Black Self-Determination, Not Mass Incarceration!
Reversing the Impact of the Colonial Prison Economy through African Self-Reliance
The African Independence Workforce Program (AIWP) is a reentry program created for African men and women returning to our community from the prison system. AIWP provides beautiful housing for program participants, work-experience internships to learn job-readiness skills, training so participants feel empowered to re-enter our community and have access to healthcare, transportation and other services that provide stability.
APEDF understands that prisons have always been used as a colonial tool against the African community to maintain a relationship of exploitation and oppression. They go hand-in-hand with a public policy of police containment of the African community, instead of a public policy of economic development.
The result is staggering: 1 in every 3 Black men will be incarcerated in their lifetime, compared to 1 in every 17 white men and 1 in 18 Black women, compared to 1 in 111 white women.
In fact, in the 1990’s the incarceration rate of African women in the U.S. rose by 858%! With the vast majority of those women being incarcerated for “crimes of survival” like non-violent property or drug-related offenses. Another clear indication of a lack of economic development.
But APEDF is building economic development and self-determination back in the African community of North St. Louis through the Black Power Blueprint suite of programs!
Taking condemned or run-down properties and transforming them into programs that address our ability to feed, clothe and house ourselves. This means real genuine power in the hands of the community. Self-determination that comes from self-reliance.
The Economic Engine of the AIWP
AIWP participants will have the opportunity to intern with Black Power Blueprint programs like the Gary Brooks Community Garden, the 94.1 FM Community Radio Station, the Uhuru Bakery & Cafe and more.
Through these internships, participants will learn skills like urban farming, marketing, videography and photography, radio producing and engineering, culinary skills and more.
The Buy Black Power building on Natural Bridge in North St. Louis is the newest addition to the Black Power Blueprint suite of programs. It is called “Buy Black Power” because it will be a retail store, artist workshop space and training center, focusing on products made by our community, that are supporting power in our community!
APEDF owns the building and it is 70% complete, but we need YOUR HELP to get us across the finish line. We need to install HVAC, electrical and some plumbing to get this project up and running!
The Buy Black Power retail space will feature high-quality, one-of-a-kind products from NZO: African Styles at Home and Abroad, Uhuru Planet: Reparations Apparel and Uzi: Thread of Freedom and so much more. This will be the African Independence Workforce Program’s economic development engine to sustain the programs for the future.
The Buy Black Power retail space will be home to AIWP training workshops. AIWP participants can gain and improve their artistic skills as well as entrepreneurial training for how to start and run a successful business.
AIWP interns will help to create NZO products including furniture hand-painted with traditional African designs and upholstered with African fabrics, accent pillows, jewelry, laminated portraits of African leaders and greeting cards. Both NZO and UZI feature 100% upcycled and repurposed materials, creating customized, works of African art that you can wear or use to decorate your home. All while supporting the Black Power Blueprint.
Sales of the Buy Black Power products will sustain the AIWP ongoing, including the beautiful housing and work-experience internships. You have the opportunity today to be part of kick-starting the economic engine that will keep the AIWP going long term!
Beautifully furnished AIWP housing includes brand new appliances and gorgeous furnishings. Every unit features hand-painted NZO items!
With your help the Buy Black Power building will be a delightful part of our community, offering culturally relevant pieces for every home. Everyone will have the opportunity to “Buy Black Power”!
“Our Labor! Our Future!”
The AIWP is so unique because people don’t have to leave our community to get the programs they need.
Not only are AIWP participants getting on-the-job experience that is preparing them for finding their own career path, they are also contributing their labor to programs that are transforming the African community.
AIWP's tagline is "Our Labor! Our Future!" because we recognize that the labor of African people has been and is still being exploited to benefit others. But AIWP is part of a process to reverse the negative economic impact of the colonial economy and prison system.
As President Ona Zené says, "Agency has been taken away from the African community, the Black Power Blueprint is giving it back!"