West African Community Council:
Our History:
Since 2013, the West African Community Council (WACC) has been helping West Africans and other immigrants, refugees and people of color to thrive in the Puget Sound region. Our organization began with a small group of concerned friends from the West African community who came together to offer basic ESL classes and career assistance to newly arrived family and friends from West Africa.
Now serving over 4,000 individuals each year, our programs include a multilingual/multicultural preschool, ParentChild+ program, Immigration Legal Services, Labor Standards Outreach and Intake, Parent/Caregiver Support Programs, Help Me Grow program, information and referral services, case management, civic engagement outreach/education, and food and rental assistance.
We also provide a wide range of informal services to constituents including housing and education advocacy, financial assistance and counseling, tutoring, computer training, after school activities, etc.
Our Mission:
To advocate, organize, assist, educate and support West African community members while preserving our traditions, culture, and social, religious, and moral beliefs.
We work toward a community in which diverse traditions are respected and honored, families are given equal opportunities and individuals are valued regardless of their country of origin, ethnicity, and gender.
Our Vision:
A bright future for all immigrants and refugees.
Partners and Country Associations:
WACC collaborates with the 16 West African Country Associations to accurately and successfully represent West African immigrants in King County from Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Gambia, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Niger.
Through these collaborations we are constantly connecting with different African communities, promoting our services and disseminating critical Immigrant Rights information, and creating unity and respect amongst all immigrant groups.