IANA Blog- August 2022

Happy August,

From August 5th to the 7th, we had our 2022 IANA Convention and Regional Gala in Chicago. Like I said in my last blog, this year’s theme was Health and Education. It was also the first convention in person since the pandemic hit. Just wanted to give a recap of the Weekend for IANA 2nd Gen.

Friday

Friday was the first day of IANA Convention week. We started off with the Welcome Dinner and Cocktail. Then, IANA 2nd Gen and other 2nd Generation members would head off to the bowling alley, Bowlero.

Saturday

We started off IANA Saturday, with the Continental Breakfast and Registration and the IANA Membership Meeting, where we got to hear about 1st Gen passing the “torch” to 2nd Gen, along with a Panel featuring questions from 2nd Gen to members of 1st Gen. We also saw IANA 2nd Gen President Chiedu Nwaesei get promoted to Secretary at the IANA Meetings.

After a long lunch, it was time to get ready for the Main Event: the Gala. Where we saw both 1st and 2nd Gen show off with their traditional clothing, dresses, Geles and Agbalas. Members donated from $100 to $2,000. The donations would help d course contribute to the hospitals being built in the many Issele villages (Issele-Uku, Issele-Azgaba, Issele-Mkpitime), which is much needed, as Chiedu N.’s father Vincent Nwaesei mentioned, the only time anyone [in the village] knows when to go to the hospital is when he/she are at their “end,” so the money contributed at the event means a lot.

The event also featured poetry from Kendryk Youngblood, poet and artist, who was able to bless us with his poetry from 2020 when the IANA Convention was held online. We also got to hear music from Chief Patrick Okwy Osadebe, singer and son of the late legendary highlife musician/artist, Chief Stephen Ostia Osadebe. 

Before the event was over, we got to have the raffle (held by 2nd Gen) for both our 1st and 2nd Gen members. Prizes from the Raffle included an XBox, a PlayStation5 and new clothes designed by our very own Ifeanyi Azul, Jr. 

After the event is the 2nd Gen After party where IANA 2nd Gen got to celebrate another job well done. We celebrated the weekend by going to the Bureau Bar and Restaurant in Downtown Chicago.

Sunday

The final day of IANA Weekend. Before we all went back home, members of IANA 2nd Gen of course had a debrief of what went well and how to get ready for the next one. In the aftermath, 2nd Gen helped make $1,530 for the whole event.

Here are some more photos from the weekend.

Congratulations IANA 2nd Gen. Another convention done, another job finished. If you missed out, no worries, we’ll see y’all for the next convention. Here’s to next time.