Acana

The African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to help immigrants, refugees, and asylees in their adjustment and resettlement process in the United States. ACANA was founded in 1999 by a group of African immigrants as a cultural organization to support African artists and musicians in their efforts to establish themselves within the United States, and to preserve community values and culture within immigrant communities. However, due to overwhelming need for additional services for the increasing population of immigrants, refugees, and asylees in the Philadelphia region, ACANA expanded its mission to provide a range of social services, including ESL and literacy classes, afterschool programs, an ongoing food bank, health services, youth violence prevention, job training, and immigration counseling, among others. ACANA also offers many services that are open to the general population. ACANA has worked for many years to bridge the gap between immigrant communities and existing communities in Philadelphia, by collaborating with local organizations and government entities and to encourage community development and mutual understanding.