Booker Washington Institute

The Booker Washington Institute National Alumni Association of North America (BWINAANA) was formally established on May 26, 1991 during the school’s sixty-second (62nd ) Founders’ Day Celebration in the Washington DC Metro area.  

Purpose and Mission

The purpose of the BWI Alumni Association is to support its Alma-matter. The Mission of the Association is to organize BWI graduates, their families, Friends of BWI in North America and other good-will institutions into a supportive and resourceful Association for the benefit of Booker Washington Institute in Kakata Liberia.  

The meeting was held at the Halfnor Park Community Center, 42 Oswega Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. At the meeting were Mrs. Delores Zor-Edwards, Mr. Joe Isaac, Emmett & Irene Fiawoo, Samuel Rennie, D. Ralph & Foudiya Henri and Mr. Robert Kilby from the DC Metro Area; Ceasar & Roberta Gardiner, Emmett Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Femon Padmore, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur K. Watson, Momo Peters, Stephen Sawyer, and Vera Peal-Weah from the New York / New Jersey area; Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Kpou from the PA area, Mr. & Mrs. F. Amadu Sirleaf and family from Texas, with Former Vice President of Liberia Bishop Bennie D. Warner serving as keynote speaker.

At the end of the meeting, the following interim officers were selected: Mr. Emmett Fiawoo, General Secretary, Mr. Stephen A. Sawyer, Deputy Secretary, Mrs. Vera Peal-Weah, Financial Secretary, and Mr. Daniel R. Henri, Treasurer to coordinate the efforts for the formation of a National BWI Alumni Association of North America and for the convening of the first national convention. On January 11, 1992, the General Secretary, Mr. Emmett Fiawoo convened a meeting in Newark, New Jersey at the then famous DEKONTE Social Club operate by another BWI Alumnus, Mr. Patrick Blake. Discussions for the first national convention and other matters were held at this gathering. The following chapters were in attendance: Rhode Island, Washington, DC, and the host chapter, NY/NJ. Mr. Alexander Massey was elected to chair the Constitution Committee and the first convention was scheduled for June 27, 1992 in Providence, Rhode Island.  

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At our first Annual Convention & Founders' Day gathering in 1992 in Providence, Rhode Island, we had five registered chapters and observers in attendance. The organization has since grown to thirteen chapters with an ongoing effort to establish several new chapters in various states. The organization is open to all graduates, former students, faculty, staff, administrators, and friends of BWI. The major goal is to fulfill our commitment to our alma mater by doing everything possible to keep the legacy of BWI alive.