Angelle Kwemo Bags Lifetime Achievement Award From Biden Administration

By Joseph Bessong

Founder Believe in Africa Foundation, Business Woman, Philanthropist, Author, Speaker, President & CEO of the Astrategik Group Angelle Kwemo was recently honored by the Biden Administration with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award was bestowed to Angelle Kwemo in Washington, DC at an elegant gala to mark the 10^th anniversary of the Caribbean African Faith- based Leadership.

“With grateful recognition AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States Honors Angelle Kwemo with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for their lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service,” read the Award personally signed by President by President Joe Biden.

“By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face, -solutions that we need now more than ever. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three,” President Biden says in the citation commending Kwemo.

Presenting the award, Rev Dr Agorom C. Dike, President And CEO of the Caribbean and Africa Faith based Leadership Conference, stated that Angelle Kwemo was the first African born female that operates in the US  corridors of power to receive this prestigious award from President Biden's Administration in recognition of  selfless services to the United States and the African Diaspora at the  2023 International Leadership Awards Gala.

In her capacity as global influencer, humanitarian and advocate for social justice, Angelle Kwemo was  honored in recognition of her outstanding outreach service to community and other initiatives that foster hope and healing within the US and beyond.

“I’m immensely grateful and humbled by this recognition. This award serves as a reminder of the responsibility placed open us in today’s global realignment. It is my hope that many African leaders will place the well being of our beloved continent at the center of their day-to-day activities. May this honor inspire and encourage all of us as we strive to make an even greater impact in our generation,” stated Angelle Kwemo

Angelle Kwemo is an Africa Diaspora Champion. As a Capitol Hill veteran, she has been a strong advocate of  a stronger  role for the African diaspora in US – Africa relations drafting the H.R 656 African Investment and Diaspora Act introduced by Former Rep Bobby Rush and now enacted by President Biden executive order  establishing the Advisory Council on Africa Diaspora Engagement .

Angelle Kwemo was one of the prominent faces during the maiden US-African Leaders Summit in Washington, DC in 2014 and has been active in forging closer business ties between the USA and Africa.  Through Believe in Africa Foundation, she has been supportive of the creative industry, empowering youth, and women throughout Africa.

As a staunch advocate of trade and firm believer in the African Continental Free Trade Area, Angelle has been super active in most of the key trade related trade events in 2023. In June, she was in Morocco for the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa Forum. She was present at the US-Africa Business Summit organized by the Corporate Council on Africa in Botswana. She was in Ghana for the 30^th anniversary of Afreximbank and recently participated at Panel discussions at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023 in Cairo Egypt. Alongside other prominent African diaspora leaders, Angelle shared reflections on the importance of cultural diplomacy at the IATF.

According to the leaders in the diaspora like Kadiatou Traore, “this prestigious recognition is a true testament to her unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions to the African diaspora community in Washington, DC. Her passion for volunteer work and your commitment to making a positive impact have not gone unnoticed. Her tireless efforts have not only inspired those around her, but they have also made a profound difference in the lives of many. Her leadership and involvement have been exemplary, and this award is a well-deserved acknowledgment of her outstanding work”.

Over the past ten years, CAFBLC has engaged in numerous domestic and international initiatives to build bridges with faith-based organizations, governments, and bilateral organizations to foster access and support for missions and services to our constituency. It is committed to advocacy for institutions and individuals victimized by religious persecution, health disparities, hunger, civilian onslaught, and other human rights violations. CAFBLC facilitates connections with the White House Faith-Based Cabinet Offices, the Office of Public Engagement, US Congressional Representatives, African and Caribbean Embassies, the World Bank, and the IMF Faith-Engagement Division to create opportunities for economic development, peace, religious freedom, youth advancement, and unbiased access to good healthcare and development priorities to address existing needs and emerging threats to safety and security, physical and mental health challenges.

Believe In Africa (BIA) that Angelle founded, and leads is an African diaspora-led not for profit organization founded by former U.S. congressional staffers and African diaspora leaders in the U.S., educate policy makers and the public about African economic growth and highlight the continent’s gradual rise in the global community. The Organization will mark ten years of operations in 2024 , and plans are underway for some high profile events to celebrate the milestone.