By Jennifer Baires Posted October 15, 2012 3:33 pm
Richmond is a city that celebrates its history. On Saturday, the sixth annual Home Front Festival in the Craneway Pavilion at Ford Point, paid homage to the importance of World War II in the shaping and growth of the city. Hundreds came and went throughout the sunny day, enjoying the interactive history booths, live music, and displays.
http://richmondconfidential.org/2012/10/15/home-front-festival-2012/
The Home Front Festival featured volunteers like Francisco Mijango, part of the Walking Ghost Exhibition, who dressed in WWII era garb and visually told the story of Richmond's home front history. Mijango said everything he was wearing was made by Rosies -- American women who worked in factories during the war. (Photo by: Jennifer Baires)
Photos from online sources
Richmond Juneteenth parade draws thousands
By Robert Rogers
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 06/16/2012 02:54:42 PM PDT
Updated: 06/16/2012 03:46:41 PM PDT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate
Release
June 19, 2009
STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE OCCASION OF JUNETEENTH
On this day in 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln signed
the Emancipation Proclamation, those who found themselves still enslaved in Galveston, Texas
had their hopes realized and their prayers answered. Contrary to what others
had told them, the rumors they had heard were indeed true. The Civil War had
ended, and they were now free.
General Gordon Granger issued the call with "General Order No.
3" saying "The people of Texas are
informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States,
all slaves are free.” June 19, or Juneteenth, is now observed in 31 states.
Nearly a century and a half later, the descendants of slaves and slave owners
can commemorate the day together and celebrate the rights and freedoms we all
share in this great nation that we all love.
This moment also serves as a time for reflection and appreciation, and an opportunity for many people to trace their family’s lineage. African Americans helped to build our nation brick by brick and have contributed to her growth in every way, even when rights and liberties were denied to them. In light of the historic unanimous vote in the United States Senate this week supporting the call for an apology for slavery and segregation, the occasion carries even more significance.
HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the
ending of slavery in the United
States. Dating back to 1865, it was on
June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed
at Galveston,
The Host City, RICHMOND, CA
In a diverse city that pride's itself on its ethnic festivals, Juneteenth may be the granddaddy of them all.
Richmond's ninth annual Juneteenth Parade and Festival on Saturday drew thousands of revelers, who lined the parade route and massed at Nicholl Park for live music, youth performances, ethnic foods, craft vendors and community booths.
"It doesn't get any better than this," said Charles Evans, owner of CJ's BBQ & Fish Restaurant, a longtime local favorite, as celebrators lined up for ribs and catfish at his stand in the park. "This event is special because it brings together all the different neighborhoods. You can see the pride in people's faces."
Juneteenth is a tradition
dating back to the end of the Civil War and celebrates the end of slavery in
the United States.
The day commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed at Galveston,
Saturday's parade began at
10 a.m. near the corner of
2012 Grand Marshal Clarence Van Hook waves to spectators during the annual Juneteenth Parade
2012 Grand Marshal Clarence Van Hook, center, atop a classic car, and other participants
Richmond residents Demesha Johnson, 20, left, Jaychelle Price, 19, and their uncle Albert Lee
Deborah Emery, strolling, of the Oakland Black Cowboys Association, and Heritage Riders Horsemen
Thousands of residents, many
on lawn chairs on their front porches or sidewalks, lined the route and cheered
the parade. The parade turned north on
Richmond hosted civic-sponsored Juneteenth festivals as far back as the 1970s, but tough budget times put the funding on hold in the 1990s, said Jerrold Hatchett, one of the festival's chief organizers.
About 10 years ago, "The National Brotherhood Alliance," a group of residents that Hatchett chairs, succeeded in getting city funding and an assortment of private sponsors to restart the festival, which has grown to become one of the largest in the state.
"It's important to celebrate this great day in a great way," said Joe Fisher, a longtime resident and member of the Black American Political Action Committee (BAPAC). "And this turnout is bigger than last year, it seems to me."
Police Chief Chris Magnus, on hand at Nicholl Park, said the crowd numbered "thousands and thousands."
Among the celebrity guests scheduled to perform on stage in Nicholl Park late Saturday afternoon was George Clinton and his legendary band Parliament Funkadelic. U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, county Supervisor John Gioia, Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and several council members were on hand and addressed the crowd.
Photos By
Richard R. Lee & Christian Wimmer
Presented by
City of Richmond &
Chevron
The Premiere of the Motion Picture
"THE RED TAILS"
04 Febury 2012
Marin, CA
A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.
Cuba Gooding
Jr. ... Major Emanuelle Stance
Terrence Howard ...Colonel A.J. Bullard
Nate Parker ...Marty 'Easy' Julian David Oyelowo
... Joe 'Lightning' Little
Daniela Ruah ... Sofia
Tristan Wilds ... Ray 'Junior' Gannon Ne-Yo ... Andrew 'Smoky' Salem
and Gerald McRaney ... Lieutenant General Luntz
|
The combat record of the Tuskegee Airmen speaks for itself:
over 15,000 combat sorties (including 6000+ for the 99th prior to July '44)
111 German airplanes destroyed in the air, another 150 on the ground
950 railcars, trucks, and other motor vehicles destroyed
1 destroyer sunk by P-47 machine gun fire (Lt. Pierson's flight)
sixty-six pilots killed in action or accidents
thirty-two pilots downed and captured, POWs
150 Distinguished Flying Crosses earned
744 Air Medals
8 Purple Hearts
14 Bronze Stars
The following is a summary of the combat record for the four squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group. The list includes each pilot's name and official credit for enemy aircraft destroyed.
