On March 1, 2005, hundreds gathered at the Washington,
DC Lincoln Theatre for the First Annual Heritage Celebration hosted
by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and CBC Spouses.
Presided over by CBCF Chair, Congressman William J. Jefferson and
CBC Spouses Chair, Mrs. Vivian Creighton Bishop, the fundraiser
brought out congressional members, area youth, and prominent guests
for the symphonic stage presentation of Strange Fruit, which blends
chorus, narration and instrumental jazz to tell a fictional account
of an historical event in the South.
Artistic Director, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
(NOJO) performed the 90-minute chorale with narrator, Congressman
Danny K. Davis and the Howard University Choir. The event was broadcasted
live by WPFW, a veteran radio station that regularly features jazz.
According to Congressman Jefferson, CBCF and the CBC Spouses chose
to present the groundbreaking jazz piece to commemorate the legacy
of African Americans and to generate support for congressional internship,
fellowship, and scholarship programs. “As Chair of the CBCF,
I am very pleased by the enthusiasm I’ve witnessed for NOJO’s
performance and for our dedication to ensuring that deserving young
African Americans continue to receive opportunities to work in congressional
offices and to get resources for a good education.”
Several corporate sponsors such as, Food Lion, Shaw, Heineken and
Cigna, showed their support with generous gifts, including donated
airline tickets from Southwest Airlines and free radio publicity
from WJZW 105.9.
The major contribution for the event came from Toyota Motor Sales,
U.S.A., Inc. "Toyota's corporate culture is built on two pillars,
respect for people and continuous improvement," remarked Michael
Rouse, Toyota’s Corporate Manager of Philanthropy and Community
Affairs. "I believe these two principles also guide the work
of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The result has been
a marvelous seventeen-year partnership between Toyota and the CBCF
that strives to make our nation stronger by making it more inclusive."
The evening included a former intern and a congressional fellow
as emcees, and two CBC Spouses scholarship recipients who performed
at the top of the program. Mrs. Bishop expressed that the CBC Spouses
were extremely pleased by the program’s focus on educational
programs. “Having these bright young people as part of our
event shows the significant value of these programs and the positive
impact that is made on their lives.”
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, CBCF’s Vice President for Research and
Programs added the hope that more people will want to support youth
who have aspirations in public service. “One of our key goals
with this event was to trumpet CBCF’s success stories and
our commitment to education. The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra’s
performance helped us do that in a very unique way.”
NOJO has long been involved in educating audiences on Black History
through its traditional jazz forums. Each year, the Heritage Celebration
plans to use various art forms to honor the heroism and valiance
of African Americans who have played a role in creating Black History.
Proceeds from the event will directly benefit CBCF and CBC Spouses
education programs. The CBCF is a non-profit organization that serves
as a nonpartisan, policy-oriented catalyst to educate future leaders
and promote collaboration among community and business leaders,
minority-focused organizational leaders, and organized labor to
effect positive and sustainable change in the African American community.
The CBC Spouses have worked in partnership with CBCF for 28 years
to support the mission of connecting with and informing the public
on critical issues implementing education programs to prepare future
generations for leadership.
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Priscilla Clarke, PRESIDENT
Clarke & Associates, LLC
Publicizing and Entertaining "Your World"
2020 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 271
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. 202-723-2200, Fax. 202-723-4558
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