Fresno Famous

January 10, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Valley Black Talk Radio/Julia Dudley
Phone: 559-352-1444 or 268-7102
http://www.vbtradio.org email: vbtalk@aol.com

‘We Are the Change’ Celebration mobilizes diversity and solidarity in Greater Fresno for the upcoming inauguration day

FRESNO, CA – January 6, 2009 – As the nation prepares for a historical presidency on Tues., January 20, 2009—44th US President Barack Obama—a diverse, Fresno community will celebrate the overture with the previous campaign message matured, “We Are the Change,” at the African-American Museum of the San Joaquin Valley that same day.
Valley Black Talk Radio, the African-American Museum and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, (founded by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) have pulled key Fresno community organizations together as co-hosts of this grand affair Tues., Jan 20th from 5 to 7 PM to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
With the help of sponsors and co-hosts such as; Fresno West Coalition, California Advocate Newspaper, Good Citizens Inc., City of Fresno Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee, National Network in Action and Fresno City College Black Faculty & Staff, the event will be free admission for all.
Key sponsors helping to bring the event to life include: Fresno City Council President Cynthia Sterling, Ann Marie Production, Urban Strategic Enterprises, and Grandmother’s Love.
Coupled with sponsored food and entertainment, the festive celebration will include a replay of the inauguration ceremony from earlier that day, an informal program with community discussion lead by prominent activist and Fresno City College professor, Kehinde Solwazi, and Obama displays and paraphernalia available for the public.

Also the African-American Museum has collectively created an “Obama Ambience” amongst the arts community so that citizens can travel between the different festivities to continue celebrating at Arte Americas, Downtown Community Arts Collective and the Fresno Metropolitan Museum.

For more information, please go to: www.vbtradio.org or call the African-American Museum at 559-268-7102.

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With the nation celebrating a new president's inauguration and renewed inspiration for the work ahead for all of us, members of the Cultural Arts District and Downtown Arts will host individual receptions at their centers, and the public is invite to stop in at all the celebrations. All events are open to the public for free, along with the current exhibitions:

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MUSEUM 1857 Fulton Street (corner of Fulton and Sacramento)
Event is from 5-7 pm, with food, entertainment and a broadcast replay of the inauguration ceremony. T-shirts and other memorabilia will be available. At 5:30 there will be an informal program, led by FCC professor Kehinde Solwazi.

ARTE AMERICAS, 1630 Van Ness (corner of Van Ness and Calaveras)
Follow up 6-8 pm at Arte Americas, featuring food, exhibits, entertainment and videos. Plus, bring your camera and take your picture with Barack Obama's stand in cutout and catch the current exhibits.

FRESNO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ARTS, SCIENCE AND HISTORY, 1515 Van Ness, Visit the Metropolitan Museum free from 6-8 pm for a downtown celebration of the Arts…..

DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY ARTS COLLECTIVE, DC/AC, 754 P Street will also be holding it's own celebration from 5-8 pm and you can "hop on over."

The Arts in Fresno—all of us and the wider community—face some challenging times ahead. We need your continued presence, support and inspiration. Both our new mayor and our new president have an Arts Agenda and understand the community building power for change that we all can become. We welcome this challenge and change ahead. Renew your commitment and energy on Tuesday, January 20.