14th Annual Celebration Day

Saturday, January 28, 2012, 10 am – 7 pm

Polk County Convention Center

An exciting festival celebrating I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa’s  status as the first major festival of the year; the kickoff to Black History Month; the home of Iowa’s newest official state song (titled “I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa”); and as the inspiration for other major ethnic festivals with over 20,000 projected attendance.

2012 Festival Headliner

Shemar Moore

CBS drama Criminal Minds

Shemar Franklin Moore was born in Oakland, California on April 20, 1970. Shemar spent the first two years of his life in Denmark where he became fluent in Danish & has lived in Bahrain, England, Greece & Africa.

Embracing Excellence Gala

Friday, January 27, 2012,  7pm – 10 pm

Veterans Memorial Community Center

The majestic cultural affair begins as guests arrive fashionably elegant and prepared for the red-carpet treatment that they are about to receive.  As a gesture of welcome members of the Advisory Board will honor each guest with the placing of this years commemorative kente cloth scarves over the shoulder.

Education Day

Friday, January 27, 2012, 9 am – 2 pm

Polk County Convention Center

Hundreds of high and middle school students come together from across Iowa to learn about African American Culture. Education Day is a golden opportunity to enrich social studies, world history, world cultures or government classes.