FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 8, 2004

                                                           

                                                                                   

Contact: Ava Harrison      

Communications Director, ROOT Inc.

202-332-1642

AvaHarrison@rootinc.org

 

A Park Morton Christmas Story

 

Bowing YMCA Marching Band Lead Residents in March Against Senseless Violence and for Community Restoration

 

WHO:             The Park Morton Resident Council, ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together) Inc., and The Alliance of Concerned Men; Council Members Jim Graham, Ward 1, and Adrian Fenty, Ward 4; Michael Kelly, Director, DC Housing Authority; local merchants, community organizations, community residents, and Park Morton youth.

 

WHAT:           The Anthony Bowen YMCA Tigers Marching Band will lead participants and concerned residents taking a stand against senseless violence, and homicides, for “Guns Aside,” and for community restoration through the Park Morton Community. 

 

                        The march will precede the activities for “A Christmas Story in Park Morton.”  Festivities will include Guns Aside Rally, T Shirt Give Away and Guns Aside Pledge; essay contests, poetry contests, and drawing contests for children of Park Morton, with winners receiving savings bonds and gift certificates.  Also a family will receive a free holiday shopping spree courtesy of the Alliance of Concerned Men and Giant Food Store.

 

                        A Christmas Story (and party), complete with bands and carolers and part of the Annual 12 days of Christmas campaign, will take place inside the Capitol City Pavilion.

 

WHERE:        Participants will begin gathering at 12:30 PM on Lamont Road and Warder St.  The band, complete with police escort, will lead the cavalcade on a march filled with Christmas revelry through the Park Morton community ending at Capitol City Pavilion, 3401 Georgia Ave, NW.

 

                        Festivities, facilitated by youth affected by violence and homicide from Park Morton, will take place inside the Capitol City Pavilion beginning at 1 PM.

 

WHY:              In the past, Park Morton and its residents have been plagued, as many parts of this city, by senseless violence, homicides, and gunfire.  The community wishes to rise to the occasion, and celebrate the beginning of a new awakening and awareness, during this holiday season.   Park Morton and its residents will to reach out to the surrounding community, as well as to the entire city, to collaborate together in the spirit of the season during this festive occasion and say no more to senseless violence, unnecessary homicides, and to “Guns Aside”.

 

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