Harambee Ministries, a Pasadena-based religious organization, will be hosting a networking event on Tuesday, May 3, at the Pasadena Convention Center.
Through this event, called Connect Pas4, Harambee Ministries seeks to connect all non-profits, entrepreneurs, faith-based, and grassroots organizations, serving Pasadena and Altadena residents.
Connect Pas4 is co-sponsored by Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and District 1 City Councilmember Tyron Hampton.
Tina Williams, Director of Community Engagement at Harambee Ministries, said they’re expecting over 200 non-profit organizations and businesses operating in Los Angeles County to be at the networking event Tuesday.
“We were talking about how many services there are in the city of Pasadena, and yet maybe folks aren’t aware of all of them,” Williams said. “So we wanted to give people an opportunity to learn about each other – nonprofits, grassroots organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses – just to come together and say, ‘Hey, oh wow, you do this, I do that,’ and learn about each other.”
The event, Williams said, is meant to provide an avenue for all well-meaning organizations in the greater Pasadena area to share information and let people know what kind of work these organizations do for the community. Connect Pas4 is also being held in advance of a bigger event in June, where the community and the general public can expect to hear more from these non-profits and service organizations.
“Harambee is having a block party family reunion block party on June 11th,” Williams said. “And we’re inviting all those who come to this event to participate in an event where the community is invited in to hear about what they have.”
Harambee Ministries also celebrates its 40th anniversary on June 11.
The Pasadena organization started in 1982 when the founder, Dr. John Perkins, a preacher from Mississippi with a third grade education, asked people to come to Northwest Pasadena, and start programs for feeling the needs of the community and responding to them. Dr. Perkins began his ministry there, and soon the organization, which takes its name from the Kiswahili expression that translates to “let’s get together and push,” was offering tutoring, computer classes, t-shirt making, ESL classes and others.
Eventually, Dr. Perkins and his wife, Vera Mae Perkins, established a Harambee Preparatory School (HPS) and a Harambee Preschool. Today, Harambee offers a performing arts program on three PUSD campuses.
To register for Connect Pas4, go to https://5lmh8lweyf6.typeform.
For more information, visit www.harambeeministries.org.
The Pasadena Convention Center is located at 300 Green Street.