Help your friends with the things that you know, for you know these things by Grace.

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

At a time when unity is so desperately needed it is significantly lacking. Misunderstandings about basic philosophical differences place people on opposite poles. Competition for perceived limited resources separate people along racial, social, and gender lines. The need to be right and feel supported separates us from those who hold different views and opinions. Our internal obstacles and external oppositions create a debilitating conflict and limits the coming together of people of the world. If each of us would take the time to examine our feelings, we would see that "they" are right too. The nature, experience, and perceptions of individuals help mold the ideals they hold. If we could remember and respect this right for everyone, we could avoid open confrontations. There are so many causes and issues in the world and so many ways to approach them, it is unlikely we will agree on one way. Unity does not mean we will all believe in or do the same thing. It means we will agree to do something without battling over how and why.
All roads lead to the end.

The Pan-African Network is an intercommunity service organization designed to initiate communication between black student-run groups at the University of Michigan. The Network is a support body designed to enhance the efficiency of these organizations and promote collaborative programming and events for students of color. PAN provides strategies for effective promotion and marketing of events as well as encouragement for present and future student leaders of African descent.

PAN forsees a unified student body that perpetuates leadership beyond an organizational hierarchy; in other words, the Network hopes to promote individual participation and active work within the general bodies of each organization it serves. PAN and its members hope to incorporate Black faculty, staff and students in building a support body for all students of African descent at the University of Michigan, through active communication, leadership development and various workshops and dialogues.

Why do we need a Pan-African Network?

PAN is a necessary service for the large number of student-run groups of African descent. Although it began as a means to avoid event conflicts, PAN has developed to serve various needs of the Black undergraduate community at the University of Michigan. PAN promotes the sharing of resources between organizations, so that new groups and new e-boards will have access to the materials and resources that are necessary for running an effective organization. For example, PAN can facilitate the discussions that will respond to questions new leaders may have about finding funding, organizing conferences, developing a mission and facilitating meetings. The committees that have grown from PAN’s membership will promote better planning and initiate collaboration between the student-run groups it serves, for the construction of a cohesive calendar of events for students of African descent. With these initiatives, PAN also hopes to reach out to and draw in freshmen of African descent, who will be encouraged to become active members of student groups, as well as other organizations, programs and initiatives offered by the University of Michigan.