Guy Djoken
Guy Djoken is an American Civil Rights and Social Justice Activist, Speaker, and Author.
Background
Born on June 3rd, 1968 in Cameroon, Central Africa, Guy Djoken (pronounced JO-ken) is an American Civil Rights and Social Justice Activist, Renowned Speaker and author of a book of poem What a Century!. He was President of the Frederick County NAACP from January 2004 to December 2016. Guy Djoken is currently a Member of the Maryland State Governor's Commission on African Affairs, President of the U.S. Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations, Permanent Representative of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations (WFUCA) to the United Nations (UNDPI & ECOSOC) and Executive Director of UNESCO Center for Peace.
Early life
Guy Djoken was born on June 3rd 1968 in Dschang, Western Province of Cameroon. His parents were Mathias Djoukeng, the first ever Cameroonian administrator/Mayor of the Administrative Regional City of Dschang, who spent time in jail as a political prisoner, and Lucienne Teufack. In 1986, at the age of 18, after years of activism within the UNESCO Clubs movement in Cameroon, he was elected President of the UNESCO Club of Lycée Technique de Douala. The following year, he founded the UNESCO Association of Douala. In 1990 he was appointed by the Minister of Education as a Senior Advisor to the National Commission for UNESCO with the task of Commemorating International Days, Training the Trainers, and Promoting Pan-Africanism. In 1992, He was elected as the Coordinator of the International Human Rights Day. He successfully organized several seminars and conferences to highlight the life and work of historical leaders such as Mahamat Gandhi, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Biko, Patrice Lumumba, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkruma, Cheick Anta Diop, Rosa Parks, Che Guevara and Thomas Sankara. In 1996 Guy Djoken graduated from the Graduate School of Management with an Advanced Diploma in Systems Analysis & Design in Accra, Ghana before immigrating to the United States where he completed his MBA in Business Administration from Frostburg State University in 2004.
Civil Rights Activism & Pan-Africanism
Once in the U.S. Guy Djoken's first priority was the publication of his book of poem “What a Century!”, a goal he successfully accomplished in the fall of 1999 with Vantage Press, New York before moving from New York to Frederick, Maryland where he joined the local NAACP. He was appointed as the branch communication Chair. As Chair he was responsible for submitting monthly Columns to the Frederick County Gazette Newspaper addressing Civil Rights issues in the region under the title:NAACP Notes In January 2004, following the mismanagement of the local NAACP by the two successive presidents, Guy Djoken was elevated to the post of President by the executive board after consultation with the NAACP State and National Office. Less than a year after that, Guy Djoken was featured in a Washington Post article titled “African Civil Rights Activist Strives to Repair NAACP”, for restoring the reputation of the Frederick County NAACP and his outstanding leadership. Following that, the Maryland State Conference appointed him by unanimous vote as the Chair of the Press and Publicity Committee. The following year, he was elected Vice President of the Maryland State NAACP.
As the top Civil Rights Advocate for Frederick County, Maryland Guy Djoken championed a number of high profile campaigns ranging from the strict regulation of the use of Tasers by law enforcement, the illegal use of the 287(g) implemented by Frederick County Sheriff’s office, In-State tuition fees for undocumented students[1]. His leadership on this issue earned him the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs Civil Rights Champion Award in 2008.
Campaign Against Tasers
On October 2007, The Local NAACP was contacted by a Frederick County resident following an incident at the Frederick County Public School during which an officer discharged his taser on a student. Mr. Djoken lead an investigation that resulted in a call for the end of use of Tasers on School. Six weeks later, Frederick City resident Jarrel Cortez Gray, 20, was shocked by another Frederick County Sheriff's corporal and later died. Following that death, Guy Djoken lead a call for the end of tasers by the police. Guy Djoken had become a leader in the struggle to end or restrict the use of electronic weapon by police. Local NAACP calls for end to Taser use NAACP launches petition against Tasers NAACP calls for transparency, further investigation into Taser death County NAACP to address Taser use Maryland attorney general visits Frederick NAACP Maryland Report Calls for More Taser Restrictions
Campaign Against Local Implementation of 287(g)
Guy Djoken has partnered with law enforcement from across the country to provide training on cultural diversity with law enforcement, NGO and corporations. That is why, when on February 2008 we heard about the Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins' announcement that his deputies will soon have the authority to arrest, detain and begin deportation for undocumented residents, Guy Djoken lead a swift and unfavorable response in partnership with several local organizations. Guy Djoken leadership on this issue earned him the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs Civil Rights Champion Award in 2008 Deportation training gets cool reception Residents rally for immigrants' rights (Official) language divide Immigration enforcement: At what cost? Frederick's Uneasy Crackdown - The Washington Post
Peace Activism, United Nations & UNESCO Networks
At the opening session of the UNESCO's 32nd General Conference on September 29, 2003, the U.S. flag was raised to mark the U.S. return to UNESCO after 19 years. On July 2004, UNESCO Center for Peace, the first UNESCO Club was incorporated in the State of Maryland under the Leadership of Mr. Djoken with mission to help raise a new generation of Peacemakers that will strive to make the Culture of Peace a commodity of everyday life through Education, Science, Culture and Communication. Key programs of the Center included the Frederick County Regional Model United Nations, The International Model United Nations Summer Camp, a speakers Serie titled “Voices of Reasons” and the First Ladies Youth Infusion Summit. In 2011 the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO appointed Mr. Djoken as Chairman of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations. Mr. Djoken subsequently oversaw the admission of the U.S. UNESCO Clubs movement to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations (WFUCA) during the organization’s 8th World Congress on August 2011 in Hanoi, Vietnam as well as the admission to the European and North American Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations (EFUCA) during the organization’s annual meeting in Bucharest, Romania in December 2012. To date U.S. Federation is full member in good standing with both institutions. Mr. Djoken was appointed by unanimous vote of WFUCA Board on March 2013 as the Permanent Representative of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations to the United Nations (ECOSOC and UNDPI), a position he still holds today.
