2010 MLK DAY Poster Contest Winners!

Winners of Monday's MLK Day Poster Contest are:

K-2
Matthew W. Thomas 2nd Grade, Grace Christian Academy, Rota
Angela Ann Guiang, K-5, Grace Christian Academy, Rota
Nadia Jade Arriola, K-4, Grace Christian, Rota

3rd-5th
Maria G. Terlaje 3rd Grade, Mount Carmel
Rency Camacho Grace 3rd Grade, Christian Academy-Rota
Audrey Lok Lum Yue, 4th Grade Grace Christian, Saipan

6th -12th
Chrisha Llana, 7th Grade, Grace Christian Academy, Rota
Glengela Guiang, 7th Grade, Grace Christian Academy, Rota
Carmelita Takeshi, 8th Grade, Grace Christian Academy, Rota

Special Mention goes to
Shiara Reyes of Ladera International School
for a beautiful portrait of Martin Luther King Jr.
on display at www.blacksonsaipan.com

Winners are asked to contact Joe Hill at
234-6806 during business hours to arrange
pick up of their prizes!




Just a few of the 116 entries for the 2010 MLK Day Poster Contest

An amazing pencil drawing of MLK by 5th Grader Shiara Reyes

MLK DAY 2010 Poster Contest

"Where Do We Go From Here?"
African American Cultural Preservation Committee announces MLK DAY Poster Contest!


SAIPAN-Monday, January 18, 2010 marks the 4th official Commemoration of Martin Luther King Day since Governor Benigno R. Fitial signed the bill enacting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official CNMI holiday.

This year, the African American Cultural Preservation Committee on Saipan is hosting its first MLK Day Poster Contest

The poster contest continues the tradition of student awareness, and participation in the annual commemoration activities started with previous years' popular essay contests. This year's theme is "Where Do We Go From Here?" the name of King's famous 1967 speech, and is meant to make students aware that every moment in life offers the opportunity to make new choices, and that they have the ability and responsibility to choose how to live their lives to determine where they go in life.
New years, new administrations, new terms in office, new school semesters, and every new day, all represent ideal opportunities to decide "where do we go from here?" as a nation, as a community, and as an individual.

Student artists are asked to draw/paint/create their concepts of what those choices are, and/or how they affect the nation, the community, and/or the individual. Creativity, uniqueness and outside-the-box thinking is encouraged, and entries should include some reference to Martin Luther King, Jr., his vision, speeches, concept of non-violence, civil rights, etc.

All posters will be displayed at the American Memorial Park Visitors Center from the date of receipt through Monday Jan 18, 2010 and winners will be announced at the MLK Day event at Memorial Park on January 18, 2010.


CATEGORIES:
K - 2nd Grades
3rd - 5th grades
6th -12th grades
in all private and public schools

GUIDELINES:
Minimum size: 9" x 12"
Maximum size: 12" x 18"
Medium: ANY (Paint, charcoal, ink, computer, etc.)
All artwork must be original, and no tracing is allowed.

DEADLINE and SUBMISSION PROCESS:
Submit posters on or before Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 at
Joe Hill Law Offices behind Shirley's in Susupe on Tokcha Ave.
See or contact Alma or Lily at 234-7743,
Joe Hill at 234-6806 or joe.hill@saipan.com
Walt Goodridge at walt@saipanliving.com

Details may be found on BlacksOnSaipan.com. By contacting AACPC President, Joe Hill at 670 234-6806, or emailing mlkcontest@blacksonsaipan.com

The African American Cultural Preservation Committee on Saipan wishes to thank all past and present supporters of our MLK Day events including Hyatt Regency Saipan, Joe-ten Enterprises, Empty Vessel Ministry, American Memorial Park,
and the Northern Mariana Islands Council for the Humanities.

MLK Day Jan 19:Winners of Essay and Elocution Contest Announced

The African American Cultural Preservation Committee on Saipan would like to congratulate the following
students on their winning entries for the "What Would Martin Say" Essay and Elocution Contest. These students will receive awards and prizes supplied by IT&E, MegaByte and Hollywood Theaters, as well as cash prizes!


Elocution Contest Winners
Category: Name Grade/School

(6-8) Dayanara Flores (8th Grade Hopwood)


(9-12) Bianca Blanco (11th Grade, Grace Christian)

Elocution contest winners will perform their speeches
on Monday during the 4pm - 6:00pm program. Everyone
in the community is invited to attend.


