CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN ALL OF US!
Saturday, June 19th, 2010
PSU South Park Blocks (between SW Hall and SW Jackson)
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN ALL OF US!
Saturday, June 19th, 2010
PSU South Park Blocks (between SW Hall and SW Jackson)
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
For Immediate Release June 5, 2010
Contact: Grace Kuto, 503 245 3812 eves
kutop@comcast.net
Portland, Oregon – As a Rose Festival sanctioned event, the Fifth Annual Day of the African Child will offer a day-long celebration on Saturday, June 19th 2010, from 9 am to 4 pm, in the PSU South Park blocks, featuring music, dance lessons, storytelling, an outdoor African market, and delicious cuisine, among other activities to promote cultural diversity and global community. Admission is free.
Presented by the Portland-based Harambee Centre (www.harambeecentre.org) with support from Portland State University’s Multicultural Center and Association of African students, the festivities coincide with International Day of the African Child started by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in remembrance of the black school children who lost their lives in Soweto, South Africa in 1976, while marching against unfair education laws under the apartheid system.
This event is especially significant this year, in light of the FIFA (international soccer association) World Cup taking place in South Africa June through July, 2010. It will be the first time an African nation has hosted the World Cup, marking South Africa’s humanitarian progress since the horrific events in Soweto. According to Harambee Center co-founder, president, and Day of the African Child coordinator, Grace Kuto, while the lives of African children are very slowly improving, they are often the first victims of disease, poverty, and conflict on that continent.
“This is a chance to learn more about the African child’s past, present and future, as well as an opportunity to bring our community together in a celebration of cultural diversity. Come to connect with African cultures and her people by hearing good music, eating good food, and just enjoy a summer day!” says Mrs. Kuto.
The event festivities, relocated this year to Portland State University’s South Park blocks, between SW Hall and SW Jackson Streets, next to the Portland Farmer’s Market and in the Smith Memorial Student Union, will include:
- African Drumming and Dance lessons with Chata Addy.
- South African Music by Loveness Wesa and band
- Reggae Music by the NW World Reggae Festival.
- Storytelling by award-winning author and book artist, Baba Wagué Diakité .
- Parade of African Flags featuring students from King Elementary School.
- Outdoor African Market with arts and crafts for sale, and information on how to get involved in your local and global community.
- Food provided by E’njoni Café, Mum’s Kitchen, and Terrell’s Texas BBQ,
- Beading with OHSU School of Dentistry team
- Cultural displays provided by the World Affairs Council of Oregon’s Multicultural Resource Center
- And more!
Visitors are encouraged to ride MAX (green line), take TriMet bus or use the Portland Streetcar. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
Harambee
Centre
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Connecting with the People and Cultures of Africa
PSU’s Multicultural Center (MCC) brings together students, faculty and staff in an effort to share cultural experiences among people of diverse backgrounds. The Association of African Students (AAS) is student group involved at the MCC which works to link Africans living in the Diaspora with the greater PSU population. To learn more, please visit www.pdx.edu.
The Harambee Centre is a local non-profit organization committed to connecting people of the Pacific Northwest to the people and cultures of Africa through multicultural education, cross cultural exchange programs, sister school projects and African community development programs. To learn more, please call 503-710-8264 or visit www.harambeecentre.org.