GREATER GRAND RAPIDS CHAPTER

JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INC. COMMEMRORATES

THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1963 CHILDREN'S CRUSADE

Grand Rapids, MI - May 5, 2018On May 5, 2018 from 1-4 p.m., The Greater Grand Rapids Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (GGRJJOA) in partnership with Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Division of Inclusion and Equity, will host their annual Black Family Day celebration honoring the 55th anniversary of the 1963 Children's Crusade with the Grand Rapids Police Department, the NAACP Grand Rapids and the Urban League of West Michigan. The event will be held at the GVSU Seidman College of Business located at 50 Front Street, SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.

Under the theme of "Celebrating the Power of Children: Then and Now, the intent of the event is to inform and educate the community on how pivotal the children of Birmingham, Alabama were in the civil rights movement and raise awareness of current societal similarities.

"As I think about the current state of race in our country, I am saddened by the fact that the conversation on civil rights continues to be relevant 55 years later," shared Shannon Wilson, President of the Greater Grand Rapids Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. "Yet I'm comforted that many organizations are working together to ensure that future generations of leaders are equipped with knowledge and respect for the past and optimism for the future."

The program includes the viewing of a brief documentary on the 1963 event and a panel discussion including a local Grand Rapidian who marched in the crusade 55 years ago.  Nationally, over 2,000 members and youth of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. will convene in Birmingham, Alambama's Civil Rights District on this same weekend to honor the courageous acts of non-violent protests against discrimination, segregation and racism.

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