Essay Contest Winners
Category: Name Grade/School
(3-5) Dylan Cabrera (3rd Kagman Elementary)

(3-5) Frances Rosemarie G. Santos (3rd grade Kagman elem)

(6-8) Yvonnalynn Salalila (8th Grade, Hopwood Jr. High ) ,

(9-12) Joseph Martin (10th, Marianas High School)


We wish to thank the Northern Mariana Council for the Humanities,
and American Memorial park for their generous support.

We wish to thank all the students from all the schools throughout
the CNMI who participated and encourage all to attend
the commemoration activities to take place at Memorial Park
on Monday January 19, 2009 beginning at 1:00pm.

MLK Day Jan 19: Celebration DINNER at Bud's Bar!

Dear Friends,

You are invited to join us in our “Fulfilling the Dream” Inaugural Celebration Dinner to be held on January 21, 2009 from 6pm until 8pm. Proceeds will be used for the AACPC educational and youth program activities.

The occasion of the Inaugural Celebration of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America and the commemoration of the 2009 national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., presents a unique opportunity for us as a community to unite in the spirit of “Fulfilling the Dream” envisioned by Dr. King.

Tickets may be purchased from committee members for $15 which includes dinner/buffet and entertainment. Mouth-watering soul food items will be presented by Chef Sean Thompson from his southern recipes, including, among others, black eyed peas, ham hocks, greens & cornbread, chitterlings and candied yams.

Please indicate the number of tickets you would like to purchase below.

You may contact the committee at 234-6806 should you have any questions or need additional information. You may also purchase tickets at the office of AACPC President Joe Hill located in Susupe near Mt. Carmel. Tickets may also be purchased at the new Buds Bar & Grill located on Plumeria Street at the intersection of Java Cafe in downtown Garapan

MLK Day Jan 19: Camp Susupe "Guest" Comes to Saipan for MLK Day

MLK Day Jan 19: Camp Susupe "Guest" Comes to Saipan for MLK Day


SAIPAN-As an eight-year old girl at the close of World War II, MarshaRose Joyner--daughter of a military father stationed on Saipan--has fond memories of climbing the fence around the Camp Susupe Detention Center, and sneaking in to play with the Chamorro children living within the compound. On January 19, 2009, Ms. Joyner returns to Saipan for the first time since 1949, to deliver a special keynote address for the third annual MLK Day Commemoration organized by Saipan's African American Cultural Preservation Committee, Inc. (AACPC) with support by the Northern Marianas Council for the Humanities.

"We're privileged and honored to have Ms. Joyner return to Saipan and share her story with us for MLK day," says Joe Hill, AACPC Committee President. "As people who actually lived during those times get harder to find, it's rare to find individual servicemen who were stationed here to tell their story, rarer still to find entire families. So to have the perspective of a civilian dependent who is also African American, and who actually spent time inside the camp, is quite unique.”

Ms. Joyner's connection to Pacific region is a unique one. MarshaRose's father—Marshall Hood—a sergeant in the US army was assigned to an ordnance unit (recovering unexploded bombs, equipment etc.) after the battle of Saipan. In 1946, after traveling on military orders with her mother cross-country by train from Maryland to California, then by steamship to Hawaii, then by seaplane to Guam--where they reunited with her dad--the family journeyed to Saipan where they stayed until 1949. Even at that young age, the experience had a profound effect on her.

Having lived and experienced her memorable US-to-Pacific Island journey during the "Jim Crow" era in the US, where white racism was law, she was witness to, and victim of one brand of prejudice and segregation. Then, on Saipan, she witnessed another form of segregation and discrimination at Camp Susupe. She went on to be an activist for many civil rights causes, accumulating many honors and accomplishments, and then returning to Hawaii in 1970, where she currently resides. (excerpt from her memoirs will be available online ). She is an advocate of indigenous rights as Project Director for the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center.
This wife, mother, grandmother and cancer survivor says of her life's purpose, "I see my role in life as a grain of sand. To make a truly beautiful pearl there must be a grain of sand in the oyster. To make a truly beautiful world . . . there must be people like me . . .the irritants that keep everything growing".


As part of this year's upcoming MLK commemorative activities in the CNMI, (this year's theme: Color of Unity, the Pacific Way) she will be sharing her lifelong perspectives on the significance of Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Movement, and its impact on the people and way of life here in the Pacific.

Plans are for Ms. Joyner to conduct workshops on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. She will be arriving on Saipan on Tuesda, January 13 at 8:50pm. (All are welcome to come out to greet her at the airport; use contact number below first as some items in schedule are subject to change). The MLK Day event, mini-march, forum, essay finalist performances, and keynote address will take place on Monday, January 19, 2009 at American Memorial Park beginning with a public forum at 1:00pm. All are invited to attend and participate.
Monday, January 19, 2009 marks the 3rd official Commemoration of Martin Luther King Day since Governor Benigno Fitial signed the bill enacting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official CNMI holiday.

