“Education and the quest for knowledge stops only at the grave.” H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I, 18th May 1959

Roots International Arts Alliance, Inc.

Educational Development Funding Agenda

"Today, Our eyes and Our hopes are on all you graduates. We hope that the seeds of learning which you have received will, in the service which you render, ripen into an abundant harvest. We assumed the obligation to foster and expand education in our nation both as a solemn duty, because the nation can flourish and grow only as the ranks of the teachers and students are expanded and filled as a matter of free will, because man would prefer to speak of his nation in terms of its educated men and women rather than by recounting the size of its population.“

H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I1966 Graduation Address at Haile Selassie I University

June 30, 1966

Mission and Purpose

ROOTS International Arts Alliance, Inc. has partnered with the Emperor Haile Selassie First Memorial Association in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to raise funds for the following programs:

• The Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Fund• The Emperor Haile Selassie I Summer Internship Program• The Emperor Haile Selassie I Alumni Association• The Emperor Haile Selassie Learning Center Construction • The Emperor Haile Selassie I Text Book Drive• The Emperor Haile Selassie I Library-Museum Construction Project

These noble programs are the vision of retired government officials who once held prominent positions within the Imperial government of Ethiopia’s last King of Kings, Emperor Haile Selassie I, the 225th and the last King of Kings of the Solomonic Dynasty to sit upon the Throne of David, in in Ethiopia, modern times (1930-1975).

ROOTS has committed to raising funds for the construction the Association’s educational development programs which includes the construction of satellite libraries and learning centers and the provision of annual four-year scholarships in support of the Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Program.

ROOTS is also thoroughly committed to the Associations long-term plan to construct a world-class library-museum in memory of Emperor Haile Selassie I—a project which is projected to take 5-15 years (fundraising, planning, construction and implementation.

ROOTS International Arts Alliance, Inc. d/b/a Emperor Haile Selassie I Association-USA

The Queen of Sheba & Pharaohs‘ Educational Research Foundation

Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars FundEducational Development Program in Ethiopia

Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Program

Short-Term Mission & Goal

The Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Fund will provide scholarships to qualifying Ethiopian students who achieve outstanding results in their Certificate Examinations but are hampered from college for lack of financial resources. The total cost per student is $750.00/US (covers room and board for four years).

Emperor Haile Selassie I Internship ProgramEducational Development Programs in Ethiopia

Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Program

2013 Internship Program

This eight-week internship is available to college students who have a desire to serve humanity through educational development. The internship is open to the following majors:

• Engineering, Architectural/structural design/City Planning• Business, Religion, History and Black Studies• Library and Environmental Sciences

Selected students will gain valuable hands-on-experience and increased self-confidence in business communications, business planning, development and implementation for educational programs, while gaining first-hand knowledge about ancient Ethiopian history and culture. Requirements: Must be self-disciplined and of the highest moral character (minimum 2.5 GPA). Interns who successfully complete the program earn 6.0 credit hours.

Long-term Goal & Lifetime Commitment

Library-Museum Construction 5-15 Year ProjectLong-Term Goal

A delegation is traveling to Ethiopia in 2012 to meet members of the Emperor Haile Selassie I Memorial Association and to discuss the architectural design, scope of work, timelines for completion, material cost and labor projects, for the construction of ten regional libraries in the short term and a larger library-museum, over the next 5-15 years, in memory Emperor Haile Selassie I, Ethiopia’s last King of Kings of the Solomonic Dynasty, to sit upon the Throne of David, in modern times. The library-museum will be a repository of historical books, photographs, and electronic media and oral histories that will preserve the ancient royal history of Ethiopia via a state-of-the-art digital archive system.

Construction ProjectArchitectural, Engineering Design Summer Programs

This program seeks the brightest Ethiopian, African-American and Caribbean architectural, engineering and science students to assist with translating the Association’s vision via computer applications and technology to design a world-class library-museum and 10 satellite libraries. Students of environmental science will be asked to incorporate green technologies into the design which would include solar lighting. Selected Ethiopian students will receive small stipends and will work with professional architects and CAD specialists’ using the latest state-of-the-art architectural computer programs and technology to render the final design that will be used to determine overall cost of the project. The design of the library-museum and ten smaller learning centers will be based on ancient and modern Ethiopian architecture.

Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Program

Architectural, Engineering and Science Educational Exchange program

Ethiopian Children Library Book Drive…we need to collect 20,000 books to establish 10 libraries

Many children in remote areas in Ethiopia do not have access to books or libraries’ which support the development of basic literacy skills (reading comprehension). Our mission is to support the Emperor Haile Selassie I Memorial Association’s educational development program in Ethiopia by launching a book drive to collect 20,000 , textbooks, general reading books encyclopedia’s, dictionaries and other appropriate reading materials for each library, based on the Ethiopian governments requirements for students of all ages.

Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Program

Library Book DrivePromoting Literacy in Ethiopia

Historical Expeditions to Ethiopia

Educational Expeditions and Tours to the Ethiopia Will stimulate the local economy in the areas of

Educational and Historical Tourism

• Historical expeditions and tours will be tailored to attract educators, clergy, historians, researchers, students and others who are interested in learning about ancient Ethiopian history first hand while touring the historic route in Ethiopia. Participants will be encouraged to contribute books, computers, and/or make financial contributions in support of the Emperor Haile Selassie I Scholars Program and Library-Museum Construction Project.

***SPECIAL EVENTS***The International Grand Opening of

“The African Genesis: Genesis 2:13

Traveling Museum Exh ibit, Symposium & BanquetThe ancient history of Ethiopia when she was known as

“Kush” told with multi-media presentations, lectures and enlightening discussions over Ethiopian dinner

BaHar Dar, EthiopiaNovember 1-4, 2011

________

St. George’s ChurchNovember 2, 2011 – 6:00AM

Experience the Spiritual Traditions of The Ethiopian Orthodox Church on the Diamond Jubilee of the Coronation

of Emperor Haile Selassie, the 225thKing of Kings, Lord of Lords Conquering Lion of Judah

Addis Ababa Tour: Courtesy visits with the Minister of Sports & Culture, the Commissioner of Tourism, and the Association of Ethiopian Patriots; Guided Tours of Trinity Cathedral, Menelik Mausoleum, The National Museum, Ethnological Museum, Mount Entoto, The Institute of Ethiopian Studies, and more…

Bahar Dar– Location of the Garden of Eden and the Gihon River in Gen. 2:13; the source of the Nile in Egypt; here is found 37 Island monasteries & churches decorated with sacred paintings & icons.

Axum– “The Holy City” dates back more than 2,000 years; ancient capital of the Queen of Sheba, birthplace of Menelik Son of Solomon, Home of the Arc of the Covenant, St. Maryum Sion Church, giant Obelisks, sacred tombs and more;

Lalibella– “The 8th Wonder of the World” an ancient township located in the mountains, location of 11th Century Churches carved out of rock by hand;

Gondar– “The Camelot of Africa,” stroll through 16th Century Castles and Court Yards, visit the Debre Berhene Selassie Church “Trinity Church of Light,” view ancient paintings and icons;

Return to your ROOTS,before slavery…join us on a wonderful adventure to the ancient land of Ethiopia, the Garden of Eden of the Bible and discover the African ROOTS of Christianity:

African-centered Educational Tours & Research Expeditions

2011 Educational TourDate and Cost

to be determined.

Fly Ethiopian AirEarn Sheba Miles

Includes: Roundtrip domestic and international air + tax from Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Miami (call for special rates from other cities or from outside US), guided tours in Addis Ababa, Axum, Lalibella, Gondar & Bahar Dar, hotel accommodations, 2 meals daily; ground transportation, and entry fees to historic sites. Price subject to change based on seating availability. Requires $300 Deposit. Balance due August 20, 2005. Cancellations: 60 day notice required + $300 cancellation fee.

ROOTS INTERNATIONAL, INCCALL 312-225-6000 FAX: 312-225-5795

Contact: Imani Kali-Nyah

Journey to Ethiopia

www.rootsinternational.net/

AARCO Travel Agency CALL 773-363-9500FAX: 773-363-7164

1-800-445-4611Idella or Imani

International Inc Educational Event

Ethiopian Tourism Commission

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wolette SelassiePresident & CEONational SpokespersonChicago, Illinois

Nathaniel H. Mayes IIIVice President &Director of International Youth DevelopmentSacramento, California

Erick NickersonDirector International AffairsChicago, IL

Iesha ScottPublic Relations DirectorChicago, IL

CHICAGO Email: haileselassie1

UNITED STATES PO Box 803764Chicago, IL 60680-3764Tel: 872-244-7300Fax: 773-268-1927Email: rootsinternational@sbcglobal.net

ROOTS International Arts Alliance, Inc. d/b/a Emperor Haile Selassie I Association-USA

The Queen of Sheba & Pharaohs‘ Educational Research Foundation

Wolette SelassiePresident & CEOROOTS International Arts Alliance, Inc.

