Outside of France, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the country with the largest population of French speakers in the world.

Adding to the francophone diversity of the region, the Congolese-American population in New York is a very established community, becoming increasingly prevalent within the past decade.

Starting in the 1960s, large waves of voluntary migration from the Democratic Republic of Congo made their way to the United States for educational reasons, most returning home after earning their degrees.

However, increasing political and economic conflicts in the region during the 1980s and 1990s caused another wave of Congolese migration to occur, this time, most migrants deciding to settle in the United States.

After Boston, New York has the largest Congolese-American population. Their presence is certainly felt, as numerous events and festivals take place each year celebrating vibrant Congolese traditions.

For the past four years, The Maysles Institute has held “Congo in Harlem”, a weeklong series of film screenings and special events to celebrate the Congolese Culture, along with panel discussions and receptions on the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The Congo Leadership Initiative is a New York–based organization started by Congolese Americans that aims to “empowers young people in the Congo by preparing them to be leaders with a proven curriculum”.

Both the Maysles Institute and the Congo Leadership Initiative are perfect examples of the strong ongoing ties established between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo.