Title
To honor and recognize the "Comin' Home" African American Holiday Festival
Body
WHEREAS, the “Comin’ Home” African American Holiday Festival was founded in 1988 through the vision and leadership of community advocates including Waldo Tyler, Ruth McCray, and Lawrence Auls to celebrate African American culture, heritage, entrepreneurship, unity, and community pride within the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, from 1988 through 1997, the Comin’ Home Festival became one of the largest and most influential community celebrations in Columbus, Ohio, attracting hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors while serving as a major cultural and economic gathering prior to the establishment of Red, White, and Boom; and
WHEREAS, the Comin’ Home Festival brought together businesses, churches, civic leaders, media organizations, artists, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and families from throughout Central Ohio and multiple cities across the nation to promote life, love, respect, togetherness, and community empowerment; and
WHEREAS, the “Comin’ Home” African American Holiday Festival was founded in 1988 through the vision and leadership of community advocates including Waldo Tyler, Ruth McCray, and Lawrence Auls to celebrate African American culture, heritage, entrepreneurship, unity, and community pride within the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the legacy of the Comin’ Home Festival continues today through ongoing efforts to preserve its historical significance by documenting its founders, contributors, volunteers, stories, photographs, memorabilia, and cultural impact through educational outreach and historical preservation initiatives; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this council hereby honors and recognizes the “COMIN’ HOME” African American Holiday Festival