Positive Community Great Emancipation Day 1/1/2020 – JOINT DECLARATION
Joint Declaration
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As representatives of the Asian, Black and Hispanic communities, we stand together against all acts of racism and violence and stand against those who would divide us and sow mistrust and fear.

We mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and call for swift and sure justice to prevail.

We embrace the fact that the United States is a multiracial, multiethnic nation, and affirm our commitment and responsibility to advance the many elements that unite us: a belief in the value of diversity, the contributions of immigrants and the power of multi-cultural collaborations.

We believe that taking action is as important as expressions of support, and will soon be announcing a groundbreaking effort to provide long-term support for Black, Latinx and Asian small businesses impacted by Covid-19. We are also preparing a webinar that will bring together journalists from our communities to have an open discussion about how race relations are being reported, and how the media can influence a change in perspectives. These efforts are just a beginning.

Today, we reaffirm our solidarity with diverse leaders and institutions all across our nation and pledge to fight to turn the tide against racism everywhere.

Please see Hispanic Federation

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John Wang
Founder & President
AABDC

Frankie Miranda
President
Hispanic Federation

Michael J. Garner
President
One Hundred Black Men

“The Positive Community Magazine” Marks 20th Anniversary with the Inaugural
Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet
Honoring Champions of Community Progress on
Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Sponsored by Prudential Financial

Honorees include: Hon. Mildred C. Crump, president Newark Municipal Council;
Hazel N. Dukes, president New York State Conference, NAACP; and
Rev. Calvin McKinney, general secretary National Baptist Convention, USA

Awards Banquet to be Held New Year’s Day from 2 pm-6 pm ET in the
Grand Ballroom at the Historic Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ
EMCEE – LIZ BLACK – WBLS/WLIB RADIO

NEWARK, NJ – January 1, 2020 – In celebration of its 20th anniversary, The Positive Community (TPC) is hosting the first annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet honoring three extraordinary individuals for their exemplary community service with the Torchbearer Award: Hon. Mildred C. Crump, president Newark Municipal Council; Hazel N. Dukes, president New York State Conference, NAACP; and Rev. Calvin McKinney, general secretary National Baptist Convention, USA on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, from 2 pm-6pm ET in the Grand Ballroom at The Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ.

The awards banquet purposely takes place on New Year’s Day, an important date in American history, especially for African Americans. On New Year’s Day, January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring slaves within the rebellious states free. The Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet is sponsored by The City of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Prudential Financial, AARP, McDonald’s, PSEG, RWBarnabas Health, Two Fish and Five Loaves and Berkeley College.

“Prudential’s partnership with The Positive Community is steeped in our alignment around financial literacy and creating pathways to financial wellness for all,” says Shané Harris, Vice President of Corporate Giving and President of the Prudential Foundation. “We are particularly honored to be a part of TPC’s Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet to celebrate and highlight the progress of the black community. We congratulate The Positive Community for two decades and service to the black community, and we salute the awardees for their dedication and service to this continued progress, particularly in our hometown of Newark.”
“January 1 is a date of deep meaning to African Americans,” says Adrian A. Council, co-founder and publisher of The Positive Community. “It is our day of liberation, the start of our freedom journey. Without this day there would be no Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., no Motown, no Juneteenth, no Godfather of Soul no Queen of Soul.”

Joining the three honorees will be organization honorees: African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, John Harmon, president; African-American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO Brooklyn), Rev. Robert Waterman, president; and Friends of Harlem Hospital, Rev. Jacques A. DeGraff, president.

The vision of TPC co-founders Council and Editor-in- Chief Jean Nash Wells was to create a balanced medium that accurately reflects the community building efforts of churches, small businesses, corporations, and concerned individuals.

“TPC was founded to keep our churches and communities informed,” says Wells. “Above all else, we value the progress of our children, and the integrity of African American culture, values, and traditions.”

Today, their vision is alive and well with TPC growing in circulation and influence and participating in and co-sponsoring church and community events that focus on health and financial literacy.

In 2012, TPC created and introduced The Cultural Narrative. Written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Great Emancipation, the document is an account of America’s freedom journey condensed into 281 words. On New Year’s Eve 2012, hundreds of churches participated in TPC’s Great Watch Night Initiative which involved singing the Negro National Anthem; having a young person read The Cultural Narrative before the congregation; and concluding with everyone exiting the sanctuary singing the Negro hymn We’ve Come This Far By Faith. What started as an initiative is now an established tradition among many churches and clergy groups.

