J U N E 2 0 0 6
V O L 2 / I S S U E 1
O n May 8th, 2006 a delegation of eight LAI
members traveled to Chicago, Illinois to
help welcome Liberian President, Madame Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf. The trip was fruitful, energiz-
ing and thought provoking. The delegation con-
sisted of Mrs. Victoria Weah,
Mrs. Moima Yarngo, Mrs.
Alma Smith, Mrs. Siah Fallah
Brown, Mr. James Fallah,
Mr. Trocon Karmo, Mr. An-
thony B. Carter and Mr. Var-
nie N. Karmo. We were ini-
tially informed of the program
by the President of the Libe-
rian Association of Illinois,
Mr. Gaye Sleh. The reception
for President Sirleaf was held
at the South Shore Culture
Center on the shores of Lake
Michigan.
Arriving almost 2 hours be-
fore the program, we strategically positioned
ourselves upfront in the audience. With the as-
sistance of the Consul General of Liberia in
Chicago, Mr. Alexander P. Gabyee, we were
able to place the Indiana Association banner on
the front of the stage alongside the Chicago wel-
come banner. It was this sign of solidarity that
illuminated our presence to President Sirleaf as
she arrived with a procession of African Drum-
mers. Flanked by city officials, including Chi-
cago’s own, Rev. Jesse Jackson, she passed
within inches of us all, reaching out to as many
people in the audience as she could before tak-
ing her seat on the stage.
Mrs. Martha Sinoe, Presi-
dent of the Liberian Asso-
ciation of Minnesota &
ULAA Regional VP, intro-
duced the President. The
program commenced with a
succession of representatives
of local government and the
hosting Liberian Association
leaders
expressing
their
praise for President Sirleaf
and their hope for a positive
future.
Representatives
of
the
Olive-Henry College were
on hand to announce their
offering of 35 nursing scholarships to Liberi-
ans. These scholarships have an estimated
value of US$871,000. Other contributions in-
cluded 2 garbage trucks from the City of Chi-
cago worth close to US$300,000, 25,000 HIV
kits from Ab