WE DID IT! The mission of the Black History Month Organizing Committee was fulfilled in the activities of the 1st Annual New Mexico Black History Month Festival. Our goal to celebrate the traditions, heritage and major contributions of African Americans in the United States and the State of New Mexico is an ongoing directive; however, we are pleased with our first effort. BLACK HISTORY MONTH ORGANIZING COMMITTEE GOALS: Goal 1: Increase Community Participation/Volunteerism/Philanthropy in the African American Community 29 Sponsors contributing more than $60,000 to the inaugural effort Title Sponsorships – The City of Albuquerque, The County of Bernalillo and the Office of African American Affairs 13 organizations and 60 volunteers attending biweekly planning meetings and organizing event details and identifying opportunities for future collaboration. Goal 2: Increase Visibility and Awareness of the Contributions of African Americans in New Mexico $150,000 in‐kind advertising – Comprehensive Advertising Schedule from # 1 Radio Group in the Market ‐ Cumulus Media with additional pushes from AGM Radio Group, KUNM and KDAZ. Six weeks of television coverage and advertising schedule from KOB‐TV, KASA Fox2. Cover of the Venue in the Albuquerque Journal with the center truck and numerous calendar listings. Full coverage in the Perspective 2, the states only African American Newspaper 3,000 Festival Guides Distributed throughout the community Featured event in the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau website and Facebook promotion and on KOB.com – estimated 500,000 impressions weekly. National press through PRNewswire Press Release – picked up by online sites throughout the United States Creation of nmblackhistorymonth.com, the organizations official website. Banner ads and links on nmblack.com and abqsoul.com Goal 3: Increase Economic Development and Tourism Booked guest rooms at local area hotels for national guest artists participating in festival and started a “Staycation” promotion for Festival events (Doubletree, Hilton Garden Inn) Produced, collaborated on and supported 15 events in 10 venues in 6 weeks affecting approximately 10,000 participants Supported and promoted 20 small businesses in the African American community
ARTS AND CULTURE WEEKEND ‐ February 3 – 5th OBJECTIVES: Creating community among African American performing and visual artists in Albuquerque; providing performance and training outlets for emerging and established performing artists and producing quality theater Roots Revival, 4 + 1 Art Exhibition – Sold out houses each night at the N4th Theater. Command performance was held on February 8 to accommodate overflow crowds during the initial run. A multi‐generational cast of 38 members performed an original play chronicling the history of African Americans from West Africa to the present in song, spoken word and dance. In addition, a world class visual art display was mounted in the Lobby Gallery at N4th for the entire month February.
Standing Room Only – Each night 38 member Multi‐generational cast World Class Visual Art
SOUL FOOD WEEK – February 6 – 12, 2012 Objectives: Celebrate the African American contribution to America’s cuisine and support African American owned businesses Events at 3 different venues in Albuquerque! Exposure for the African American Chamber of Commerce, Interviews on 2 television stations with statewide reach, First Annual Griffin’s Best Sweet Potato Pie Contest – 34 contestants, Nationally renowned speaker Dr. Vertamae Grosvenor interview/lecture culminating the week.
Supporting Small Business Building Community Historical Preservation
MOTOWN WEEKEND – February 15 ‐ 18, 2012 Objectives: Build Community and Volunteerism, Offer Accessible/Affordable/Elegant Activities, Promote Tourism Events at 5 different venues in Albuquerque Nationally renowned guest artists and numerous local artists
Internationally Known Artist Multicultural/Multi‐Generational Volunteerism Bernard Purdie Community Building
BODY AND SOUL WEEKEND – February 24 – 26, 2012 Objectives: Foster Positive Youth Development, Inspire Health and Wellness Focus in the African American Community, Celebrate our Gospel Roots, Serve as a Artist Incubator Events at 3 different venues in Albuquerque 5 National Guest Artists Youth Focused Event at Warehouse 508 Standing room only New Mexico’s Best Gospel Competition at the African American Performing Arts Center Jonathan Rockwell, ABQ Fitness Trainer Yohnnie Shambourger, Fitness Expert Ernestine Shepherd, Guinness Book of World Records Rev. Michael Minor, PhD, Let’s Move Ambassador Rujeko Dumbutshena, African Dance Expert Tony Victory, Stomperobics
Local/National Fitness Experts SRO Gospel Crowd Gospel Best Contest Winners
Young Blacks of Albuquerque – Identifying and Supporting New Leaders
Aleceia Kidd/Shawna Brown Networking/Socializing Corporate Sponsorship Young Black Men Founders
Nurtured in New Mexico/Town of Bernalillo – Sharing New Mexico’s Black History
Curated by Brenda Marley Educating Kids Gabi Rojas
¾ Expand and grow volunteer base and collaboration within the African American Community. First meeting scheduled Sunday, March 18, 2012 ¾ Solidify activities for 2013 and designate leaders for each activity ¾ Create a solid fundraising effort for financial, in‐kind resources. Recruit new donors, renew partnerships with existing donors ¾ Revisit goals for 2012 especially in the areas of small business promotion and increases in tourism
DREAM BIG! FOLLOW THROUGH!