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The Straight-Up 30
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The Straight-Up 30
Papa Dia on Immigration, Opportunity, and Building Community Power
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In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Papa M. Dia, Founder and President of the African Leadership Group (ALG), to talk about the immigrant experience beyond the headlines. Papa shares his journey from Senegal to the United States, what it meant to start over at 28 years old, and how that experience led him to build ALG. The conversation explores how community-based organizations help immigrants stabilize, integrate, build wealth, and ultimately step into civic leadership and policy advocacy.
What we cover:
• Papa’s journey from Senegal to Colorado and starting over in a new country
• Why ALG focuses on social, educational, and economic impact
• How direct service evolves into leadership, advocacy, and policy engagement
• ALG programs including language support, legal clinics, youth leadership, business development, and homeownership
• What’s next for ALG, including coalition building and national expansion
About the guest:
Papa M. Dia is the Founder and President of the African Leadership Group (ALG), a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on advancing the professional, economic, and civic integration of the African diaspora. Through leadership development, entrepreneurship support, and community advocacy, ALG works to ensure African immigrant families thrive and have a voice in the broader civic process.
Resources:
African Leadership Group: https://usalg.org
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