The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee will commemorate the legendary Come Alive October 5 Voter Registration Campaign that paved the way for the first African American mayor of Chicago. The event will be held at Apostolic Church of God, 6320 South Dorchester on Wednesday, October 5, 2016.
“The original ‘Come Alive October 5’ was an historic voter registration drive that swept the first African American Mayor of Chicago into office,” said Dr. Robert Starks, Committee spokesperson, former Professor at the Center for Inner City Studies, and former political columnist for the Chicago Defender. “Our Mayor Harold Washington was dedicated to empowering voters and committed to a robust democracy of informed citizens,” he continued.
Through films and speakers, the event will bring back fond memories for those who were there during that historic time, and it will hopefully inspire younger attendees to register to vote. Registrars will be on hand for those who are not yet registered to vote.
Speakers will include Mayor Richard Hatcher, former mayor of Gary, Indiana and the nations oldest African American Mayor, who will conduct a “Generation Conversation” with one of the nation’s youngest African American Mayors; and Tuskegee, Alabama Mayor Johnnie Ford who will provide insight into Mayor Washington’s impact on other Black mayors and on the nation. Dr. Timuel Black will enlighten the audience with the history of the process of the election of Harold Washington as the first African American Mayor of Chicago.
There will be a panel discussion, by the Women of the Washington Movement; and the event will conclude with hip hop artist and politician, Rhymefest and a roundtable discussion of “Where do we go from here?”
The luncheon and award ceremony will feature jazz singer, Maggie Brown.
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The program will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Attendance is free, and guests are urged to come early to hear the speakers and panel discussions, to enjoy the luncheon and entertainment, and to take this opportunity to register to vote.
For more information, contact Josie Childs, President of The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee at 773-643-4828.
