This resources page is curated for members of the Congolese diaspora in NYC and beyond — whether you are an immigrant seeking services, someone interested in learning about and supporting Congo, or an organization serving these communities.
Cette page de ressources est conçue pour les membres de la diaspora congolaise à New York et au-delà — que vous soyez un·e immigrant·e à la recherche de services, quelqu’un souhaitant en savoir plus et soutenir le Congo, ou une organisation qui sert ces communautés.
US Based Immigrant Resources - NYC / CA / DMV
Ressources pour Immigrant·e·s aux États-Unis
Immigrant Resources - NYC / NJ
African Services Committee (ASC) - A multi-service human rights organization in NYC providing culturally relevant support to African immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including health care, legal aid, housing, education, and advocacy.
Congo Youth Coalition - A U.S.-based nonprofit empowering Congolese youth through education, culture, and community programs.
Immigrant Resources - CA
African Advocacy Network - A San Francisco–based nonprofit offering immigration legal services, case management, and social integration support to African and Afro‑Caribbean immigrants in over 10 languages.
Congo Youth Alliance - A Southern California–based community organization empowering Congolese youth in the U.S. through cultural pride, mentorship, professional growth, and leadership development.
Immigrant Resources - DMV
Congolese Community of Washington Metropolitan (CCWM) - A DMV‑area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) nonprofit uniting the Congolese diaspora through community-building, cultural heritage, education, and entrepreneurship.
Congo Culture USA - A U.S.-based nonprofit promoting Congolese heritage through language classes (Lingala, Tshiluba, Swahili, Kikongo, French), traditional dance, music, cuisine, and arts.
Friends of the Congo - A Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) advocacy organization partnering with Congolese communities to promote peace, justice, and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Culture
Art
Angalia Gallery - Gallery specialising in contemporary visual art from the DRC; supports young Congolese artists and maintains ties with Kinshasa production.
Atelier PICHA - Artist-run platform in Lubumbashi fostering experimentation, residencies, and critical dialogue around contemporary African art.
Centre d'Arte WAZA - An independent cultural center in Lubumbashi, DRC, supporting artists through exhibitions, workshops, and community-based art initiatives.
Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise (CATPC) - Founded in 2014 in Lusanga, DRC, by plantation workers and artists, CATPC uses sculpture and visual arts to confront the legacies of the plantation economy while reinvesting in land and community development.
Congo Biennale - An international contemporary art biennial held in Kinshasa, DRC, showcasing Congolese and global artists across visual arts, performance, and multidisciplinary projects.
Galerie Article 15 - A Washington, D.C.–based gallery specializing in contemporary art from the Democratic Republic of Congo — the only gallery in the U.S. entirely focused on Congolese artists.
Lubumbashi Biennale - A major contemporary art biennial in Lubumbashi, DRC, whose 7th edition (2022) interrogated “toxicity” — both as urban condition and as consequence of extractive industries. Curated by Picha, the event combines exhibitions, talks (palabres), podcasts, and artistic interventions to critique historical and ongoing industrial, ecological, economic, and social processes in the city and beyond.
Munvuk’Art — Brazzaville Artist Collective & Nonprofit - A Congolese nonprofit artist collective (based in Brazzaville) that supports socio‑cultural development, economic growth of artists, and community creativity through programs in workforce development, placemaking, and youth engagement.
Kongo Astronauts — Kinshasa Artist Collective - A Kinshasa‑based artist collective (founded in 2013) whose performative, multimedia work (film, sculpture, performance) uses “astronaut suits” made from e‑waste to explore Afrofuturism, postcolonial identity, and ecological and digital exploitation.
What is Congolese Music?
Fashion
Free Films / Programs
Explore free documentaries about Congolese music, culture, and history — all available to stream online
Research + Reports
Africa Is A Country - Independent media platform offering critical commentary, reporting, and analysis on Congolese and African politics, culture, and society.
African Studies Association - Leading scholarly organization in the U.S. dedicated to advancing research and teaching about Africa and its global connections.
African Studies Centre Leiden (Web Resources: Congo Conflict) - Academic resource hub providing data, analysis, and publications on the history and dynamics of conflict in the DRC.
Congo Initiative (Resources) - Christian-based educational and social organization supporting leadership, community development, and reconciliation in eastern DRC.
Congo Research Group - Independent research project at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation focused on conflict, governance, and accountability in the DRC.
Congo Research Network - Global scholarly network connecting researchers and practitioners engaged in studies of the Congo and the Great Lakes region.
Congolese Studies Association - Academic association promoting interdisciplinary scholarship and dialogue on Congolese history, politics, and culture.
Central African Students Association - Student-led organization fostering cultural exchange and advocacy for Central African communities in higher education.