Details may be found on BlacksOnSaipan.com. Contact Joe Hill at 670 234-6806.

The following is a tentative schedule of events.
(some items subject to change)
Sat, Jan 10: Student Essay (“What Would Martin Say?”) Finalist Selection; Memorial Park Auditorium; 9:00AM; email mlkcontest@welovesaipan.com
Mon, Jan 12: AACPC Members discuss MLK event/significance/movement on Harry Blalock
Tue, Jan 13: MarshaRose Joyner arrives on Saipan 8:50pm
Wed, Jan 14: workshops at schools on Rota
Thur, Jan 15: MarshaRose Joyner on Harry Blalock show; 7:00AM
- workshops at schools on Tinian
Fri, Jan 16: workshops at schools on Saipan
Mon, Jan 19: MLK DAY Forum: 1-2 pm; mini-March: 3- 4 pm; Program and keynote: 4-6pm
Tue, Jan 20--workshops at schools on Saipan
Wed, Jan 21—Buffet Dinner, Bud's Bar (details to follow)

MLK Day Jan 19: Activist and Camp Susupe "Guest" Comes to Saipan for MLK Workshops and Keynote

SAIPAN-As an eight-year old girl at the close of World War II, MarshaRose Joyner--daughter of a military father stationed on Saipan--has fond memories of climbing the fence around the Camp Susupe Detention Center, and sneaking in to play with the Chamorro children living within the compound. On January 19, 2009, Ms. Joyner returns to Saipan for the first time since 1949, to deliver a special keynote address for the third annual MLK Day Commemoration organized by Saipan's African American Cultural Preservation Committee, Inc. (AACPC) with support by the Northern Marianas Council for the Humanities.

"We're privileged and honored to have Ms. Joyner return to Saipan and share her story with us for MLK day," says Joe Hill, AACPC Committee President. "As people who actually lived during those times get harder to find, it's rare to find individual servicemen who were stationed here to tell their story, rarer still to find entire families. So to have the perspective of a civilian dependent who is also African American, and who actually spent time inside the camp, is quite unique.”

Ms. Joyner's connection to Pacific region is a unique one. MarshaRose's father—Marshall Hood—a sergeant in the US army was assigned to an ordnance unit (recovering unexploded bombs, equipment etc.) after the battle of Saipan. In 1946, after traveling on military orders with her mother cross-country by train from Maryland to California, then by steamship to Hawaii, then by seaplane to Guam--where they reunited with her dad--the family journeyed to Saipan where they stayed until 1949. Even at that young age, the experience had a profound effect on her.



Having lived and experienced her memorable US-to-Pacific Island journey during the "Jim Crow" era in the US, where white racism was law, she was witness to, and victim of one brand of prejudice and segregation. Then, on Saipan, she witnessed another form of segregation and discrimination at Camp Susupe. She went on to be an activist for many civil rights causes, accumulating many honors and accomplishments, and then returning to Hawaii in 1970, where she currently resides. (excerpt from her memoirs will be available online ). She is an advocate of indigenous rights as Project Director for the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center.

This wife, mother, grandmother and cancer survivor says of her life's purpose, "I see my role in life as a grain of sand. To make a truly beautiful pearl there must be a grain of sand in the oyster. To make a truly beautiful world . . . there must be people like me . . .the irritants that keep everything growing".

As part of this year's upcoming MLK commemorative activities in the CNMI, (this year's theme: Color of Unity, the Pacific Way) she will be sharing her lifelong perspectives on the significance of Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Movement, and its impact on the people and way of life here in the Pacific.


Plans are for Ms. Joyner to conduct workshops on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. She will be arriving on Saipan on Tuesda, January 13 at 8:50pm. (All are welcome to come out to greet her at the airport; use contact number below first as some items in schedule are subject to change). The MLK Day event, mini-march, forum, essay finalist performances, and keynote address will take place on Monday, January 19, 2009 at American Memorial Park beginning with a public forum at 1:00pm. All are invited to attend and participate.
Monday, January 19, 2009 marks the 3rd official Commemoration of Martin Luther King Day since Governor Benigno Fitial signed the bill enacting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official CNMI holiday.

Details may be found on BlacksOnSaipan.com. Contact Joe Hill at 670 234-6806.

The following is a tentative schedule of events.
(some items subject to change)

Sat, Jan 10: Student Essay (“What Would Martin Say?”) Finalist Selection; Memorial Park Auditorium; email mlkcontest@welovesaipan.com


Tue, Jan 13: MarshaRose Joyner arrives on Saipan 8:50pm

Wed, