Friday, August 25, 2000
News from Ontario in the Times Community Newspapers
Unity 2000 Convention promotes empowerment
Event, which includes many free workshops and seminars, serves as
national meeting for Juneteenth organizations.
By PAM NOLES
ONTARIO -- About 2,000 people from all
over the country are expected to participate this weekend in the 3rd
annual Unity 2000 Convention/Expo and Career Symposium at the Ontario
Convention Center, a gathering of professionals and activists dedicated
to promoting economic empowerment in the black community.
The event, free and open to the
public, runs Saturday and Sunday. A gala awards ceremony will be tonight.
The convention was created by Juneteenth America Inc. It also serves as
the national convention for the Juneteenth organization.
"This event is an ongoing convention to
bring all the Juneteenth organizations across the nation together as well
as communities," said Trudy Coleman, co-founder of the local Juneteenth
chapter. "We wanted to have a venue where people can come together and
share ideas. A lot of people have not been able to obtain this American
dream. This is an outreach to them."
Juneteenth celebrates the day Texas
slaves were told they had been emancipated. It began in Galveston on June
19, 1865, when Union forces led by Gen. Gordon Granger came to town and
informed the slaves the Civil War was over. Even though Granger arrived 2
1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect, Texas
slaves had never been told about it. The spontaneous celebrations that broke
out eventually became a nationwide, annual event.
This national conference is being held
in August, rather than on the actual Juneteenth date earlier this summer,
primarily because of major celebrations in Washington, D.C., that would
have kept many of the major Juneteenth participants away.
"We are excited about this upcoming
event," said John Thompson, CEO and founder of the local chapter.
This weekend's events include a career
expo, workshops on topics ranging from buying a home to writing a book,
relationship issues and sports clinics. A variety of gospel, poetry and
other musical performances are also planned.
Today's awards ceremony, themed
"Honoring the Emancipated Women," will
feature many political figures, activists and celebrities. State Sen.
Nell Soto (D-Pomona), lawyer Gloria Allred and Barbara Calhoun,
president of Local 347, AFL-CIO, are among honorees. Other prominent guests
include Dr. Ronald V. Myers, founder of the National Juneteenth Observance
Foundation, and T'Keyah Crystal Keymah, an actress on "The Cosby Show."
* * *
What: 3rd annual Unity 2000
Convention/Expo and Career Symposium
Where: Ontario Convention Center
When: Saturday and Sunday
Cost: Free
For information: 947-4346
Workshops and seminars are free, but
seating for each is limited. Organizers suggest you arrive early to sign up.
Opening ceremonies will be 9:30-10
a.m. Saturday. A prayer service
will be at 10 a.m. Sunday.
There will be entertainment throughout
the day in the Mayoral Ballroom.
SATURDAY WORKSHOPS
10-11:30 a.m.
* Black Writers on Tour: How to Publish
Your Book
* Conflict Resolution
* Black Man's Guide to Commitment
* Government Home Loans (runs until 1 p.m.)
1-2:30 p.m.
* Baseball Clinic
* Guarding Your Family's Present and
Future
* New Life Deliverance Ministries
* Juneteenth and the Congressional
Apology for Slavery
3-4 p.m.
* E-Commerce
* Relationships
* How to Drastically Cut Thousands of
Dollars off Your Taxes
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
* Bahai Faith: Valuing Diversity
* How to Publish Your Book
* Black Man's Guide to Commitment
* What's Important: Significance or
Success?
1-2:30 p.m.
* Bahai Faith: Institute for the
Healing of Racism
* The Discipline of Goal Setting
* Free Baseball Clinic
3-4:30 p.m.
* How to Drastically Cut Thousands of
Dollars off Your Taxes
* Relationships
* Sense of Self-Worth
4:30-6 p.m.
* Legislative Strategies for Establishing
Juneteenth Holidays in Your State
©Copyright 2000, Los Angeles Times
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