Post Event Release: Awards Banquet & Silent Auction Closes Out Georgia ’s Caribbean American Heritage Month Celebration For 2007

Caribbean and American Nationals attended an Awards Banquet and Silent Auction at the Airport Marriott hosted by the Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition on June 30, 2007. This marked the end of an eventful celebration in observance of Caribbean American Heritage Month. The month’s activities included a Caribbean Interfaith Celebration, a Gospelfest, a Haitian Symposium, and a Business Opportunities Seminar at Clark Atlanta University .

The Awards Banquet provided a forum for attendees to interact with both national and local politicians. Valrie Walker Sanders, President of the Coalition, presented Georgia State Representative Billy Mitchell of Stone Mountain (D-88) with an award for his “stellar contribution” for sponsoring Resolution 978 that designated June as Caribbean American Heritage Month in the State of Georgia .

The guest speaker for the evening was New York City Congressional Representative Yvette Clarke, who was accompanied by her mother, former New York City Councilwoman Dr. Una Clarke . Other guests included U.S. Congressman Hank Johnson , Clayton County District Attorney Jewell Scott, and other local dignitaries. Vocalist Julie Dexter along with her band, provided live entertainment, and local Caribbean artists donated art for the Silent Auction.