Imani Kali-Nyah, is the Founder, President & CEO of ROOTS International Arts Alliance, Inc. (ROOTS), and it’s dba’s (The Emperor Haile Selassie I Association, The Ethiopian Holocaust Remembrance Committee and the Queen of Sheba Research and Education Foundation). ROOTS was

incorporated twenty-five years ago in Chicago, Illinois as a non-profit, non-political 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization, to promote and preserve ancient and modern African history via educational cultural and performing arts programs. Imani, whose spiritual Ethiopian name is Wolette Selassie (Daughter of the Trinity); she was born in the Heartland of Mississippi Timber Country in a small southern town in the United States; her father, grandfather and uncles were active members of the Ethiopianist Movement from the beginning of Benito Mussolini systematic mass-extermination campaign in Ethiopia in 1936, that was carried out with poison gas and other horrific crimes against humanity upon the defenseless Ethiopian people. Young Wolette’s father and uncles taught her about the ancient Ethiopian presence in the bible beginning with Genesis 2:13 and the history Emperor Haile Selassie I, who is the last King of the Solomonic Dynasty to sit upon King David’s Throne in Ethiopia in modern times. Such knowledge shaped Wolette’s impressionable and creative young mind and ignited her desire to learn more about ancient Ethiopia from a very early age, and she did.

Today, Wolette’s is known internationally for her dedication and commitment to the ideals of Emperor Haile Selassie I and her love an appreciation for the promotion and preservation of ancient Ethiopian history. Wolette Selassie is spiritually motivated to work for the upliftment of African people via African-centered Education and Educational Development programs; she believes that “The greatest mission of all is to Serve and to always put Race-First”. She has traveled extensively and is respected for her views on sensitive issues directly related to human rights, fair-reporting and African-centered research and education; she has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to African/Ethiopian culture, most notably from the Honorable Mayor Harold Washington (1985), the Honorable Mayor Richard Daley (1991), the Illinois Bell Community Leadership Award (1987) and the Empress Menen Award (1993).

Wolette Selassie earned a BA in Mass Communications from Chicago State University, specializing in television and radio productions with an emphasis on investigative reporting; she also studied law for two-years. Currently she is he executive producer of “African Worldview,” which airs every Thursday night on Channel 19 in Chicago from 9:00pm – 9:30pm and is now in its fourteenth season. Wolette has produced a number of programs on ancient Ethiopian history. (NOTE: “Wolette is currently employed by the City of Chicago in the Department of Law as Assistant to the Deputy Corporation Counsel of the Revenue Litigation Division where has worked for the past eleven years under her married name “Barbara R. Miller).

Nathaniel Mayes: Executive Vice-President Emperor Haile Selassie Association - USA Nathaniel H. Mayes, III was born in Washington, D.C., into a family of educators, and raised in Elk Grove, California, just outside of the state capital of Sacramento. After obtaining a B.A. in Finance from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1987, Nathaniel began a career in government, working for the California State Assembly legislature as Assistant Clerk in the Engrossing and Enrolling office, where he is co-manager of the Assembly’s in-house editing department for all proposed legislation. Over the years, Mr. Mayes has donated his time in community service in the areas of education and international trade with Africa: Mr. Mays wrote a proposal to export and deploy new solar-energy and hydro-technology to Senegal, West Africa which provided Senegal with a feasible resolution for water purification and solar-energy to rural communities in Senegal. The proposal generated an offer of partnership from the Ministry of Scientific Research. Currently, Mr. Mays I President & CEO of the Queen of Sheba and Pharaohs’ Historical and Educational Research Foundation, which was established on May 22, 1989, by the late Dr. Robert B. Kennon, PhD (Lij Makonnen), a Sacramento City College professor emeritus and former adviser to the late Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia; Dr. Kennon established the Foundation with the approval of Emperor Haile Selassie) in order to introduce African-Americans to the ancient rich cultural history (“High Culture” of Ethiopia and to establish international trade between Africa and African-Americans. In continuing the work of Dr. Kennon, Mr. Mays has establish education and trade programs for college students of African descent that will facilitate maximum intellectual, cultural, and commercial exchanges between Africans and African-Americans. Additionally, in 2011, Mr. Mayes was invited to become a founding director of the U.S. office (Chicago, IL) of the Haile Selassie I Memorial Association, Inc. whose head office is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this endeavor, Mr. Mayes will work to help restore and preserve the rich cultural legacy of Ethiopia via educational development programs. Mr. Mayes is and avid reader of ancient African history and civilization and contemporary International affairs, enjoys a good debate, is mildly conversant in Spanish and Portuguese, and enjoys traveling. His favorite trip was his solo trip to Ethiopia and Egypt in 2003. In his capacity as Director, International Affairs of the Chicago Office of the Emperor Haile Selassie First Memorial Association, Inc., Mr. Mays will be hosting a fundraiser in Sacramento California in July 2012 and also assisting with the promotions of the Memorial Association’s “Travel & Learn Historical Tour” to Ethiopia in October 2012.

