Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz Theme of African Arts in the Park Festival

UMOJA African Arts Company
PO Box 5230
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone:  412-290-0894
Fax:  412-232-3262
www.AfricanArtsInThePark.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mrs. Darcel Madkins, President & CEO
UMOJA African Arts Company
Phone: 412-290-0894
Fax: 412-232-3262
umoja@umojacompany.org
www.AfricanArtsInThePark.org

UMOJA African Arts Company in partnership with CitiParks to Host the African-American Festival being held at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA   - African Arts in the Park Festival is dedicated to the demonstration and promotion of African and African Diaspora Arts in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. This year’s theme, “Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz”, appeals to people of all backgrounds recognizing that African music is a strong contributor to the genre of jazz music.  Umoja’s mission,” to raise awareness and increase appreciation for the rich cultures of Africa and their influence on the world”, utilizes the African Arts in the Park as a wonderful event for such an exposition.  Plan on stopping by Umoja African Arts Company’s 8th Annual African Arts in the Park Festival, August 11th & 12th, 2012, in Point State Park from 11AM-7PM in the center of Downtown Pittsburgh.

The Main Stage will be filled with West African music, dance, and jazz.  Attendees can bring their chairs and blankets and hear live bands.  They will be entertained by various West African dance and drum troops including Sankofa Village, Dreme Drum Dance, Legacy Arts Project, and Tam Tam Magic.  Jazz musicians include Afro-American Music Institute, Jessica Lee Quartet, Elevations, Roger Humphries and RH Factor, AfroJazz, Chelsea Baratz Band, Ray Ryan and the Riverside Band, Tim Stevens and the Leonard Johnson Project, Kevin Howard Band, Dwayne Dolphin Band, and Spirit Filled Ministries.

The Culture Hut will offer interactive demonstrations such as West Africa’s influence on Jazz by Kuumba Inc., African storytelling by Temujin the Storyteller and Jackie Jonas, and drum workshops by Assane M’Baye. New this year are cooking and tasting demos which connect West African food and food from New Orleans by Phat Girlz Cookin’ and Culinary Artists.

We encourage a visit to our Children’s Hut.  There will be Spanish & French Arts & Crafts, Reading Is Fundamental, Carnegie Library activities, African storytelling & mask making, jewelry making, face painting, henna artists, petting zoo, Debo the Clown, a stiltwalker, and a bounce house.

Our food vendors will serve a variety of American and international food. The retail vendors will have several crafts, art, and clothing. Admission to this event is free.

UMOJA African Arts Company is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is celebrating its 23rd season of bridging and unifying diverse cultures through educational and artistic presentations of African art, culture and heritage.   Sponsors include City of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,  Poise Foundation, The Soul Pitt, Residence Inn- Marriott, and Wyndham Hotel.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Dignity and Respect Champion Harish Saluja Honored for Efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:
Melissa Marullo
412.969.2530
mam@judith-kelly.com

Harish Saluja Recognized as Dignity and Respect Champion for His Efforts to Spread Knowledge, Love, and Joy

Executive Director of Silk Screen Provides a Gateway

to Asia to Eliminate Prejudices

(PITTSBURGH, PA) May 18, 2011– Six years ago, Harish Saluja founded Silk Screen, an organization that works to educate communities about Asian history, art, culture, and more, based on the belief that if people knew more about their neighbors, there would be less prejudice and offer love to others.

“Love is what touches the heart, and that is what makes a difference. There isn’t money or anything that can compensate for this. Treating others with dignity and respect is normal, proper, and as required as breathing,” Harish said.

Nominated by Katie Jones, Saluja has been chosen as the May Dignity and Respect Champion for his work as the executive director of Silk Screen, a nonprofit organization that fosters understanding across lines of race, ethnicity, religion, age, and region.

Silk Screen’s mission is to celebrate diversity and multi-cultural appreciation of the Asian and Asian American experience through cultural events such as their annual Asian-American Film Festival.

“Harish helps at community outreach events presenting Asian arts and crafts and cultural awareness with Silk Screen. He always wants to spread love and joy to the world so people understand each other better,” Jones says.

Harish lives south of Pittsburgh with his wife. He is a filmmaker and artist in addition to founding Silk Screen. His film “The Journey” won Best Film awards in Florida and Cleveland film festivals, and was shown in more than 20 film festivals around the world. Harish is a nationally recognized painter and a co-host of Music From India on WDUQ-FM.

“I gave up a lucrative career in corporate America because I believe that one’s life fulfillment can only be found by doing something good and by giving something back to people. I started Silk Screen as a gateway to Asia so people could get to know the culture, resulting in less prejudice,” Harish said.

Harish strongly feels that treating others with dignity and respect should be important in everyone’s daily lives because it could drastically change a community.

“If we treat each other with tolerance and acceptance, it would make the world a better place and bring upon happiness and love.”

The Dignity & Respect Campaign is an awareness campaign designed to join individuals, community leaders, community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and corporations under the common notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect.
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