The City of West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley NAACP To Host 25th Annual MLK Day

PRESS RELEASE

1444 W Garvey Avenue • West Covina • CA 91790 • Phone (626) 939-8401 • Fax (626) 939-8406

For Immediate Release Contact: Pauline Morales January 8, 2024. Acting City Manager

(626) 939-8401

The City of West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley NAACP To Host

25^th Annual MLK Day

WEST COVINA - To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the City of West Covina in partnership with the San Gabriel Valley NAACP (SGV-NAACP) will hold the 25th Annual San Gabriel Valley Tribute to MLK Day on Monday, January 15, 2024, at the West Covina Civic Center (1444 W. Garvey Avenue, S.). The Community is invited to participate with San Gabreil Valley youth, community organizations, and local businesses to commemorate the importance of Dr. King's legacy. The theme of this year's event is Together We Thrive.

This annual tribute includes entertainment, food, and vendors. The event is scheduled to kick-off at 11:00am and will conclude at 4:00pm. The entertainment lineup includes a roster of performers of different genres from hip hop, R&B, and jazz, which will be hosted by Imani from the world-famous hip-hop group The Pharcyde, who is also a West Covina resident. The SGV-NAACP will provide a platform for youth performers as well, including Zaire King, a 17-year-old jazz guitarist, who is currently in his junior year at CSArts Performing High School and serves as a CSArts Jazz Ambassador and their Principal Guitarist. Zaire King recently released his debut album titled, The Expressionist, which can be found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify.

"Partnering with San Gabriel Valley NAACP is an honor for the City of West Covina as the SGV-NAACP serves to protect and recognize the rights and worth of all individuals." Said Mayor Brian Calderon Tabatabai. "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's call to end global violence resonates now more than ever."

Irma Cooper, President of the SGV-NAACP thanks the City of West Covina for its support and states "Each year we come together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's dream of equality and social justice for our community."

The SGV-NAACP celebrated its 59th Anniversary this past September and continues with its mission to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The SGV-NAACP service area includes the cities of Azusa, Covina, Duarte, Glendora, Irwindale, Monrovia, Walnut, Whittier, Baldwin Park, City of Industry, El Monte, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, Rowland Heights, and West Covina. To learn more about the SGV-NAACP, please visit www.sgvnaacp.net.

To find more information about the City of West Covina, please visit the City's website at

www.westcovina.org
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