With Africans making up 17% of Washington D.C.’s foreign-born population, and Africa’s pace-setting emergence as a global center of technological innovation and enterprise, it is important for Africans to be a part of the conversation. This year’s Africa Gathering conference aims to displace the ubiquitous portrayal of Africa as a stagnant continent mired in conflict – with the balanced reality of an upwardly growing continent filled with an impassioned populace and a creative diaspora full of zest for progress – both with a penchant for technological solutions and an aptitude for entrepreneurship. Featured “Africa Unlimited” speakers include successful African technology and media start-up innovators, social entrepreneurs and thought leaders who will share challenges, insights and inspirations related to their work in Africa and the wider Diaspora. Invited speakers include Ghanaian software engineer Kwame Andah, co-founder of Coders4Africa, award-winning entrepreneur Saran Kaba Jones, the Liberian-born founder of FACE Africa, a non-profit that builds water wells in Liberia and Solome Lemma, Ethiopian philanthropist, White House ‘Champion of Change’ honoree and long-time activist. To Register: www.Africagathering.org