“Juneteenth Freedom Day” Parade

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Juneteenth of Fairfield County Selects
Deborah Caviness, Grand Marshal of the
“Juneteenth Freedom Day” Parade

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Deborah Caviness, Grand Marshal

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – May 8, 2015 –The Board of Directors of Juneteenth™ of Fairfield County, Inc., the regional affiliate of the national Juneteenth organization which commemorates the abolition of slavery in America and celebrates historical figures, events and acts associated with the emancipation, selected Deborah A. Caviness to be its 2015 Juneteenth Parade Grand Marshal. The honorific title of Grand Marshal affords Ms. Caviness the most honored position in the annual Juneteenth Parade, scheduled to be held June 13, 2015, and at other events leading up to the parade. Parade Marshals, representing cities and towns within Fairfield County,  have also been selected from prominent community leaders to march in the parade.
The parade, consisting of bands, floats, drill teams, fraternities, sororities and community organizations will kickoff at 12 Noon, from Bridgeport’s Harbor Yard Baseball Parking Lot, and march up Broad Street to Fairfield Avenue. Marchers will turn right on to Main Street and back down Main Street to Harbor Yard. The Juneteenth Festival from 2 – 7 PM on McLevy Green in downtown Bridgeport will immediately follow the parade. There is no fee to march in the parade. Ms. Caviness will be the organization’s 3rd Grand Marshal of the annual parade event, which debuted in Bridgeport in 1992 to celebrate the announcement of freedom from slavery in America. Events, including the January 1, 1863 effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 2½ year later, June 19, 1865 Galveston, Texas address by Major General Gordon Granger, informing the last black slaves of their emancipation, are hallmark events around which the national organization has celebrated and fostered educational events and activities since 1865. 2015 will celebrate the 150th anniversary commemorating the end of slavery in America.
Upon being selected as this year’s Grand Marshal, Ms. Caviness stated, “I’m absolutely ecstatic to have been selected as the 2015 Grand Marshal to lead the 2015 Juneteenth Parade and Community Festival. I promise to continue with the tradition of embracing diversity and showcasing Bridgeport’s assets. This year’s festivities will be family friendly, culturally inspired and high spirited! I look forward to the challenge of expanding our audience statewide to share in the excitement.”
Ms. Caviness is a long time City resident who has dedicated her life to public and civic services. She is the 1st Black female to serve as Mayoral Aide and then promoted to Chief of Staff in the city’s 175-year history under the previous administration. She is also the President/CEO of the Greater Bridgeport Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), a global network of employment and job-training programs founded by the late Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan and a contingent of 400 ministers in 1964. OIC enables the economically disadvantaged individuals to break the cycle of inter-generational transference of poverty to become economically self-sufficient. The Bridgeport chapter prepares people for today’s workforce through quality life skills development, job skills training and employment readiness services. Prior to working for the City of Bridgeport she was the Community Relations Director for Southwest Community Health Center.
AACPF Parade Poster Currently, she works directly with Mayor Bill Finch to oversee the Small and Minority Business Resource Office to ensure that small, minority and women-owned businesses have a fair and equal opportunity to compete and secure City contracts. The goal of the Small and Minority Business Resource Office is to increase the utilization of small, minority, women-owned businesses in construction commodities, contractual, architectural and engineering services. The office serves as the main point of entry where minority businesses can obtain information on “How to Do Business with the City of Bridgeport” and contracting opportunities.
The Fairfield County Juneteenth Board of Directors invites the participation and support from the broad base of organizations and individuals interested in commemorating this historical American event. Upcoming events include the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the First Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2015.
Interested organizations and volunteers can contact Juneteenth of Fairfield County, Inc at: info@juneteenthoffairfieldcounty.org or visit our website at www.juneteenthoffairfieldcounty.org.  ■

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