Erick Nickerson – Bio Director of International Affairs Emperor Haile Selassie I Association-USA

Erick Nickerson has extensive experience in community development; he is assertive and has a high level of business acumen particularly in relationship building.

From April 1997 – May 2001, Erick served the Municipality of Dixmoor, Illinois as Mayor and Chief Executive Officer of the south suburban municipality where he presided over and provided leadership in council meetings; represent the municipality at official functions; maintained relationships and requirements with Federal and State government agencies and participated decision making issues that had long-term consequences on the municipality and which were directly related to the by-laws, policies and strategic plans established by Council.

Mayor Nickerson also represented the views of his constituents that were sometimes highly sensitive or controversial, when dealing with issues that come before Council, established policies and ensured that such policies were implemented and observed in an objective and consistent manner. His numerous duties and responsibilities as Mayor included but was not limited to the delegation and implementation of policy and daily operations to administrative staff through the City Administrator; he also ensured that funds were spent as authorized, with the most efficient possible use of the municipality’s human, natural and financial resources. Mayor Nickerson effectively managed the Village’s land resources through careful land use planning while satisfying important social, economic and environmental concerns and negotiate contracts on behalf of the village including labor and service contracts

Before he was elected Mayor, Erick worked for the State of Illinois for twenty-four years as an executive liaison between the offices of FDIC, HUD, FEMA, and the IRS in the office of the Illinois State Treasurer, where he insured that underserved communities in Chicago and throughout the State of Illinois, had access to community programs and events that provided exposure to State, County and Federal offices to those who otherwise would not have access or knowledge of the assistance these offices have to offer to the public, and the overall business community throughout the state.

Erick’s twenty-four years of experience working for the State of Illinois along with his experience as Mayor of the Village of Dixmoor and as an active member of InfraGuard Chicago Chapter brings a bevy of experience and a wealth of knowledge to any position, project or program of which he may be affiliated. Education: Graduate, Brother Rice High School, Chicago, Ill University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Arkansas, Liberal Arts Major Extensive Data and Telecom Specialized Training for proprietary state systems Associations: InFraGard, Chicago Chapter

Iesha L .Scott – Bio Director, Public Affairs Emperor Haile Selassie I Association - USA Iesha is from Chicago, Illinois and was raised by a middle class family who exposed her to culturally diverse youth programs at an early age. This created for Ms. Scott an appreciation and respect for many cultures, language and customs. Ms. Scott studied Speech Pathology / Audiology and Early Child Development at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. She later became an ESL instructor (English as a Second Language), employed by Jane Addams Hull House Association‘s Head Start/Even Start program for the city of Chicago, IL where she developed an adult literacy curriculum for basic health education, communication skills for daily living and the work industry as well as computer skills. Ms. Scott was the coordinator of annual events, field trips and workshops and the director of the Adult Literacy Theatre; she also conducted home-assessments for her students who were in the Head Start/Even Start Community out Reach Program and developed and facilitated work shops that taught parenting skills to over thirty parents from various countries, some from Ethiopia; she received certificates from the Adult Literacy and Cognitive Development programs for her assessment techniques and for computerized business systems; she also was awarded a Certificate of Recognition, by the Chicago Sun Times Newspaper, as “The Educator of the Most Improved Foreign Student in Chicago, IL under the Jane Addams Hull House Association’s Adult Literacy English as a Second Language program. Ms. Scott became an English as a Second Language instructor for Evanston Township High School, in Evanston, IL (in YEAR) where she conducted writing workshops that enabled young students to find their voice through writing, short poems, stories about their country, their journey to America, and their family; she has also worked for the City of Chicago’s Juvenile Court System as the Literacy Coordinator; where she was responsible for procurement of various categories of books for children of all ages. Her primary duties were to procure various categories of books for children of all ages. Assessments were conducted on older youth who would be considered by Ms. Scott for the Juvenile Volunteer Program. She was also coordinated activities and workshops for youth where she consulted with the Board of Director’s, City of Chicago’s Juvenile Court System and reviewed program goals and project planning which included the program budget which was governed by the State of Illinois. Ms. Scott continues to teach literacy through music with Voices, a performing arts group that conducts performances at elementary schools and colleges. Ms. Scott remains an adult ESL instructor for the Uptown community in one of the most culturally diverse areas in Chicago, IL. Her past experiences increased her appreciation and respect for many cultures, language, customs and people. Ms. Scott has traveled to Mexico City visiting the University of Mexico City and shared the home of a student and their family for a few days. She has developed some comprehension of the Spanish language and has acquired a love and appreciation of world music and the arts.

As a student of music, she studied classical piano at Roosevelt University and later became a piano instructor with the AACM, (The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians).