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 White Plains, NY - The Annual Juneteenth Celebration for Westchester County, sponsored by The African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester and Rockland Counties, Inc. (AACCWR), will take place June 18 through June 21, 2009.
The theme is From Sharecroppers to Share Holders (a quote by Dorothy Pittman-Hughes). The first event will be a Business to Business Reception honoring The Ten Most Influential Blacks at Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY on Thursday, June 18th beginning at 6:00pm. New 12 correspondent Frank Holland will serve as Master of Ceremony.
2009 “10 INFLUENTIAL BLACKS” honorees include: Mrs. Rosa Barksdale, CEO, Barksdale Health Care; Ms. Helen Blackwood, Corporation Council, City of Mount Vernon; Mr. Melvin Burruss, President, African American Men of Westchester, Mr. Anthony Epps, Sr. Partner, Epps Financial Group; Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey, Pastor, Mount Olivet Baptist Church; Ms. Paula Redd Zeman, Commissioner, Westchester County Human Resources; Mr. Julius Walls, CEO, Greyston Bakery; Mr. Paul T. Williams, Executive Director, NYS Dormitory Authority; Mr. Keith Wyche, President, US Operation for Pitney Bows Management Services; Hon. Clinton I. Young, Jr., Mayor, City of Mount Vernon.
During the reception there will be a silent auction and the members of the Association of Black Alcohol Beverage Companies will be on hand with samples.
On Friday, June 20th there will be a free Jazz with the stars “Salute to Black Music Month” hosted by City of Mount Vernon at 1 Roosevelt Square in Mount Vernon NY at 6:00pm. The free open air Jazz entertainment will be provided by Woody Woods Workin Music.com’s Jazz ensemble.
The crowning event of the Celebration will be the Annual Celebrity Salute to the Players of the Negro Baseball League Games, featuring teams made up of local celebrities and anyone else who wants to come out and have a good time playing ball. This event will take place, Saturday, June 20th at Brush Park in Mount Vernon at 5:00pm the pre game show will begin at 4:30pm. Everyone is invited to sign on as players/sponsors/spectators. We encourage all members of little league team to sport their colors by wearing their little league uniform.
The weekend will culminate with a worship service at Trinity Church, 335 So. Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon where Rev. Dr. Joel Nafuma is the pastor.
The Juneteenth Celebration commemorates the date – June 19, 1865 – when the slaves in Galveston, TX first received the word of the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery which was originally issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Today, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom which emphasizes education and achievement. Resolutions have been unanimously passed in the United States House of Representative and in the Senate encouraging the observance of Juneteenth with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs across the country, and asking that President Bush issue a Juneteenth Independence Day Proclamation.
Other major sponsors are Starwoods Hotels and Resorts, NYS Dormitory Authority, the City of Mount Vernon, Benchmark Title Agency, LLC and A’vatar Foundation, newly created to promote the arts in Westchester County.
The AACCWR was established June 28, 1996 as an independent not-for-profit agency to aid, counsel and protect the intrest of the African American business concerns. The mission, according to Robin L. Douglas, founder and president, is to preserve competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of Westchester and Rockland Counties.
For more information on the events call 914-699-4749 or see the website: www.aaccnys.org.
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Thank you.