15.2.11

UMOJA ON U: A BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION


Honoring Eight Community Leaders in Washington, DC

On February 20, The Lincoln Theatre and The Adinkra Group present Umoja on U, a performance-infused Celebration of Black History, honoring eight leaders in the Washington community. Performers will include BlackNotes, Farafina Kan, Grammy Nominated Vocalist Maimouna Youssef and Gods'Illa. Co-hosts are Entrepreneur Juanita "Busy Bee" Britton and Radio Personality EZ Street from 93.9 WKYS FM. The Lincoln Theatre is located at 1215 U Street NW, DC. Doors open at 5pm, program begins at 6 pm. This celebration was rescheduled from Kwanzaa with a principal of "Umoja," which means Unity. All tickets purchased for the Kwanzaa event will be honored at this event. The 1st Annual Umoja on U: A Black History Celebration will unite various communities, while promoting the spirit of togetherness. General admission is $20; seniors (65 and older) and children (12 and under) are $10. Group tickets for 10 or more are available for $10 per ticket. To purchase tickets, visit www.thelincolntheatre.org, the Lincoln Theatre Box office or call 202-328-6000 or 202-286-2688.

"Umoja on U will focus on unity and community building, while featuring the extraordinary talents of vocalists, musicians, dancers and spoken-word artists from our great city," said Jeffrey Banks, Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Lincoln Theatre. "In line with the spirit of community building, Umoja on U is sure to leave attendees uplifted and inspired."

Honorees include

Kenny Barnes, Reaching Out to Others Together, Roots Inc.

Ron Clark, Regional Additional Prevention, (RAP) Inc.

Melvin Deal, African Heritage Dancers and Drummers

Carol Foster, DC Youth Ensemble

Kymone Freeman, Black L. U. V. (Love, Unity and Vision) Festival

Ayo Handy-Kendi, African-American Holiday Expo and Association
Brenda Jones, Parkland Community Center

Bernida Thompson, Roots Activity Learning Center and Roots Public Charter School

Diallo Sumbry of The Adinkra Group and Lincoln Theatre staff members are available for interviews; Umoja on U performer Farafina Kan Youth Ensemble dance troupe is available for on-camera performances.

Media sponsors are the Afro American Newspapersand The Washington Informer.

About the Lincoln Theatre

The Lincoln Theatre, built in 1922, was the center of a cultural renaissance that predated Harlem. Washington natives Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey were joined by nationally acclaimed artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Nat King Cole, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Sarah Vaughn who performed regularly on the Lincoln's storied stage. Even FDR had his birthday parties at the Lincoln Colonnade, a festive party hall once located at the Theatre.

About the Adinkra Group

The Adinkra Group is an edutainment resource company based in Washington, DC, with a mission to promote and support businesses, organizations, schools, artists, programs and events that contribute to the progressive development of the African American Community with Washington, DC as the nucleus. The vision is to create a solid network of individuals, families, communities and businesses throughout the African Diaspora who are committed to redefining and reshaping collective existence to one of realistic harmony, economic self-sufficiency, reciprocal support, collective responsibility and individual accountability. The Adinkra Group commits to establishing productive, flexible relationships and to sustain those relationships at the highest level.