Bryan’s Road, Maryland (June 21, 2009):- The National Reconciliation Conference of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia have ended in Virginia, Liberia with the adoption of several recommendations. Amongst the recommendations adopted was dual citizenship and out-of-country voting for Diaspora Liberians. The adoption of these recommendations according to reliable sources was a derivative of the active participation of ULAA’s National President, Honorable Anthony Kesselly. It may be recalled that during his address to the plenary and participation on the Governance and Decentralization Committee of the Conference Honorable Kesselly strongly advocated for these two recommendations.

Diaspora representatives formally present Diaspora Recommendations to TRC Chairman Jerome Verdier at climax of the TRC National Conference on Reconciliation on Friday. Presenting the document is Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights representative James A. O’Neal, who is flanked by his Advocate Colleague Ahmed Sirleaf (on left) and ULAA National President Anthony Kesselly (at right). Liberian Vice President Joseph N. Boakai sits on stage directly behind ULAA Prexy Kesselly

TRC Chairman Jerome Verdier shakes hands with Diaspora representatives in acknowledgment of official receipt of Liberian Diaspora recommendations. Chairman shakes hands with ULAA National President Anthony V. Kesselly and Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights representatives James A. O’Neal and Ahmed Sirleaf

The final day of the Conference saw the participation of Vice President Joseph Boakai, Public Works Minister and veteran Human Rights Activist Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods among other distinguished personalities.

Liberian Vice President, Honorable Joseph N. Boakai, makes some special remarks to the delegates and formally declares the Conference adjourned

President Kesselly is expected to continue to make calls on officials of the Liberian Government, heads of civic groups, student leaders and other interest groups. The ULAA boss is also scheduled to meet with Chairman James Fromoyan of the National Elections Commission. A previous scheduled meeting with Honorable Fromoyan had to be cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.

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National Leaders of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) are today felicitating ULAA National General Secretary Isaac S. Zawolo who just clinched the prestigious “Teacher of the Year Award” of the Arlington Career Center in Arlington County, Virginia.

Mr. Zawolo, on Monday, November 23, 2009, earned the accolade, placing him in a vantage position to be considered for even higher awards like the “Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards” and the “2010 Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year.”

National General Secretary Isaac S. Zawolo, Jr. at the ULAA 35th National General Assembly in Decatur, Georgia, last September

In his congratulatory message to Honoree Zawolo, ULAA National President Anthony V. Kesselly noted that the recognition serves as testimony to the fact that “we community leaders and activists, much as we are bogged down in service to our communities, are also very much positively embroiled in other worthy human endeavors in which we strive to excel.”

Salutations also went to Mr. Zawolo from National Executive Vice President Gaye D. Sleh, Board Chairman David K. Flomo, National Treasurer Emmanuel N. Togba, and Western Regional Vice President J. Siaka Konneh.

In Mr. Zawolo’s School District, teachers are asked to vote every year for the “Teacher of the Year.” The Teacher of the Year for each school becomes a candidate for the Post/Agnes Meyer Award, the Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year Award and the Arlington Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award.

The “Teacher of the Year” must exhibit the following qualities: concern for individual students and ability to inspire learning; ability and willingness to work cooperatively with fellow professionals; willingness to devote time and energy to activities that result in improved instruction for children; ability to work effectively with the community; desire to keep abreast of current educational theories and practices; ability and willingness to make contributions to the field of education; and ability to create and implement innovative educational practices.

Mr. Zawolo was selected to receive this Award after spending just five years at this school were most teachers have spent on average seven or more years. By and large, his selection was based on his professionalism, discipline, consistency, care and concern for his students, involvement in activities outside the classroom that promote learning, improve test scores, helping rejected students to excel in ways others never dreamed of, excellence, superior pedagogical skills, his involvement in his community (ULAA, LCA-DC, etc).

As part of the nomination process for the other higher awards, the Honoree must complete paper work by December 18, 2009.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zawolo has expressed his gratitude to his fellow community activists, noting, “All of you contributed in one way or the other to make this possible. I thank you for all your support, criticisms and concerns.” Concluding he supplicated, “May God bless you all as we believe that those that hope upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount on wings like eagle.”

This latest honor comes barely a week after Mr. Zawolo was ordained as a Deacon and inducted into office as Head of the Deaconate of the Christ International Ministries in Laurel , Maryland . At that ceremony, speaking before a congregation that included his parents, family member and a member of the Maryland State House of Delegates, a tearful Isaac Zawolo began by telling his parents that “this is your child who was declared dead at the age of eight months” accepting to serve as a Deacon”.

Mr. Zawolo added that this was possible because of his parents’ faith and trust in God. He continued by intimating that he owes all to his parents who he described as the “wind beneath his wings”. Mr. Zawolo further promised to ensure that anyone who walks in his Church will leave having experienced a new life. He added that the Church will partner with other faith-based establishments to transform the Laurel area into an “oasis of hope” in a land of despair. Concluding he charged the members of the Church to embrace the vision and eschew gossips, unnecessary complaining and unwarranted envy to realize the dream.

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(MONROVIA-June 25, 2009): Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says Government welcomes the participation of Liberians residing in the United States and other countries abroad in the country’s reconstruction. The President said such involvement would be more effective if Liberians unify their efforts and work to achieve national development and reconciliation. The President said Government remains receptive to ideas which will help enhance growth and national development and reconciliation.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf welcomes ULAA National

President Anthony V. Kesselly to her Office at the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs Building in Monrovia on Thursday, June 25, 2009

According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the comments Thursday when the President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas , Mr. Anthony Kesselly, paid a courtesy call on her during his visit to Liberia.

The President briefed Mr. Kesselly on progress Government has made in its development initiatives under the Poverty Reduction Strategy now referred to as ‘Lift Liberia.’  The Liberian leader spoke of the many challenges still facing the country despite progress, and called on Liberians residing in the United States and other parts of the world to visit the country to get first hand impression of developments at home.

Official Pose in the Liberian President’s Office following a tête-à-tête

On proposals calling for the introduction of absentee ballots in the next general elections, the Liberian President said she welcomed the principle but a thorough review of the process is needed to ensure that it is not manipulated if implemented.  The President again expressed her support for the passage of legislation which will grant dual citizenship to Liberians, noting that the adoption of such could address the issue of absentee ballots. 

The ULAA President thanked the Liberian leader for the meeting, and expressed his organization’s preparedness to working with Government to achieve its national development goals. Mr. Kesselly lauded the President for her support for an extension in the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Liberians residing in the United States . He spoke of the need for stronger partnership between the Liberian Government and ULAA so to reinforce the efforts aimed at addressing the needs of Liberians living in the United States and the Diaspora. 

ULAA PRESIDENT KESSELLY MEETING LIBERIAN LEADER ON DIASPORA ISSUES

A good-bye and Best Wishes Pose of the Liberian Chief

Executive and the ULAA Boss 

Mr. Kesselly then extended an invitation to the Liberian President for a meeting with ULAA executives during her next visit to the United States . The President has accepted the invitation.

The ULAA President was in the country to attend the National Reconciliation Conference hosted by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ( TRC ). 

Signed: ____________ _________ _________ ____

                        Cyrus Wleh Badio

            Press Secretary to the President

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