Community Support & Development

How We Support & Develop Our Community

SACU’s strengthens Southern Africans in the diaspora by providing resources, support, and visibility that empower our local community. Through community resource distribution and partnerships with local nonprofits, we help address urgent needs and support emergency relief efforts, including targeted assistance for vulnerable families through food‑security collaborations such as our partnership with Manna Food Center.

Our community forums further support personal growth and collective learning by addressing important topics such as raising children in the U.S., mental health, domestic violence, and other topical issues affecting our diaspora. These online discussions keep the community informed and connected while allowing Southern African professionals to serve as trusted resources for others. We also create spaces for physical wellness by hosting athletic activities and tournaments—volleyball, netball, and soccer—and by offering health‑focused programs like our African‑inspired Zumba‑thon.

As a volunteer‑driven organization, we provide leadership and service opportunities for youth and adults, helping community members build their résumés, develop new skills, and connect with professional references who can speak to their strengths. Through these efforts, we work to keep our community strong, supported, and connected.

Featured Community Events & Activities

Community Forums & Townhalls

Southern Africans have a long tradition of gathering for community discussions—pamtondo, kgotla, pitso, dare, and indabas— are all spaces where people come together to share knowledge, seek guidance, and strengthen collective bonds. Our community forums and town halls continue this tradition by providing platforms, both online and in person, where SACU supports personal growth and collective learning by addressing important topics. In the past, we have explored issues such as raising children in the U.S., mental health, domestic violence, COVID‑19 myths, navigating careers, and other topical matters affecting our diaspora. We draw from a wide range of experts, community leaders, and government representatives who are Southern African or friends of Southern Africa, to provide insights and encourage meaningful participation from attendees.

Manna Food Center Partnership

Our partnership with Manna Food Center strengthened our ability to support vulnerable families within the Southern African diaspora during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Through this collaboration, SACU helped expand access to essential food resources, ensuring that households facing hardship received reliable, dignified assistance. Manna’s long‑standing expertise in food security, combined with SACU’s deep community connections, allowed us to respond quickly to urgent needs, support families during difficult times, and promote overall community well‑being.

This work included identifying and registering community members experiencing food insecurity, meeting with Manna representatives to determine culturally relevant foods for their communities and distributing food bags at outdoor community events such as the Zambian independence celebration. Together, we worked to reduce food insecurity and uphold the values of care, compassion, and collective responsibility that define our Southern African community.

Health and Wellness Activities!

SACU’s health events promote wellness, connection, and education within the Southern African diaspora. Our events are designed to encourage active lifestyles, build community, and provide accessible health information. Some of the events we have had include soccer, volleyball and netball games as standalone events or as a part of our reunion weekends. Other activities we had in the past was an African‑inspired Zumba‑thon in collaboration with BloomBars, a vibrant and energetic event that brings people together to celebrate movement, culture, and fitness.

We also host health and wellness activities, for the community that highlight preventive care, mental well‑being, and healthy living. Through these events, SACU fosters a supportive environment where community members can learn, stay active, and strengthen their overall health knowledge.

Our work in health and wellness also led us to be recognized as a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Healthy People 2030 partner. Through this partnership we continue to inform the community about health and wellness and resources available to the community.

Our Impact

Through our activities that support and develop the community, our impact is reflected in a stronger, more supported Southern African diaspora—one where families facing hardship receive help, individuals gain access to culturally relevant resources, and community members grow through shared learning, wellness, and connection. Through our partnerships, active in‑person health events, preventive‑care workshops, and culturally grounded forums, SACU advances its mission to support and develop our diaspora. Each initiative strengthens community bonds, promotes dignity and resilience, and ensures that Southern Africans in the U.S. have the tools, knowledge, and support they need to thrive.

Our Programs

“You cannot have Development without Self-development”

— Tsitsi Dangarembga