Message from Improvement League President Henry Johnson

Greetings!

On behalf of the Improvement League of Plant City, MLK Festival organizers, volunteers and partners, I would like to take this moment to invite you to join us in celebrating cultural diversity. The African American experience provides an opportunity for people of all colors, and backgrounds to gain knowledge and understanding involving black culture.

This year we celebrate 23 years in addition to a major change for the MLK Festival. The irony that our theme this year is "Champion of a Dream" due to the outcome of this year's election of Barack Obama as President -Elect is amazing.

A number of our local families, churches, and civic clubs rely on this venue for fundraising. This year the vendors and midway will be back at the Plant City MLK Sports Complex.

This year we also celebrate developing a partnership and collaboration with the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival "Celebrating the Heart & Soul" of Tampa Bay. Various cultural celebrations and activities are held throughout Tampa Bay's cities (Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Plant City). We encourage residents and those traveling from abroad to check out all of the list of activities by visiting TBBHF website.

Last year we relocated the midway and vendors to Larson Complex due to the feedback from vendors that requested we seek a site where individual hook ups for vendors were available. Due to the current economic climate we are going back to the MLK Center and hosting a one day street festival on Saturday.

Our parade route will remain the same as always as well as our other events.

This event could not be held without the support of our sponsors and supporters. In light of the economic climate, this festival continues to receive the support to promote cultural diversity. I would encourage that we all make "note" of those supporters and solicit their businesses to ensure survival of those who care about communities.