P. “Patrick” Saingbey K. Woodtor, owned and operated Owner of Window to Africa (1982 to present; Executive Producer of the African Festival of the Arts (1989 to present); .President and Executive Director Africa International House USA, Inc.(1995 to present)
Born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia, Woodtor’s educational and professional background is in Economics (B.A. – University of Liberia) and Transportation (MST – Northwestern University). He has held leadership positions in Monrovia’s Budget Bureau; Ministry of Public Works, the Monrovia Transit Authority, and the Liberian Wood Management Corporation, among others.
A prominent business leader in Chicago, Woodtor repeatedly has been named Minority Businessman of the Week by WGN-TV’s Minority Business Report. His commitment to the arts, culture, heritage and traditions of Africa has spanned decades. In 1989, he founded and served as Executive Producer for the African Festival of the Arts here in Chicago and, in 1995, he began his tenure as head of Africa International House USA, Inc.
His efforts on behalf of African arts have been chronicled in dozens of publications and news media, including Afrique News Magazine, African Sun, N’digo, Chicago Defender, The Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune and WGN-TVs Around Town. Woodtor has received many awards for his work in promoting African arts and culture.