NEWPORT NEWS

The Southeast Community Day Planning Committee and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) recently announced  that Tina L. Vick and Joseph C. Whitaker, Newport News City Council Members who represent the south district of the City.

They will serve as the  Honorary Chairwoman and Honorary Chairman respectively of the this year’s Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival.  Council Members Vick and Whitaker will preside over Southeast Community Days: A Weekend Celebration beginning Friday, September 10th through Sunday, September 12th, 2010 in Newport News, Virginia. 

  Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will serve as this year’s Parade Grand Marshal and Keynote Speaker.  Joe S. Frank, former Mayor of Newport News,  will be recognized for his years of service as past Honorary Chairman of the Annual Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival. 

  Councilmembers Vick and Whitaker  will serve as the Host of the Dr. Curtis W. Harris Solidarity Lunch 12:00 noon at the Omni Newport News Hotel and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Presidential Reception to be held 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2010 at the Mariners’ Museum.

  The Parade and Festival will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010.  Over 60,000 people attended celebratory activities over the course of the weekend last year. The weekend parade and festival are presented by the Southeast Community Day Planning Committee and Southern Christian Leadership Conference,  in cooperation with Andrew Shannon, Event Founder and Organizer. 

To kick-off the Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival, a Solidarity Lunch will be held on Friday, September 10, 2010 at the Omni Hotel in the City of Newport News in honor of Dr. Curtis W. Harris, SCLC National Vice- President and Parade Honorary Marshal.  Dwight C. Jones, Mayor of Richmond will serve as the Solidarity Lunch Keynote Speaker at the Omni.

  Over 50 past and present Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival honorees will join Council Members Vick and Whitaker at the Presidential Reception for the Keynote Address given by Rev. Bernice A. King, including national, state and local elected officials, as well as business and community leaders. 

  For more information, contact Andrew Shannon, Event Founder and Organizer at (757) 877-0792 or Edna V. Davis, President of Southeast Community Day Planning Committee at (757) 218-8157.