33rd Annual Original "KINGFEST" Activities announced for Southeast Arkansas

33rd Annual Original KingFest Activities announced for

Southeast Arkansas

This Year Commemorates the 50th Anniversary
of Interested Citizens for Voter Registration

Interested Citizens for Voter Registration (ICVR), Inc. announces the 33rd Annual Original KingFest activities happening January 10-16, 2017.

This year also commemorates the 50th Anniversary of ICVR.


Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Moorehead Washington

On Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 12:00 noon, Pine Bluff, AR's first African-American female Mayor Shirley Moorehead Washington (at left) will be the guest speaker during the kick-off of KingFest and ICVR's 50th Anniversary.

Washington was sworn in during a historical Inauguration Ceremony held on Sunday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

This will take place during a joint meeting of Pine Bluff Rotary Clubs at the Pine Bluff Country Club, located at 46th Avenue and Cherry Street in Pine Bluff.

Festivities will conclude on Monday, January 16, 2017 with the Martin Luther King, Jr. ICVR Original KingFest Marade/Parade.

Pine Bluff, AR native Torii Hunter (below right) has been selected as the Grand Parade Marshal for this event, which will start at 2pm. Participants are asked to line up at the Jefferson County Courthouse at 1pm.

An American former professional baseball center fielder and right fielder, Hunter played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Detroit Tigers from 1997 through 2015.


	Former Professional Baseball Player Torii Hunter

He will also serve as the keynote speaker for Justice Sunday on January 15, 2017.

The marade/parade route will proceed south on Main Street to 3rd Avenue and east on 3rd Avenue to Convention Center Drive south on Convention Center Drive ending inside the Pine Bluff Convention Center located at One Convention Center Drive. Immediately following, the ICVR King Team Pen or Pencil youth will present a short educational program. Other youth talents can participate by calling the ICVR office at 870.413.6345 to have their group or individual talent placed on the agenda.

"During the 50th year anniversary of ICVR and the 33rd Original KingFest, we would like to have 1,000 youth participating and showcasing their talents in Pine Bluff," says Derrick L. Newby, Sr., president of ICVR, Inc. "The year 2017 is an important landmark for ICVR. This is the organization that has been at the point of the spear for civil rights and social change in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County for five decades."

"Living the Dream - Reviving the Spirit for Mentoring" is this year's theme, which is associated with National Mentoring Month being recognized in January.

Participants are asked to develop and display messages on floats, cars, church buses, banners and signs related to the theme. Awards will be given for the most provocative banner, poster or float using the theme.

Churches, social and civic organizations, youth groups, neighborhood watch groups, sororities, fraternities, school bands, businesses and elected officials are invited to join the Original KingFest marade/parade which honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through interracial cooperation and community service.

All marade/parade participants are asked to fill out applications which can be obtained by contacting Mary Liddell at 870.643.2383. The deadline to turn in applications is Thursday, January 12, 2017.

Applications can also be filled out at the ICVR office, located at 211 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 109. Also upon request, applications will be faxed or emailed by calling 870-413.6345 or pbicvr@aol.com

There is no charge to participate in any of the Original KingFest events which are open to the general public.

2017 Original ICVR KingFest SCHEDULE

January 10-16, 2017
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2016 KINGFEST Theme:

"Living the Dream - Reviving the Spirit for Mentoring"

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in water color by Dora Taggett

Martin Luther King Jr.

Watercolor Painting by Dora Taggett www.dorataggettart.com

Celebrating 50 years in 2017

ICVR 33rd Annual Original KingFest Celebration Schedule

12 Noon - Tuesday, January 10th

The Original ICVR KingFest kick-off with the Downtown and

West Pine Bluff Rotary Clubs at the Pine Bluff Country Club,
located at 46th Avenue at Cherry Street in Pine Bluff.

This is a community-wide event and everyone is invited.

There is no charge to attend and participants

do not have to be member of the Rotary Club.

Kick-Off Speaker: Mayor Shirley Moorehead Washington