On Thursday March 28, a large group of concerned West Side organizations, business owners, political representatives, community residents, nonprofits gathered at the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center for a “Call To Action.”
The purpose for this large gathering was to organize West Siders — past and present — to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington.
Hosted by the West Side Historical Society and the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, attendees included 29th Ward Ald. Deborah Graham, who pledged her full support for the 2013 Juneteenth Festival and Peace parade this June. Noted facilitators Nikki Harvey of Eden Advocacy C.D.C. and Deborah Williams, a field organizer at Obama for America, got the crowd involved. Participants were excited as they eagerly went into their breakout sessions to form committees for this year’s “150 years of Freedom” festival and parade.
Calls from other community organizations pledging their support and future participation was noted. All are welcome to join or volunteer for this history making event.
For more information: www.wshsociety.org.
Rickie Brown
Director of the Westside Historical Society
