About Us
Our Vision
Baraza African Cultures Center will provide cultural leadership through promoting knowledge and appreciation of the richness of humankind; forging a positive future of valuing the beauty and strength of difference while recognizing our commonalities.
Our Purpose
As a home for education, business and culture, Baraza African Cultures Center offers engaging opportunities and educational experiences to enrich and expand the lives we touch.
Our Values & Beliefs
- All cultures have value for all
- Preservation & exploration of cultures is important in understanding an individual's self-identity & expansion of worldview
- Understanding other cultures allows us to understand and more deeply appreciate our own culture(s) while allowing us to show the interconnectedness around the globe
- Understanding other cultures allows us to value others and how our differences make humankind stronger -- strength & resilience through inclusion
- Culture can best be understood through experiential learning and human interaction
- The universals of culture (i.e., the arts, food, sports) are bridges to bringing together what are seemingly disparate cultures/peoples, but are only a first step to inclusive understanding
- Equity, inclusion, openness and appreciation are keys to a better future for all
Our Founders
Wasim Khan
CEO
Wasim is a Certified Diversity Professional and is Yan-Koloba Certified and has vast experience working with immigrants, refugees & indigenous peoples. He has spent 30 years working cross-culturally and in international business. He has a passion for people and has proven his effectiveness in training others to work competently across & between cultures.
Andrea Smith
COO/Chief Education Officer
Andrea Smith is a Certified Diversity Professional, Certified Diversity Trainer, Certified Leadership & Team Building Trainer, Certified Safe Space Trainer, is Yan-Koloba Certified and has extensive experience working with immigrants, refugees & indigenous peoples. She has over 30 years educational experience teaching on three continents and with people of all ages.
Core Team Members
Zain
Chief Business Development Officer
Zain is a student at Baker University where he is studying International Business. He has extensive experience in cultural event planning & execution as well as speaking about multi-culturalism, global citizenry and social justice..
Aalia
Chief Environmental Officer
Aalia is a student at Baker University studying environmental science. Along with environmental advocacy, she serves as an international ambassador and works in areas of culture, multi-culturalism & social justice.
Nial
Chief Financial Officer
Nial is a freshman in high school. He specializes in working with youth. He helps youth understand cultural relativism, social justice, and tolerance. He has experience in planning & executing cultural events.
Our History
Baraza African Cultures Center was formed in 2009 to serve as a strong connection between the various African communities and the greater Kansas City community. For several years Baraza hosted the Kansas City July 4th Celebration that attracted Africans from across the US to Kansas City for a 3 day celebration of independence and African cultures.
Through this, Baraza gained a reputation as a connecting point for local African communities as well as between them. The Kansas City July 4th Celebration was built on the universals of culture, i.e., food, sports & the arts. While these are a great starting point for understanding & appreciation, a deeper and more genuine understanding & valuing are needed for communities to truly be integrated and functional as both a multi-cultural and welcoming community.
We deepend and enhanced the services offered through diverse learning opportunities led by certified diversity & inclusion trainers along with a core team of youth engagement specialists bringing stronger connections with the multitude of cultural, national and ethnic organizations based in the mid-West and strong working relationships with businesses, governmental agencies, non-profit and civic organizations.
Today Baraza stands as not only THE leading organization when looking for education focused on Africans/African cultures, indigenous peoples & refugees, we are a go-to entity for diversity, inclusion, equity, team building, & leadership training. We specialize in cultural event planning. Let us bring our resources for your cultural event.
Today Baraza stands as not only THE leading organization when looking for education focused on Africans/African cultures, indigenous peoples & refugees, we are a go-to entity for diversity, inclusion, equity, team building, & leadership training. We specialize in cultural event planning. Let us bring our resources for your cultural event.
Our Impact
Over the last decade, Baraza African Cultures Center’s impact has grown. Starting with a focus on the Kansas City July 4th Celebration, we moved to expand what we do year round with trainings, workshops, experiential learning, lectures and more to facilitate a more in depth and meaningful understanding of the world at large. Where our impact is felt has also been broadened.
In conjunction with our partner organizations, we not only continue to work with our local African communities in celebrating and preserving culture, we provide support for local African owned businesses & professionals. Working with Africans is just part of what we do. We work across the mid-West helping people understand culture, theirs and those around the globe. This cultural appreciation allows one to have deeper ties to their one culture as well as allowing genuine valuing & appreciation of other cultures.
We have broadened what we offer to businesses and other organizations across KC in terms of diversity, inclusion & equity training, cultural proficiency and preparation for trips and/or doing business abroad. We assist in improving businesses practices, procedures and understand leading to a better meeting business goals and gaining a higher ROI.
In conjunction with our partner organizations, we not only continue to work with our local African communities in celebrating and preserving culture, we provide support for local African owned businesses & professionals. Working with Africans is just part of what we do. We work across the mid-West helping people understand culture, theirs and those around the globe. This cultural appreciation allows one to have deeper ties to their one culture as well as allowing genuine valuing & appreciation of other cultures.
We have broadened what we offer to businesses and other organizations across KC in terms of diversity, inclusion & equity training, cultural proficiency and preparation for trips and/or doing business abroad. We assist in improving businesses practices, procedures and understand leading to a better meeting business goals and gaining a higher ROI.
How Can You Help?
Volunteering can be a lot of fun! Let us know your interests & availability and we will let you know what volunteer opportunities are available. These opportunities may be with Baraza African Cultures Center or one of our partner organizations.
Baraza African Cultures Center is a Kansas Non-Profit corporation – not a 501(c)(3). You can support Baraza & our work in teaching that diversity, inclusion and equity have a value for all members of communities.
While we operate on a fee for service model for sustainability, we also welcome your donation.
While we operate on a fee for service model for sustainability, we also welcome your donation.