Spotlight Africa: A Sanctuary in a City of Suits & Sirens
Gridlocked traffic, squeezed elevators, stringent security, nap-inducing panel discussions. For many touching down in New York City for the events surrounding the United Nations General Assembly, this is what they find. They come full of excitement to be part of high-level meetings but leave feeling rushed, talked at, and exhausted.
For two weeks each September, Manhattan becomes a hotbed of activity as world leaders, celebrities, development workers, philanthropists, and fundraisers all jockey for time and attention in a crowded conference scene. Bloomberg, Clinton, Gates—every big name has a big event, so now savvy NGOs and foundations are hosting breakfast roundtables, movie screenings, future festivals, coffee chats, science fairs, and evening cocktails. To say that schedules are overwhelming is laughable. Every event is across town and every hotel room is exorbitantly priced.
In an effort not to add fuel to the fire, Segal Family Foundation offered Spotlight Africa for the first time this year—not an event, but a convening space for African leaders and philanthropists who work in Africa. In the midst of Midtown Manhattan, Spotlight Africa was an oasis: a welcoming space to decompress, catch up on email, or meet with a friend. Coffee, tea, breakfast, lunch, and snacks were available throughout the day. Segal grantee partners and fellow funder friends were invited to use the space during their downtime or however they needed; invitees had the opportunity to host their own sessions.
Over three days, over 600 people came and went, popping in to participate in sessions about thriving collaboration, risk capital, STEM education, big bets, bold moves, and more. Some came for meals; some stayed for an afternoon of working, making themselves at home in a corporate boardroom that had been transformed into a comfortable lounge, complete with couches, plants, and twinkle lights. “Spotlight Africa was a place of warmth, home, and connection,” said Esther Wang, management advisor at Elevate Prize. ”I heard from travelers near and far that UNGA was more manageable and consolidated because of this landing spot, so thoughtfully curated in programming and bits of care—like sustenance, which often gets lost in the schedules!”
In the evenings, musicians showed up and the bar was set for celebratory receptions. At the Celebration of African Visionaries, we honored our 2024 award winners: Nasser Diallo of Clinic+O, Charlotte Iraguha of Teach for Uganda, Murendi Mafumo of Kusini Water, Linda Kamau of AkiraChix, and Bahati Satir Omar of Uwezo Youth Empowerment. There was a spirit of joy as the five changemakers were fêted with ululation and drums. The following night, Elevate Prize, Judith Neilson Foundation, Livelihood Impact Fund, Myriad USA, and Skoll Foundation co-hosted a cocktail that included a short program where the audience was asked to consider how they put a spotlight on Africa.
Although the Big Apple can feel worlds apart from Arusha or Bujumbura or Kigali, Spotlight Africa was full of touches to make it feel a bit more like home. An Afrobeats playlist provided the background music and a video with scenes from across the continent played on a loop. Participants met at tables festooned with flags from different African countries. Plantain chips, peri peri chicken, and mandazi were on offer at the buffet. “The space you created felt both safe and inspiring—a real refuge amidst the chaos going on outside,” noted Lisa Issroff of Issroff Family Foundation.
“It was great to connect with so many folks in a short period of time,” added Dr. Paulin Basinga, Africa director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “There was nothing like this event in New York this week—it truly stood out.”