Landmark Realizations
International Women Day:
On March 8, 2005 – International Women Day, Artscape sat in on a conversation of women's rights and issues within both local, regional, and global communities. UNESCO Center for Peace sponsored the event with help from Hood College of Frederick, MD.
First USA-Africa Day:
In 2005 Mr. Djoken lead an International movement aiming to celebrate Africa and develop A positive image of Africa. In 2007, Frederick County hosted its first ever day celebration the contribution of Africans in the making of America. The event culminated with a major concert held on Africa Day (May 24) to honor the continent at the first-ever USA-Africa Day in the region
Frederick County Model United Nations:
In 2005 Guy Djoken met with Michael Bunitsky of the Frederick County Public School and Paige Eager of Hood College to establish the annual regional Model United Nations. A partnership between UNESCO center for Peace, Hood College and the Frederick County Public School. The Frederick County Model UN started with 50 students in 2007 and quickly grew up to over 300 by the 2017 Session
International Model United Nations Summer Camp:
In 2007, 60 teenagers from China, South Africa join Maryland teens in July to attend the First ever International Model United Nations Summer Camp organized by UNESCO Center for Peace under the leadership of Mr. Djoken. By 2018, the program has morphed to include Robotics and STEM with the participation of 200 students and facilitators from over 50 countries in the 2018 session.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty:
In 2009 Guy Djoken hosted U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin as a keynote speaker in commemoration of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Cardin speaks about eradicating poverty
World Post Day:
On October 2009, Guy Djoken lead a local coalition to celebrate the World Post Day to connect Frederick literally and figuratively with the world.
First Ladies Youth Infusion Summit:
In 2012, The First Ladies Youth Infusion Summit was designed to INFUSE the wisdom and knowledge of two generations. Searching for young leaders who have the passion, foresight and knowledge to come up with innovative technologies, policies, resources and other tools to advance the great works that are already being implemented in African countries.
Distinguished Speakers Series:
In a quest to foster Peace and Understanding across the World, Mr. Djoken instituted the Distinguished Speakers Series to offer a unique opportunity to local students and officials better understand other countries and enable foreign officials and diplomats to learn about local history, culture and the way of life. DRC, Cameroon delegates visit local leaders Fijian ambassador visits Frederick Czech ambassador shares real-world outlook Japanese professor visits Frederick to broaden ties with U.S. Bahrain ambassador visits Frederick Community College Slovak representative visits with Frederick officials Ambassador of Cape Verde to visit Frederick Mali official visits Frederick, discusses millennium goals
International Nelson Mandela Day
In July 2015, Guy Djoken lead a regional Coalition to organize the first Nelson Mandela International Day for Freedom, Justice and Democracy with the aim to honor the former South African president’s legacy and inspire leadership in others. Nelson Mandela event in Frederick aims to encourage leadership Mandela's legacy inspires new generations
What a Century!
In 1999, Guy Djoken published his book of poem What a Century! By Vantage Press. The book’s title poem What a Century recounts the horrors and achievements of the 20th century through the Author’s eyes. Other relevant poems from the book include, Strange Land, Civilization and I Miss you Mom
Book launch at Harvard: The Essential Nikola Tesla - Peacebuilding Endeavor
On February 11, 2015, Harvard University Center for European Studies and the Harvard College South Slavic Society hosted a new Tesla book launch at the Harvard Center for European Studies Busch Hall. Guy Djoken who was one of the Authors and member the editorial board was one of the speakers. The book was published by Tesla Memory, UNESCO Center for Peace, TESLIANUM Energy Innovation Center and the editorial board comprise of Dragoljub Martinović, Mirjana Prljević, Srdjan Pavlović and Guy Djoken with Aleksandar Protić as Editor in chief.
Awards
July 2014: Nikola Tesla Global Forum White Dove Award
The award was presented at the Global Forum held on Mt. Fruška Gora, Serbia from July 10 to 13, 2014 to mark the birthday of Serbian-American engineer and inventor. The award fits the general concept that it should be given to those who are recognized worldwide. The 2013 recipient was the great scientist and Nobel Prize winner Robert Klark. link
November 2013: Guy Djoken receive award and deliver lecture at Sorbonne University
June 2012: 10th Annual PeaceCrafters' Awards The Award presented by Mr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and sponsored by the Community Alternative Mediation of Frederick County, known as CALM recognized Mr. Djoken’s tireless efforts for promoting peace, harmony and understanding in the Washington, D.C. metro area community.
August 2007: Citigroup Community Partner Award
October 2007: Maryland State Conference NAACP Freedom Fighter Award
May 2006: Frederick County Human Relation Lord D. Nickens Community Service Award
June 2006: Hood College Justice Thurgood Marshall Award: The award is given to a person who significantly impacts the Frederick campus of Hood College by promoting respect and the appreciation of civil rights, equality and diversity
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