99th Ftr SqnEdward L. Toppins, 4 100th Ftr SqnRaul W. Bell, 1 | 301st Ftr SqnJoseph D. Elsberry, 4 302nd Ftr SqnLee A. Archer, 4 Wm. W. Green, Jr., 2 |
The aerial victories of the Red Tails have also been the source of some dispute, notably the totals for Lee Archer; some sources show him to have shot down 4.5 or 5 airplanes.
The attached pdf document, 112 Victories: Aerial Victory Credits of the Tuskegee Airmen, by Dr. Daniel L. Haulman, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Condensed Version 31 March 2008, seems to me to be the final, authoritative word on the matter. Dr. Haulman notes that Archer, Elsberry, and Toppins, each with four confirmed aerial victories, were the highest-scoring pilots among the Tuskegee Airmen.
All photos, drawings and artwork
from online sources
& Larry Thompson / CBD
Bridges out of Homelessness Conference
in Richmond, CA
The Craneway Pavilion
“Bridges Out of Homelessness:
Vocations, Health, and Housing”
May 10, 2010, Craneway Pavilion
Richmond,
Our first annual conference "opened the door" for new, employment-focused solutions to homelessness in the Bay Area. "Bridges Out of Homelessness: Vocations, Health and Housing" on May 10, 2010 at the Craneway Pavilion, brought local stakeholders and regional and national experts together for a unique, unconference-like event. Along with new and useful information on key elements of the homeless challenge there was live music, good food, and opportunities for community leaders and professionals to network.
Results of our on-site "Overall Evaluation" conference participant questionnaire show the value of "Bridges Out of Homelessness." Who participated: More than 200 conference participants included a wide range of professionals and others working with or in frequent contact with homeless people in Richmond, other West Contra Costa communities, and communities throughout the Bay Area.
Their areas of professional expertise included health care, law enforcement, public education, and workforce development. Their job titles included education and training specialist, social worker, counselor, program coordinator, teen-parent coordinator, volunteer, and others. Conference participants also had diverse educational backgrounds, including a variety of social science and health care bachelor's and master's degrees, with licensed clinical social workers and other certified specialties, and at least one with a background in information technology and business systems consultation.
Questionnaire respondents had considerable other conference experience: All had attended at least one conference in the past year and more than a quarter (28%) had attended as many as four conferences. They chose to attend "Bridges Out of Homelessness" for a variety of reasons, with "professional development" (36%), "workshops" (21%), and "recommendation of colleague or employer" (21%) ranking highest.Their opinion of the conference: Results of the
questionnaire showed that 100% of respondents rated the overall quality of
"Bridges out of Homelessness" as "excellent" (67%) or
"good" (33%). No one rated the conference quality as
"average," "below average," or "poor."
Respondents especially appreciated the quality of the conference workshops,
with 100% of respondents rating the workshop quality "excellent"
(71%) or "good" (29%).
All respondents approved the timing of the conference (Monday in early to mid
May) as "excellent" (17%) or "good" (83%). There was a
wider range of response among other general conference questions, but still the
overwhelming response to the conference was positive.
Professional-level education in Richmond:
"Bridges out of Homelessness" met all its goals and provided an
extraordinary opportunity for many to participate in the highest quality
learning about homelessness. For professionals and others working with the
homeless in Richmond
and other West Contra Costa communities, our conference was an opportunity for
professional-level education and networking without having to travel far or pay
a lot.
"Bridges Out of Homelessness" took place in Richmond, which remains home to one of the
highest concentrations of poor and homeless people in the Bay Area. As Richmond
Mayor Gayle McLaughlin pointed out, Saffron Strand's conference was a great
example of the great things that are possible in "a city of unlimited
possibilities."
Richmond,
www.eventparadise.com/spotlight/event-venues-spotlight-13.html#c238
A soaring industrial-chic interior, landmark architecture,
state-of-the-art infrastructure, and breath-taking Bay views, set the stage for
cultural events, public gatherings and private affairs as unforgettable as the
San Francisco Bay Area itself. Featuring open space design, variable capacity
and a staggering number of programming options.
What is it that makes Craneway Pavilion award winning? It’s world-class MEYER
Sound, BARCO 8mm I-Lite Video, StagingConcepts, full bar, catering, 110-seat
restaurant, private dock, ferry and helicopter accessible and ample secure
parking are just a few of the reasons.
The awe-inspiring Craneway Pavilion is as state-of-the-art as it is historic –
the famed architect Albert Kahn designed the building in 1931 as a Ford Motor
plant and today original floors, brickwork and an entire crane are left as artifacts
to adorn the interior.
Craneway is designed for maximum sustainability combining 21st century’s most
forward-thinking green technologies with the structure’s original
environmentally friendly features – saw-tooth roof design with 40,000 glass
panes which fills the building with natural light and supports a one-megawatt
rooftop solar power plant.
Photos from the Craneway Pavilion Website
Grand Opening of
American Legion Post 875 in Richmond, CA
Our Neighbors: Richmond welcomes new American Legion Post
By
Chris Treadway
Contra Costa Times
Posted:
Updated:
At a time when the chapters of many veterans organizations are closing or consolidating, a new facility in Richmond will try to buck the trend when it officially opens this week.
When American Legion Post 875 holds its grand opening
from
The spacious building will have facilities such as event and banquet rooms,
a health and wellness room, a gymnasium and bingo hall. The public is welcome
to come for tours, food and information at the open house, which will include a
ribbon-cutting at
More important, its organizers say, it will offer one-stop services for veterans including job placement, counseling and financial assistance. The time may be right to offer such a facility for a new generation of veterans, particularly those who have seen combat.
"We're establishing this to provide resources to veterans looking to assimilate back into civilian life," said Greg Cantrell, executive director of the post. The center will provide assistance in career and life-skills training, job placement, counseling, troop support, temporary financial assistance and scholarships.
Plans also call for offering youth programs