FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Sharon Ellerby
sharonlrb@yahoo.com
512-785-7051
Austin, TX January 22, 2010- In honor of Black History Month, The 12th Street East End Black Heritage Festival 14th Annual Celebration will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010, 10a – 4p at the Greater Mount Zion Baptist church located at 1801 Pennsylvania Ave. in the parking lot at Chicon and Pennsylvania. This year’s theme is “Reclaiming Our Spiritual foundation-A Story of Empowerment” and focuses on honoring community leaders and empowering our community through lessons in our history.
The entire Austin community is invited to join the Ujamaa Community Foundation of Austin Committee in this fun filled family festival that will include community awards, health walk, activities for children, entertainment vendors and food.
This year’s festival will kick-off with a health initiative “Greater Fitness Health Fair & Walk”. There will be the Annual Heritage Awards honoring individuals, companies, churches, or organizations in the community that have been nominated for outstanding service of making a difference in the community.
The entertainment will be NuDestiny with Chris Spivey, Cipher-The Austin’s Hip Hop Project, GMZ Worship Team and much more. Activities will include history tidbits by senior citizens from the Chestnut Neighborhood Association, Capital Metro’s Art in Transit Program with youth ages 10-18 decorating the outside of a Capital Metro Bus and a Open Conversation Circle where the community can engage in dialogue about community issues and concerns in areas such as cooperative economics, a youth art competition and lots more.
Also at the festival, the community will be have an opportunity to support local businesses by shopping with vendors such as Brown Fabrications, Africa Etc., and African Visions. Capital Metro, Central East Austin Weed & Seed, Girl Scouts and others will be there to share information. Interested vendors email sharonlrb@yahoo.com.
“The Black Heritage Festival brings a positive light to the community. For example, the awards ceremony highlights those in the community that others may have forgotten. We our trying to build our community and being in the community is how we start”, says Simone Pollard, community organizer.
The Ujamaa Community Foundation of Austin (UCFA) was formed in by a group of concerned community members in November 2008 as a permanent sponsor of the 12th Street East End Black Heritage Festival, formally known as the International Heritage Festival, to ensure the festival’s continued success, even after the discontinued collaboration efforts with Austin Parks and Recreation. The mission of the UCFA is to work in a grassroots effort with local businesses, local government, community organizations and other persons interested in the economic empowerment of East Austin and to encourage, promote and support the growth of healthy business environments. For more information about UCFA, visit www.ujama-austin.org.
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