Community Rallies to Save African Heritage Cultural Center

Miami, FL, August 27, 2009 ---

The African Cultural Arts Center, located at 6161 NW 22"° Avenue will be the scene of a peaceful protest and rally on Saturday, August 29 from 10 am to 12 pm. Several community leaders have formed a committee with two purposes In mind—save the African Cultural Arts Center from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez's proposed budget cuts. The committee also wants to generate support from the community to come out to the September 3, Miami-Dade County Board f County Commissioner's Public Hearing meeting about the proposed budget.

For almost 40 years the center has provided quality training in the cultural arts to the youth of the community. The mayor's recent budget proposal calls for the elimination of a large part of the center's staff and funding for its programs.

The mayor's budget Is calling for the reduction of 12 part-time staff members and four full-time staff members. if The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners vote to pass the budget, it would virtually prevent the center from operating. Mayor Alvarez is recommending an $11 million cut for the cultural arts in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The Center has been operating since 1975 and has served thousands of young people, sometimes even more than one generation of the same family. The Center is a cornerstone in the community, attracting students and performers from all over the county.

The Center has built a reputation of bringing out raw talent In the youth that It serves. Hundreds of graduates from the Center have gone on to professional careers in the arts. Unlike most other facilities In the Arts and Culture division the Center brings in enough revenue to cover Its operating costs.

The rally will feature community voices, performances by current and former students of the Center, testimonials from former students and free refreshments. The committee of community leaders is utilizing the rally as a forum to educate the community at large about the budget cuts and get the community to come out and voice their concerns at the September 3 county public hearing meeting.

Media Contact: Charlayne Thompkins 305.610.9440