US President Joe Biden selects Academy Award winner Viola Davis to join a special advisory council on African Diaspora Engagement.
According to recent reports, the United States presidency is making moves to strengthen ties with African countries. Last year, President Biden announced the formation of the task team chaired by the Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Silvester Beaman. New reports reveal that “How To Get Away With Murder” star Viola Davis has been appointed to help make this happen.
TshisaLIVE reports that the council’s duties will include “shedding light to strengthen relations between African communities and the United States, promoting trade and investment, and building educational exchanges, among other issues.”
Other members of the council include Patrick Gaspard, the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress think-tank; CD Glin, president of the PepsiCo Foundation and global head of social impact for PepsiCo; and Almaz Negash, founder of the African Diaspora Network, etc.
In a shared statement, the White House called the Oscar winner “a revered artist, activist, producer, philanthropist”, who, among other things, “has partnered with multiple programs to eliminate child hunger in the United States”.
Davis also celebrated her 58th birthday. She wrote, “Another year…full of revelations, joy, loss, triumphs….and another year to wake up and be grateful for it all! Thank you, 58!! Thank you all for the birthday love. Enkosi!!!”
