About Us
Who We Are
The Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Philadelphia (ECAGP) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit community-based organization committed to serving the needs of Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas. ECAGP is committed to empowering its members through promoting social, economic, public health, and community engagement.
ECAGP played dominant role to establish the “License & Inspection (L & I) Task Force” to advocate for Immigrants business owners who were a recipient of L & I, Police, etc., harassments, because of their language or color of their skin. The Task Force were able to get the City of Philadelphia to train all city employees sensitivity training plus published most of the Immigrants’ languages (I speak ) on card so non-English speaking immigrants can carry the card in their wallet in case the police or L&I officers come in contact with them, by looking the card they can call interpretation service to interpret for the immigrant. The same Task Force merged with “Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition” to form a stronger immigrant Coalition advocacy throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
In 2005, ECAGP became one of the first founders of 11 Countries to “The Mayor’s Commission for African and Caribbean Immigrants affairs”
In 1996, ECAGP became a founding member of the Refugee Communities Coalition of Philadelphia (RCCP). We have been actively collaborating in different grants, programs and services in advocacy of our constituents.
ECAGP was one of 8 founders of the African Nations of Soccer Tournament at the end grew to 16 African Countries which led to the Philadelphia International Unity Cup tournament creation sponsored by the mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
Our History
Prior to 1978, Ethiopians in Philadelphia area were mainly organized under the Ethiopian Student Union of North America (ESUNA) which was a student organization dedicated to political activism back in Ethiopia. With the collapse of the political opposition to the military government in the country ESUNA became fragmented and eventually came to an end in late 1970s.
Following the persecution of the opposition by the government Ethiopians fled in mass to neighboring countries as refugees. Some Ethiopians in Philadelphia, concerned with the plight of these refugees, created a nonprofit organization known as the Ethiopian Community Association of Philadelphia and Surrounding States (ECAPS) to help these refugees in any way possible including resettlement in the US. ECAPS was short lived and only lasted until 1981.
A few years later, cognizant of the need for a community Association, a new effort to organize was initiated and the Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Philadelphia (ECAGP) was formed with a different structure and bylaws from that of ECAPS. In August of 1983, ECAGP was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Pennsylvania and was granted tax exempt (501(C)(3)) status. In 1999 ECAGP purchased its current community center building located at 4400 Chestnut Street with funds donated by dedicated community members. The center has significantly enhanced the organization’s ability to serve the community.
Mission
ECAGP is committed to promoting the social, economic, educational, health and community wellbeing of its members; Promote and preserve Ethiopian cultures and traditions for children of Ethiopians in diaspora to help them appreciate their heritage.
Vision
Create a vibrant and strong Ethiopian community whose members are productive and prosperous members of society.