January 29 the Africanist community lost one our most passionate and effective advocates, Ray Almeida, who passed away from cardiac arrest in a Boston hospital.  Ray, originally from New Bedford, Massachusetts, which is home to the largest community of immigrants from Cape Verde, was active for more than 40 years in a variety of social movements, campaigns, and public policy legislation.  In 2005 he was honored with the presentation of the “Ordem Amilcar Cabral” award by His Excellency Pedro Verona Pires, President and Head of State of the Republic of Cape Verde.  The TransAfrica Forum Board and staff are deeply saddened by Ray’s passing and we send our deepest condolences to the Almeida family.  To read Ray’s obituary and to leave comments, please click here.