Ujamaa Community Foundation of Austin

Ujamaa Community Foundation of Austin and the Black Heritage Festival Organizing Committee are proud to welcome Wilhelmina R. Delco as Facilitator of the Community Awards segment at this year’s festival.

We are grateful to Ms. Delco for a lifetime of distinguished service to the black community, the people of Austin, and the state of Texas. Ms. Delco was the first African American school board member in Travis County. In 1974 she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as the first black legislator from District 50, Travis County. She represented the people of her district for over 20 years, serving several terms as Chairman of the House Higher Education Committee.

After retiring from the Legislature Ms. Delco served as Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of Texas.

Ms. Delco has devoted her life to the cause of education. Her civic leadership has included life membership in the Texas Congress PTA; membership in the League of Women Voters, the State Task Force on Education for Economic Growth, and the Southern Education Foundation; chairmanship of the Educational Testing Service Board; founding the nonprofit Vision Village; and chairmanship of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Equality and Integrity.

Ms. Delco has been inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, has a building named in her honor at Prairie View A&M University, has received the Legends of Texas Award, and holds honorary degrees from St. Edward’s University, Lee College, Southwestern University, Huston-Tillotson College, and Wiley College.

We are proud to have Ms. Delco as part of our festival this year.

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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The International Heritage Festival is an annual event held by the East Austin community to celebrate Black History Month. A variety of local artists, performers, and businesses will offer music, entertainment, food, crafts and much more.

Event: 12th Annual International Heritage Festival:
Promoting Reentry Into the Neighborhood and Health & Wellness

Cost: Free

When: Saturday, February 7, 2009

Where: Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church
1801 Pennsylvania Ave.
(512) 478-7578

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The International Heritage Festival is the East Austin community’s annual Black History Month celebration. This year’s theme is “Promoting Reentry Into the Neighborhood and Health & Wellness”. The event will feature a Walk/Run, Mini Health Festival, Vendor Bazaar, Youth Art Contest, Community Awards Ceremony, and Music Festival.

Please come out and join Austin-owned businesses offering a variety of items such as food, clothing, jewelry, artwork, plus much more. Come shop while poets, musicians, and dancers from Austin and surrounding cities entertain you. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss, so bring the entire family and come celebrate Black History Month with us!

The 12th Street East End International Heritage Festival started in 1997 as the Black Community Marketplace at the Rosewood Recreation Center and is always held on the 1st Saturday of February. Founder Don Ellerby’s vision is to promote Ujamaa, a Kwanzaa Principle meaning “cooperative economics” in East Austin by provide a showcase opportunity for local businesses, entertainers, artists and non-profit organizations. A few vendors include The GMZ Greater Life Institute, Power Shack, African Visions, Africa Etc., Capital Metro, Weed & Seed, Brown Fabrications and many more. Entertainers include Saul Paul and many more.

For several years the Festival was sponsored by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. During this time it became an international celebration, recognizing African American culture while embracing all the other cultures that make up the true African American “melting-pot”.

Each year the Festival includes a Community Awards Ceremony recognizing citizens whose contributions to the community have gone far beyond the call of duty. Since 2006, the awards have been presented by honored dignitaries such as Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Representative Dawnna Dukes, Mayor Kirk Watson, and Mayor Will Wynn.

The festival also features a city-wide art competition and a health & wellness fair.

The tradition almost came to an end after the Festival’s 10th anniversary, when city budget cuts led to the withdrawal of Parks and Recreation Department sponsorship. But the community refused to let the Festival die. In January 2008 a group of community leaders, including Don Ellerby, Simone Pollard, Jason Carr, musician and promoter SaulPaul and Pastor Sherwynn Patton of Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church came together to adopt the Festival. Volunteers organized the 11th annual Festival in only four weeks, and the event that almost didn’t happen became the most successful in the Festival’s history with record attendance.

In November 2008 the Ujamaa Community Foundation of Austin was established as a permanent sponsor for the Festival. Co-sponsors this year are the 12th Street East End Committee and the Greater Life Institute.

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The 12th Street East End International Heritage Festival is held on the first Friday of every February.

For information, please contact Simone Pollard at (512) 947-9066.