Born out of struggle, West African Center flourishes in Lynnwood

LYNNWOOD — Excitement was in the air Saturday as people gathered to talk, eat and celebrate the opening of the new Washington West African Center headquarters in Lynnwood.

It was a packed program. Music filled the room at 19203 36th Ave. West as a children’s choir sang songs. In another performance, Pa Bobo Jobarteh strummed a traditional West African instrument called a kora.

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At the old location, which was much smaller, there were “people lined up outside” to get in, Board Chair Gloria Walton said. “If you don’t have enough room to support them, how can you do your job effectively?”

The center provides many services for the local West African community: rental assistance, food and an after-school program for kids, among others.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/born-out-of-struggle-west-african-center-flourishes-in-lynnwood/