As TPC observes its 20th year, the publication remains faithful to accurately reflecting the very best of the communities it serves. Like the pages of TPC, the Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet commemorates the best of black life and culture from fashion, music, and the arts to economic development and intellectual and cultural achievements. Enhancing the celebration will be a special New Year’s Day cuisine prepared by Rev. Kevin Smallwood, owner of Two Fish and Five Loaves.

Launched in 2000 by Adrian Council, Publisher and Jean Nash Wells, Co-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, The Positive Community (TPC) is the only faith-based lifestyle magazine targeted to the African American consumer in the New York/New Jersey market. For nearly two decades, the magazine has delivered on its tagline, focusing on Good News from the Church and the Community.

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This July 4th, America’s national Independence Day celebration kicks off our country’s 238th birthday with an all-star salute led by our country’s favorite host, two-time Emmy Award- personality Tom Bergeron. Hot off another winning season as host of the hit series Dancing with the Stars, Bergeron will lead an all-star cast in a patriotic evening of unrivaled musical performances—topped off by the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation.

Broadcast live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the event will feature performances by: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Frankie Valli; Grammy Award-winning music legend Patti LaBelle; multi-platinum recording artist and actress Jordin Sparks; five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Michael McDonald; country music superstar Sara Evans; singer-songwriter Kendall Schmidt from BIG TIME RUSH and HEFFRON DRIVE; and five-time Tony Award nominee and Broadway star Kelli O’Hara; with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of our national anthem, five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams will conduct a special new arrangement for orchestra and chorus of the “Star Spangled Banner” with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

The 34th annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH airs on PBS Friday, July 4, 2014 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. With twenty cameras positioned around the city, including the U.S. Capitol, the White House and the Washington Monument, viewers are front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation during this top-rated extravaganza. Capping off the show will be a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and A CAPITOL FOURTH tradition.

To talk about this year’s A Capitol Fourth, North American Network is offering five- to seven-minute telephone interviews with singer-songwriter Kendall Schmidt. Interviews are being scheduled for Thursday, July 3, from 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. Eastern Time. To book an interview window, please call.

BIOGRAPHY

Kendall Schmidt:

What began in 2008 as a passion project in a bedroom studio in Burbank, California has now become a whirlwind endeavor, with energetic and dedicated fans across the globe. Kendall Schmidt (23) is founder of the passionately-adored electro-pop band, Heffron Drive. Kendall’s passion for music began when he was just a child. As a youngster, Kendall would often recite whole songs after hearing them just once on the radio. Ever the singer, Kendall soon wanted to broaden his musical horizons. Initially, he tried playing the violin and drums, but neither instrument seemed to fit. One day, however, he borrowed his brother’s guitar and from that point forward, he was hooked. Kendall taught himself how to play guitar and eventually released a number of covers on YouTube, which garnered him his first fans. The initial encounter between Kendall and Dustin, a future Heffron Drive member, occurred at a screening for Kendall’s brother’s movie in Los Angeles, California. The two became instant friends; learning that each was a musician, had been born in the same hospital in Wichita, Kansas, and currently lived on the same street in Burbank, California. That street? You guessed it, was Heffron Drive. With money he earned from an acting gig, Kendall purchased some recording gear and the two friends embarked on a musical journey, knowing only to trust their ears and passion for music. When the question of what to name the newly formed band arose, Heffron
Drive was the perfect fit. The band started uploading songs, to the then-popular Myspace, and soon thereafter began receiving an overwhelming amount of interest. The Internet was buzzing about the new band’s unique music and it wasn’t uncommon to find the play counter hovering around 20,000 plays on any given day. Around mid-2009, however, and soon after the release of Heffron Drive music, Kendall was asked to become the lead singer of the band, Big Time Rush. He accepted, and BTR rapidly became a global phenomenon, with tens of millions of fans across the globe, millions of records and tickets sold, and performances across three continents. Not wanting Heffron Drive to fall apart during his BTR success, Kendall helped secure Dustin a position as a tour guitarist for the group. Although extremely busy, the two still found time to create music for Heffron Drive. With constant forward momentum, Heffron Drive is now preparing a full-scale launch into the world of irresistible electro-pop music. Infusing infectious melodies, unforgettable hooks, and beamingly beautiful lyrics, Heffron Drive promises to bring that lovable, relatable, missing-piece-of-the-puzzle to today’s music scene.

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