Dr. Solomon Bililign, recipient of the 2010 U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering, speaking at Young Ethiopian Professionals (YEP) event in D.C. (Courtesy photograph)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Friday, November 7th, 2014
New York (TADIAS) – The DC-based Young Ethiopian Professionals (YEP) is holding its 4th Anniversary Gala next weekend at The Washington Post Conference center. The association, which was founded in 2010, is a growing networking group that has built a platform for Ethiopian professionals in various sectors to meet and share resources among each other. In an interview with Tadias Magazine earlier this year the organization’s Co-Founder & Executive Vice-President Shimelse Mekonnen noted that YEP also provides mentoring programs for college and high school students. “[We are] a non-profit organization with volunteers, such as myself, who strive to build a community of diverse professionals,” Shimelse told Tadias. “We offer free tutoring, educational workshops and inspirational events to our members.”
Organizers share that this year’s gala features a keynote speech by author and motivational speaker Mawi Asgedom as well as poetry reading by the award-wining Ethiopian poet and performer Bewketu Seyoum.
“Mawi Asgedom has written eight books that are read in thousands of classrooms, spoken to over 1,000,000 students, and inspired students worldwide through his online leadership courses,” states the announcement. “As a child, Mawi fled civil war in Ethiopia and survived a Sudanese refugee camp. After being resettled in The United States, Mawi overcame poverty, language barriers and personal tragedy to graduate from Harvard University, where he gave the Commencement address to an audience of 30,000.”
Bewketu is the winner of the 2008 Best Young Writer of Ethiopia award and has published two bestselling novels, two poetry collections in Amharic, and multiple highly celebrated humorous short stories. The press release adds: “His poetry has appeared in Modern Poetry in Translation (The Big Green Issue, 2008) and Callaloo (2011). He has performed in many stages across Ethiopia, North America and Europe.”
The evening hosted by master of ceremonies Helen Mesfin will also include live auction, music, dinner and a cash bar. Prior to the gala Marcus Samuelsson will make an appearance as part of his book tour.
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If You Go:
YEP’s 4th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraising Gala
Friday, November 14, 2014 6:00 PM – 12AM
Washington, DC
www.yepnetworks.org
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