Ohio State to mark 28th annual Heritage Festival

COLUMBUS ? The 28th annual African American Heritage Festival will be held April 30 through May 6 on The Ohio State University campus. This year's theme is "Ufanisi: Striving for Higher Heights," which takes its name from the Swahili term for prosperity.

"The African American Heritage Festival is a way for the entire university community to embrace, experience and celebrate many aspects of Black Culture," said Gabrielle St. Leger, coordinator for African American Student Services at the Ohio State Multicultural Center. "We hope that exposure to cultural events will help educate and create a better understanding and appreciation of others."

According to Adison McNeill, student chair of the week-long celebration, activities will focus on mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and financial growth. "These are all components that contribute to overall prosperity and well-being of individuals," McNeill said.

The official kickoff will begin with a rally at the Browning Amphitheatre from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday (4/30) followed by an afternoon of food, games, and entertainment from 1 to 5 p.m. on the west lawn of the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St.

President Karen Holbrook will deliver the welcome address at the Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday (5/1) at Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave. Carl Mack, national executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers and CEO of the largest student-managed organization in the world is the keynote speaker. He will be joined in a panel discussion on economic and business prosperity by Gregory Washington, Ohio State associate dean for research in the College of Engineering; Keith Key, managing partner of Omni Management Group; and Leon McDougle, assistant dean of the Office for Diversity and Cultural Affairs at the Ohio State College of Medicine and Public Health.

A Gospel Fest, featuring the Ohio State Gospel Choir, will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday (5/4) at the Newman Center, 64 W. Lane Ave. in addition to the many cultural events that will be held throughout the week.

Special guest, comedian Owen Smith, will host the 19th Annual Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show, featuring African American fraternities and sororities, at 7 p.m. on Friday (5/5) at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the night of the performance and are available for purchase at the Explore Columbus Office at the Ohio Union, all Ticketmaster outlets and the Schottenstein Center Ticket Office.

For a complete listing of the week's activities, log on to
http://heritagefestival.osu.edu