The story of the airlifts is a continuing one. On this page, we hope to share with you news we receive that touches on the airlifts, their participants, and the accomplishments. On a separate page we ask our readers to share memories and thoughts they have on these subjects. UPCOMING EVENTS: Airlift to America author Tom Shachtman and Cora Weiss, former Executive Director of the African American Students Foundation, will be speaking about the Airlift at a The Library of Congress Event, on the occasion of the Africa Section's 50th anniversary celebrations. The event is scheduled for March 12, at 12:00. Click here for the press release and details. PAPER ON AIRLIFT PRESENTED AT AFRICA STUDIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING: On November 19, Cora Weiss presented a paper on “Hidden Documents, the story of the African American Students Foundation and the Airlift,” at the annual meeting of the Africa Studies Association in New Orleans, sponsored by the African Librarians Council. INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES, AFRICA ACTION, AND PHELPS STOKES CO-SPONSOR AIRLIFT BOOK EVENT IN WASHINGTON D.C.: On October 6, 2009, the author of Airlift to America spoke in Washington D.C. at an event hosted by the Institute for Policy Studies, Africa Action and the Phelps Stokes Fund. Cora Weiss, Former Executive Director of African American Students Foundation, the sponsor of the Airlift, introduced the author. The speakers also included Badi Foster, President and CEO of the Phelps Stokes Fund and Gerald LeMelle, Director of Africa Action, both of whom come from families that were active with the Airlift. Laverne Page of the Africa Section of the Library of Congress told of her husband's brother in law, Festus Molenje, an Airlift student who graduated from Adelphi University. Bob Levey, who has been a popular Washington Post columnist and whose family hosted a number of airlift students, told wonderful stories and spoke some Swahili that he remembered. The packed room of 65 people included others with ties to the Airlift as well, such as Steve Nkurlu, Director of recreation and respite services at the Easter Seals Camp in Maryland, who is nephew of Yona Nkurlu, an Airlift student who attended Gustavus College in Maine. BOOK RECEPTION IN NEW YORK (September 17, 2009): Airlift organizers Cora Weiss, Theodore Kheel and Mathilde Krim hosted a moving reception for several hundred, including many with ties to the airlifts, on September 17, 2009, near the United Nations. Ambassador Zachary Muburi-Muita of Kenya, Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda of Uganda, and Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, of Tanzania co-hosted the event and spoke at it, along with Diana Ofwona, the daughter of an airlift student, now with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Niger; Olara Otunnu, friend of Barack Obama, Sr., former foreign minister of Uganda, former Under Secretary General and Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict at the United Nations; and Haron Andima, airlift student, now a professor at Bronx Community College. To see a video of the event, click here. MARTHA’S VINEYARD BOOK READING ATTENDED BY HARRY BELAFONTE (August 27, 2009): The book “Airlift to America” was launched with a reading and a signing at Midnight Farm on Martha’s Vineyard, attended by Harry Belafonte, who served on the Board of Directors of the African American Students Foundation, supported the Airlift in its fundraising efforts, and wrote the foreword to the book. In a story about the event, entitled “Unlikely Events Recall Story of This President,” the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette interviewed airlift organizer Cora Weiss about some of the history. The Boston Globe also reported on the pre-publication celebration, in “Scene Around the Vineyard”. Visit our photographs page to see some pictures taken at the event.