Yessenia Luna, a navigator with AKWAABA QC, holds an award certificate she received Saturday, June 21, during a community celebration in Moline to honor the work of AKWAABA QC and its partners. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Yessenia Luna loves helping people facing some of the toughest times of their lives. “I like seeing the smiles on their faces when they get help. … I like helping them get the information they need,” said Ms. Luna, who is a “navigator” with the AKWAABA QC organization. That nonprofit group focuses on providing services […]
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Yessenia Luna loves helping people facing some of the toughest times of their lives.“I like seeing the smiles on their faces when they get help. … I like helping them get the information they need,” said Ms. Luna, who is a “navigator” with the AKWAABA QC organization.That nonprofit group focuses on providing services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The group’s “navigators” help give them training and information that will help them integrate into the Quad Cities communities.Ms. Luna, a native of Mexico City and current East Moline resident, was one of 24 navigators who were honored during the group’s annual Community Navigators Celebration on Saturday afternoon, June 21, at the AKWAABA QC office at 1531 47th Ave., Suite 2, Moline, near SouthPark Mall.The event attracted more than 75 people from the community.
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People prepare food for a meal during a community celebration in Moline to honor the work of AKWAABA QC and its partners. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Nadia Tevi, left, receives a certificate in honor of her work as a navigator with AKWAABA QC from Nana Ouro-Agoro, president and CEO of AKWAABA QC, during a celebration on Saturday, June 21. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Nana Ouro-Agoro, president and CEO of AKWAABA QC, welcomes people to Saturday’s celebration in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
People attend a community celebration in Moline to honor the work of AKWAABA QC and its partners. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Nana Ouro-Agoro, right, president and CEO of AKWAABA QC, welcomes people to Saturday’s celebration in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, talks with people during a community celebration in Moline to honor the work of AKWAABA QC and its partners. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Here are some of the certificates for volunteers during a celebration in Moline to honor the work of AKWAABA QC and its partners. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
That celebration featured visits from Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline; Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Marcus Herbert, who is a candidate for sheriff; and Stacy Jones, strategic partnership specialist with Goodwill of the Heartland, who gave a presentation of services provided by Goodwill.But the stars of Saturday’s show were the AKWAABA QC navigators, who help hundreds of immigrants and refugees make their homes in the region.“The community navigators are individuals from the community trained to disseminate trustworthy and accurate information and connect our immigrant population with essential resources. They also provide invaluable outreach, education, document preparation, naturalization assistance and much more to the Quad Cities' many ethnic communities. By doing so, they serve the large and diverse number of immigrant populations in the Quad Cities,” according to information from AKWAABA QC.
Nonprofits' work vital
Nana Ouro-Agoro, president and CEO of AKWAABA QC, told the crowd during the celebration that the work done by AKWAABA and its navigators is especially vital during these times of changing policies and rules aimed at immigrants.“People are confused. They are scared. … it’s more important than ever they know their rights,” said Ms. Orro-Agoro.She added that AKWAABA QC navigators and others with the group have to work even harder to help people, and especially help break language barriers. Currently, navigators and their clients speak 27 different languages.“We need to break these barriers, the language barriers,” said Ms. Orro-Agoro, who speaks six languages.Saturday’s celebration also highlighted some of the services provided by AKWAABA, which means “Welcome” in the Akhan language spoken in Ghana.Here were some of the services provided by AKWAABA QC in fiscal year 2025:
Case management and clients served: 2,828.
Employment assistance provided: 158.
Job applicants referred: 106.
Clients hired: 80.
Computers distributed: 87.
Immigration assistance cases: 155.
Translation services: 1,400.
Virtual screenings: 29.
In addition to those services, AKWAABA QC provides workshops that focus on housing rights, workplace bias, workers’ rights, homebuyers programs and more.Saturday’s event was also used to thank the groups and businesses that support AKWAABA QC and its clients. Some of those include Goodwill of the Heartland, XPAC in Milan, Community Health Care and others.
Supporters make difference
Those many different services and other work of AKWAABA QC have its supporters. One of them is Mr. Johnson, who told the crowd that he is “relentless in fighting” for the organization at the Statehouse in Springfield, Illinois.Much of that fight centers on getting funding to help the organization. The lawmaker, however, warned people at the celebration that funding could be tough in the coming months and years. “Things are going to get tighter. They are going to get worse,” he added.Even though budget money may get tighter, Mr. Johnson challenged area lawmakers and others to continue their support for AKWAABA QC and diversity in general.“If you see diversity as an obstacle, you shouldn’t be in public service,” he added.Go here to find out more about AKWAABA QC or to become a volunteer with the group.
