Almost a quarter century after her mother and Harvey Adams organized the inaugural African American Heritage Day Parade, African American Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Doris Carson Williams will join Pentecostal Temple Bishop Loran Mann as this year’s Parade commentators.
“We look forward to celebrating our 24th year and I am delighted that Bishop Loren Mann will once again be narrating the parade with me,” she said. “We have a host of guests and groups that will be participating, and look forward to reestablishing the pride, and bringing people out to celebrate African-American history.”
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| DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS
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Though the complete list of participating schools bands, dance and musical groups was not available by Courier deadline, this year’s event boasts an impressive list of sponsors, as well as a number of performers and activities slated for the post-parade celebration at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.
The Oct. 1 parade will begin at 11a.m. from the upper parking lot of the Civic Arena and will end at the August Wilson Center downtown. Carmen Miller will kick off the event with performances of the National Anthem and Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.
Once at the AWC, activities will include line dancing with Roland Ford, presentations by the Sweetwater Center for the Arts and the Luis Danvers Leukemia Fund. There will also be performances by the Afro American Music Institute Boy’s Choir, Northside Institutional COGIC Choir, the Pentecostal Temple Church Choir, the Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church Choir, and a spoken word performance by Ranika. WAMO radio will also sponsor a Street Jam following the parade.
Sponsors for this year’s event include state Sen. Wayne Fontana, state Rep. Jake Wheatley, Highmark, Pepsi Cola, Chuck Sanders—Urban Lending Solutions, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Gateway Health Plan, APRI, the African American Chamber Of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.
Groups and individuals who have not applied but would like to take part in the parade may do so until Sept. 28. Applications may be made by contacting Shawn Hicks at the African American Chamber of Commerce at 412-392-0322.
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