ACANA
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African Cultural Alliance of North America, Inc. We work towards ensuring quality of life, cultural preservation, advocacy and equity for everyone.
Serving our communities and preserving our culture is the key to ensuring a sound future. ACANA was founded in Southwest Philadelphia in 1999 in order to bridge the gap between African immigrants and the existing African American communities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an area of the city where most of the agency’s targeted clients, (African refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrant populations) have been resettled. ACANA was originally started by Voffee Jabateh, MSW, as a cultural organization to support African artists/ musicians in their efforts to establish themselves within the United States. The goal was to help African immigrant artists ensure continuity within their new location, as well as to assist in cultural preservation within this new environment. However, due to overwhelming requests for additional help by the ever-expanding population of African refugee, asylee and immigrant community members in dealing with the stressors associated with adjusting to their new community; ACANA was incorporated in 1999 as a non-profit social service agency.
09/22/2026
ACANA, in partnership with the Hepatitis B Foundation and Hep B United, is offering FREE Hepatitis B screening on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 10 AM–3 PM at the ACANA Office, 5530 Chester Ave., Philadelphia.
Hepatitis B can be a silent infection that may lead to liver cancer. A simple blood test can help you know your status.
✅ Screening is FREE
✅ No insurance or ID required
✅ Must be over 16 years old
Get tested. Know your status. Take control of your health.
09/22/2026
Something new is coming to Southwest Philadelphia.
ACANA is now accepting interest for the Delaware Valley Alliance’s NCCER Core Pre-Apprenticeship program. Ten weeks of hands-on construction training, right here in the neighborhood. No experience needed.
No cost to you. You finish with an NCCER credential, a national record employers can look up and verify. It is the first step into a career in the skilled trades.
Classes start this fall. Seats are limited.
Find out more:
https://philaafricatown.org/skills-training/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=metaorg&utm_campaign=fallrecruit&utm_id=dva
09/14/2026
Join ACANA for Clinic Without Walls, a FREE Community Health & Wellness Event at Unity Garden.
🩺 Blood Pressure Checks
🩸 Blood Sugar Screenings
🌿 Lifestyle Counseling
🍧 Plus, FREE Water Ice & Pretzels!
📅 Wednesday, September 16
⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Unity Garden | 55th & Chester Avenue
Free. Open to the community. No appointment needed. Stop by, check in on your health, grab a treat, and connect with your neighbors.
09/14/2026
Join ACANA’s Wellness Program Monthly Virtual Check-In for an important conversation on Understanding Hepatitis B—what you need to know to help keep yourself, your family, and your community healthy.
Our guest presenters from the Hepatitis B Foundation will share important information about hepatitis B, prevention, awareness, and why knowing your status matters.
📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM ET
💻 Virtual via Zoom
🔗 Scan the QR code on the flyer to join.
Presented by:
Stella Dlamini, MSPH
Catherine Freeland, PhD, MPH
Hepatitis B Foundation
Knowledge is an important step toward prevention and healthier communities. Share this with your family, friends, and community!
09/09/2026
There’s something different about learning alongside people who are in it with you.
The Engage! MasterClass brings together a small cohort of Philadelphia business owners for 10 weeks of structured, practical business education. Each week you watch a focused video lesson on your own time. Then you come together in person for dinner and a real conversation: what’d you learn, what’s working, where are you stuck.
An expert is in the room to help. Your peers are in the room to push you forward. The food is there because nobody does their best thinking on an empty stomach.
No fluff. No generic advice. No recording. Just real tools and real people. Enrollment is open now.
Register: https://bit.ly/4gKdsWy
09/04/2026
Philadelphia, get ready for history in the making! 🏛️🌍
We are thrilled to invite you to the Inaugural Africatown: One Diaspora Gala, taking place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the premier Penn Museum. As we count down the final weeks of summer, we are celebrating the resilience, culture, and economic power of African, African American, Caribbean, and Global African Diaspora communities.
A massive thank you to our community partners at PACDC (Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations) for their grassroots leadership and support in building this unified vision alongside Philadelphia Africatown, Atelier: Africa, and Ariyo Group.
Over this Labor Day weekend, we are rolling out a wave of exciting previews, special announcements, and honoree reveals.
Get your tickets today before capacity fills up: 🌐 Official Website: https://www.africatownonediasporagala.com/ 🎟️ Direct Ticketing: https://posh.vip/e/africatown-one-diapsora-gala
DRESS TO EXPRESS & ARRIVE TO IMPRESS! LET'S SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT PHILLY! ✨
Philadelphia, get ready for history in the making! 🏛️🌍
We are thrilled to invite you to the Inaugural Africatown: One Diaspora Gala, taking place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the premier Penn Museum. As we count down the final weeks of summer, we are celebrating the resilience, culture, and economic power of African, African American, Caribbean, and Global African Diaspora communities.
A massive thank you to our community partners at PACDC (Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations) for their grassroots leadership and support in building this unified vision alongside Philadelphia Africatown, Atelier: Africa, and Ariyo Group.
Over this Labor Day weekend, we are rolling out a wave of exciting previews, special announcements, and honoree reveals. Take a look at the attached flyers for a closer look at what's in store!
Get your tickets today before capacity fills up: 🌐 Official Website: https://www.africatownonediasporagala.com/ 🎟️ Direct Ticketing: https://posh.vip/e/africatown-one-diapsora-gala
DRESS TO EXPRESS & ARRIVE TO IMPRESS! LET'S SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT PHILLY! ✨
09/01/2026
Join us for the ACANA Youth Engagement Project (AYEP) Workshop Series as we continue an important conversation on Emotional Stress & Substance Use and the impact these challenges can have on young people.
📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Hybrid: In-person and Zoom
The workshop will be presented by Lela Togbah, 2nd-year Cybersecurity student at Temple University, and Jemima Oduwole, 3rd-year Political Science/Sociology student at Drexel University.
We encourage youth, parents, families, and community members to join us for this meaningful discussion focused on awareness, emotional well-being, and support.
For more information, call (215) 729-8225 Ext. 106 or email [email protected].
09/01/2026
🎉 5,000 strong! 🎉
We’re celebrating a special milestone—5,000 followers and growing! 💚
Thank you to everyone who follows, supports, shares, partners, and continues to grow with ACANA. Every follow represents another connection to the communities, cultures, businesses, families, and people we are honored to serve.
5,000 followers. One community. And we’re just getting started. ❤️💛💚💙
Here’s to the next 5,000! 🥳
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Address
5530 Chester Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19143
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 6:30pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 6:30pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6:30pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 6:30pm |