandefro, International Business Consultant; Mr. Ken Hackett, President, Catholic Relief Services; Mr. Luddy Hayden, Manager, Government Relations, Chevron; Dr. Ali Mazrui, Institute of Global Cultural Studies, Binghamton University; Ms. Davidayon Mayers-Kelley, International Conference Chair, Global Council on African Unity, Mr. Peter Gishuru, President and CEO, African Chairman of Commerce ; and Mr. Stephen Badger, Vice President, Mars, Incorporated.
…