Diversity Initiative Kicks-Off Year Long Celebration During Black History Month

Allentown, PA – Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:30am, at the Lehigh County Senior Center, located at 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown, PA 18102, a diverse group of community members will hold a press conference announcing The Rising Sun Initiative, an initiative created to honor the contributions that African-Americans have made to the region in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the City of Allentown and the 200th anniversary of Lehigh County.

The Rising Sun Initiative will announce a full calendar of events and collaborations with the Lehigh County Senior Center, The Holiday Inn Allentown, Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem and numerous community partners celebrating the significant achievements of African-Americans in the business, education, fine arts, political and faith-based sectors and a historical legacy project commemorating Lehigh County’s Bicentennial, the City of Allentown’s Semiquincentennial and the contributions that African-Americans have made to the region.

Attending the press conference will be Rick Daugherty, Executive Director, Lehigh County Senior Center; Kari E. Holmes, Coordinator, The Rising Sun Initiative; Ms. Flora C. Melton, wife of the late Horace A. Melton, Pastor and Founder of Union Baptist, the first African-American Baptist church in Allentown, PA; Gillian Baptiste, Committee Coordinator, The International Gospel Symposium and Rev. Dr. K. E. Holmes, Producer of The Rising Sun Initiative Legacy Project and a host of supporting community members.

For more information, please contact Kari E. Holmes, Coordinator, The Rising Sun Initiative, at 610.841.3869 or via e-mail at TheRisingSun200@gmail.com.