More than 500 Moreno Valley residents and approximately 50 vendors recently attended the First Annual African American Family Reunion event in Celebration Park hosted by the African American Caucus, Region 13. The purpose of the event was to impact, educate and empower the community with available resources. The NAACP, Tuskegee Airmen, Riverside Mental Health, Salvation Army, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and many other vendors encouraged the community to get out and vote, and participate in education and legislative events. State Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside) opened the event with praises for the group’s leaders who spearheaded the day’s events and reminded everyone that the date the celebration was held, Aug. 31, was also the week of the 50th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. Speech, “I have a Dream.” 61st District Assemblyman Jose Medina (D-Riverside) was on hand to greet the participants and also thanked all constituents for coming out. Congressman Mark Takano’s (D-Riverside) office was present with a booth but acknowledged that the Congressman was called back to Washington, D.C. Moreno Valley Unified School District Trustees C.J. Johnson, Jesus Holguin and Dr. Denise Fleming were also present. Holguin spoke to the group on the outstanding 2012 school year the district had experienced and Dr. Fleming praised the school district for the over $3 million in scholarships received by the 2012 senior class. She also identified the district as an International Baccalaureate (IB) district and spoke to the community regarding the Dual Immersion language program. The California Democratic Party African American Caucus Chair, Darren Parker, also attended the event—a day full of food, family and fun for all ages.

Local Leaders Organizations Gather for African American Family Reunion Event