Auburn Gresham 79th Street Renaissance Festival & St. Sabina Family Peace Jam
Ernest Sanders
Published: September 22, 2011
Perfect sunny weather graced the 79th Street corridor as the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) hosted its 6th Annual Auburn Gresham 79th Street Renaissance Festival. New this year to the Festival was the Faith Community of Saint Sabina Church's Family Peace Jam.
"What an amazing collaboration and partnership between a business and church," one festival-goer added while singing and dancing to world renown gospel artist Ricky Dillard & New G. God has really blessed this community.
The list of businesses, organizations and performers was not only top-shelf, but also numbered more than 100 at this year's Festival and Peace Jam.
Carlos Nelson, executive director of GADC said the Festival has really grown to a point in this community's history, where we will have to consider multiple days to accommodate the large number of attendees. There was an estimated 10,000 festival-goers at this year's event.
A Jesse White tumbler makes a leap defying and acrobatic flip over several of his teammates.
Ernest Sanders
Some of the highlights of the day included a free petting zoo, free kids face painting, free dental exams and cleanings, free haircut for youth, free food for some of our most precious assets - our senior citizens, a free book giveaway, a free 1700 book bag giveaway and so much more.
Click here for program booklet.
Farley Jack Master Funk closed the Festival with house music and thanked Nelson and the GADC staff and gave special recognition to Fr. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church.
There was a lot of time and effort expended to display such a showcase of talented individuals and organizations. GADC would like to recognize all of its key sponsors: 17th Aldermanic Ward, 21st Aldermanic Ward, several City of Chicago department agencies, Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Chicago (LISC/Chicago), UJAMAA Construction, The Cara Program & Cleanslate, ALDI, Beverly Bank, Chicago Children's Museum, World Sports Chicago, The University of Chicago's Urban Health Initiative, Foreman Mills, CJ & Associates and Special Service Area #32.
Illinois State University student volunteers and take a few meals over to Auburn Gresham senior citizens.
Ernest Sanders
Another special thanks goes out to GADC's numerous volunteers and contributors including Clear Channel, Walgreens, Ty Watts Photography, Mania Organics, South Chicago Chrysler and Food 4 Less. Lastly, GADC would like to pay special recognition and congratulations to St. Sabina Church for adding their Family Peace Jam to the Festival.
If you did not have an opportunity to participate or attend, click here for a brief YouTube video offered by our partners at YoChicago. Click here to see photos from the day.
See an in depth interview with Carlos Nelson and Cheryl Johnson about Auburn Gresham's annual community celebration.
See you next year, September 8, 2012.
Keywords:
17th Aldermanic Ward, 21st Aldermanic Ward, ALDI, Beverly Bank, Chicago Children's Museum, CJ & Associates, Clear Channel, Food 4 Less, Foreman Mills, Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Chicago (LISC/Chicago), Mania Organics, several City of Chicago department agencies, South Chicago Chrysler, Special Service Area #32, The Cara Program & Cleanslate, The University of Chicago's Urban Health Initiative, Ty Watts Photography, Ujamaa Construction, Walgreens, World Sports Chicago
Posted in Community Highlights