Eastern Congo Initiative - Advocacy and grantmaking organization supporting community-based approaches to peace and development in eastern DRC.
Innovations & Social Entrepreneurship (DRC Think-Do-Tank) - Kinshasa-based think-and-do tank promoting innovation, sustainable business, and social impact across the DRC.
Panzi Foundation - Nonprofit founded by Dr. Denis Mukwege to support survivors of sexual violence and promote women’s rights and healthcare in eastern DRC.
Social Science Research Council DRC Affinity Group - Collaborative forum advancing social science research and policy engagement on governance and development in the DRC.
Indigenous Rights
Cool Earth - UK-based environmental charity working in the Équateur Province of the DRC to support Indigenous peoples and local communities in reclaiming and protecting rainforest land.
Cultural Survival - International nonprofit advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and cultural resilience; the DRC country-page documents land, language, and resource-rights issues facing Indigenous communities.
Ecological Preservation
African Wildlife Defence Force - A Congolese-led anti-poaching organization based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2012, the African Wildlife Defence Force (AWDF) deploys highly trained rangers to protect wildlife and forest ecosystems through direct action and community engagement, offering an alternative to conventional conservation models.
Bonobo Conservation Initiative - BCI works to protect bonobos — one of humanity’s closest relatives — and their rainforest habitat in the Congo Basin. Their mission combines ecological conservation with community development: they help establish community-managed reserves, support health, education, and income programs, and promote sustainable forest stewardship.
Community Fund for Forests - An initiative by Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) that channels climate and conservation funding directly into Indigenous and local communities in the DRC. The Fund empowers forest communities to manage their territories, secure land rights, and develop sustainable livelihoods while protecting high-integrity forest.
Congo Basin Forest Partnership - A wide-reaching multi-stakeholder partnership founded in 2002, bringing together governments, NGOs, research institutions, and civil society to promote sustainable use and conservation of the Congo Basin’s forests. Its focus includes biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, forest governance, and improving living standards for local communities.
Congo Rainforest Fund - The Congo Rainforest Fund supports local communities and conservation initiatives across the Congo Basin. Their work centers on forest protection, community development, and sustainable restoration to preserve biodiversity and strengthen ecological resilience.
Conserv Congo - A Congolese environmental justice organization working at the crossroads of conservation and law enforcement. Conserv Congo conducts investigations into wildlife trafficking and environmental crime, supports community-based conservation, and advocates for systemic reforms to preserve biodiversity, ecosystems, and the rule of law in the Congo Basin.
Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones (DGPA) - A network of around 45 Indigenous and community-based groups in the DRC, particularly representing Pygmy peoples. DGPA advocates for Indigenous land rights, secure tenure, traditional ecological knowledge, and inclusive governance, all to ensure that forest-dependent communities can protect their territories and cultural heritage.
Green Congo - Green Congo is a Congolese non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the Congo Rainforest and empowering local communities through sustainable development. Founded in 2012, Green Congo works on reforestation, wildlife conservation, clean water access, education, and policy advocacy. They also run emergency relief programs, such as their food assistance campaign in Kinshasa.
Okapi Conservation Project - Dedicated to protecting the okapi — a rare, forest-dwelling mammal endemic to the DRC — and its habitat in the Ituri Rainforest. The Okapi Conservation Project combines anti-poaching patrols, scientific research, community engagement, and sustainable development to preserve both biodiversity and Indigenous cultural heritage.
Réseau CREF - Réseau pour la Conservation et la Réhabilitation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers (Network for the Conservation and Rehabilitation of Forest Ecosystems) - A partner network of Rainforest Trust, Réseau CREF works to conserve and restore forest ecosystems in the DRC. They support protected area creation, ecological monitoring, and collaborative management of forest habitats with local and Indigenous communities.
REPALEF - Réseau des Populations Autochtones et Locales pour la Gestion Durable des Ecosystèmes Forestiers (Indigenous and Local Peoples Network for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems) - REPALEF is a network of Indigenous and local peoples in the DRC focused on the sustainable management of forest landscapes. They advocate for land rights, traditional knowledge integration, and participatory governance of forests to ensure long-term ecological health.
Tropenbos DR Congo - Tropenbos DRC promotes sustainable forest management and the empowerment of local communities across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through research, training, and policy engagement, they support ecological resilience, community-based governance, and forest restoration.
Virunga Foundation - An NGO focused on conserving Virunga National Park and its iconic wildlife, such as mountain gorillas, in the DRC. The Virunga Foundation works in partnership with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) to run ranger programs, community development, eco-tourism, and conflict-sensitive conservation in one of Africa’s most biodiverse and politically complex regions.