Good Bye ECCC, Washington D.C: My Fond memories of you. By Michael Seium
Since opening its doors in 1989, the Eritrean Cultural & Civic Center
located on 6th and L streets NW, Washington DC has become a landmark in the
Eritrean community throughout the world as a place where people of all ages
can come to learn, grow, and have fun. Placed on a prime location in the
Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., I first embarked upon it when
coming home from college right before Eritrea’s independence. Then when I
moved to be near family in 1993, it served as a place where I built a long
term relationship with its atmosphere as the best and biggest Eritrean
community gathering place, I had ever witnessed at the time next to
Eritrea. Following soccer games we would spend hours upon hours sitting
among friends chatting, eating and socializing while also learning about
the latest news and cultural updates that allowed us to be closer to or
people, community, and Country.
I will attempt to recall some of my fondest memories in this article as
this place has meant so much to our diaspora community for over 25 years.
While our ECCC was not your typical community center where people got
public services, it gave us a sense of pride as our home away from home. It
played a huge role in making sure that ERITREANS had a place where they can
share information and exchange ideas that allowed people to get services or
network to get jobs. It was home to our large services industry community
as well, including our fathers & brothers who spent their lunch hours there
supporting the community center by spending their hard earned money.
It served as a place where Eritreans had their meetings for the many
diverse groups within our community. As a member of the many organizations,
I spent quite a lot of time meeting people there and sometimes complaining
about being there all day, but in the end it was well worth it. One of my
fondest and best memories of the ECCC is when in 1998 after the border war
that was waged on our people; it became a safe haven for the many wandering
minds and for information related to the war. I recall people during the
weekday coming from work and spending the entire night into the wee hours
of the morning following the situation back home. Before ERI-TV was being
transmitted in the USA it served as a place where we got copies of news on
tape to be watched at the ECCC.
The ECCC also served people from everywhere. When Eritreans came from the
diaspora or even Eritrea itself to Washington DC, the first place they
wanted to go to was not any of the famous memorials but the ECCC statue
which stood as a place of importance in their hearts and minds. It
connected them with loved ones while it also introduced them with new
friends. There are even people who met there for the first time that have
tied the knot and have created families. The ECCC was simply the place
where everyone was accepted and treated with dignity. Even some people who
are working against Eritrea today have had some good times at this place
which served as a repository for all Eritreans and their guests in the
diaspora.
I am sure this sacred place has many other fond memories and if everyone
wrote their own memories, a book can be written about it. It is to be
recalled almost every Eritrean Govt. official that comes to the USA did not
leave DC without stepping foot at the ECCC.
While the ECCC has had its bad times as well, it always withstood the test
of time. 27 years is not a joke and for me it was a majority of my youth.
After travelling all over the USA for work or other places, I always wanted
to come to the ECCC upon my return so that I can have my incredible cup of
Cappuccino. I have brought many American, and other nationalities to test
the Eritrean food and see a little bit of our culture over the years and
many people by virtue of being there have made themselves honorary
Eritreans.
It was a place where Sunday’s were busy after the church crowd came to have
lunch and may be attend a meeting or simply watch ERI-TV or the NFL in the
fall. It was also a place that probably has served as one of the longest
BINGO centers in our area. The Thursday and Saturday Bingo crowd will be so
sad to see this place closing.
After our demonstrations we gathered at the ECCC and built a strong
camaraderie amongst us. We Eritreans are indebted to the ECCC and while it
is sad to see it go, we should also be proud of the many accomplishments
that it helped us achieve. Our Tigrinya classes for the youth, our many
other hidri training programs and practices, our Coffee ceremonies
presented by our mothers & sisters and the many other activities that took
place at the ECCC will forever go down in history as an amazing
accomplishment because all of these activities were the extended arm of
keeping our ERITREA strong and giving our people HOPE that we stand head to
head with them. “HADE LIBI, HADE HIZBI”………
There were also times when the ECCC also faced obstacles and we overcame
those obstacles. Most of all the times when the ECCC had problems the
community came through to make sure it did not affect our UNITY. Growing up
in the DC metro area it definitely had a huge impact in my life, like many
others who can vouch for it. I even recently took my little ones for a last
Picture opportunity so that they can one day tell their children that this
is where my dad and my Eritrean community use to hang out while growing up
in the metro DC area.
In Conclusion, I want to emphasize that, “when God closes the door, God
opens a window.” and so with a new community center coming to an area near
us, I hope that we as a community will continue to do the work we had been
doing through our many different organizations. We also need to transition
into a real strong community that can benefit from the great experiences we
have gained while also learning new ways of dealing with our local
community and leave a LEGACY for future generations to come.
Thank you ECCC & Awet always to the HAFASH!
Received on Mon Mar 21 2016 - 01:58:53 EDT