African Student Association Looks to Expand its Focus Beyond the Campus

The University of Maryland’s African Student Association (ASA) is concentrating this year’s mission on community service, professional development and mentorship while continuing its decades-long tradition of celebrating African culture.

In 1981, ASA was founded with the goal of fostering “unity, togetherness and humanity,” among members of the organization and the campus community. Today, under President Rilwan Johnson, the association is carrying that mission into a new chapter as it looks for new ways to connect with its members and the surrounding community. 

That idea of building on the roles ASA already plays while creating greater opportunity for students to connect, serve and grow is key for Johnson. 

“For someone who’s never heard of ASA, I’d definitely describe it as an umbrella organization,” the junior government and politics student said, pointing to its social, community service and professional aspects.  

Vice president and junior public health science student Rebekah Osei-Nsafoah said traditions such as Welcome Week, General Body Meetings, the mentorship program and Fall Ball, ASA’s pageant, help students find community within the organization.

“These traditions really do the same thing at their core, which is building a sense of belonging that keeps people connected to ASA long after they’ve found their footing on campus,” she said.

This communal building approach is also applied to ASA’s general body meetings, where members discuss African culture and history along with relevant topics about college and current events.

“We had one GBM last semester where we actually talked about the traditional rules that a lot of African households had when it comes to marriage, when it comes to just working and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “ Do you still support this tradition, or do you believe that this tradition should be let go?”  

While the association’s events remain an important part of ASA, Johnson wants community engagement to take on a larger part of the organization’s identity. 

Last year, ASA organized community service events including Christmas gifts for children, a clothing drive, a blood drive for sickle cell awareness and wellness packages for women at a local shelter. 

This academic year, ASA has already participated in a back-to-school drive and Community Day and Health Fair.

“I’m most excited about our expanded community service initiatives, including back-to-school drives, local health screenings and care package distribution, all made accessible to the broader student body and not just members,” Osei-Nsafoah said.

This year, Johnson hopes to expand ASA’s reach to the surrounding community, particularly through programs focused on youth education and guidance.

For younger students, ASA has been sending donations and focusing their efforts on reading and literacy. 

“We’ve been doing a lot of work with Paint Branch Elementary…we did a supply drive giveaway,” Johnson said. “We’re trying to do a readathon now as well with their kids.”

ASA’s outreach will also extend to older children. The organization plans to visit local high schools in Prince George’s County to talk with students. 

“We have a plan to go into some high schools within PG County for some mentorship talks to let them know what college is really about and get them excited and on track to get here,” Johnson told The Black Explosion. “But also know that ‘hey we are here to help you and support you.’”

Beyond its work in the surrounding communities, ASA hopes to increase professional development within the organization itself through networking. The goal is to connect current members with ASA alumni in fields that include medicine and law for guidance and professional school preparation. 

Growing up in Prince George’s County, Johnson said he saw the importance of giving back to the community through his parents and his own experiences. Realizing the differences in access to resources between communities made him want to help.

“Just seeing that bubble, I actually experienced it from my friends, seeing ‘hey, they don’t have the same resources and supplies that I have,’” Johnson said. “So I think that’s what made me want to help.”

Ultimately, Johnson said he will measure the association’s success not only by the events that are held but by the people it reaches.

“Knowing that we kind of helped make it easier” for young people to reach their goals is something Johnson hopes ASA will achieve.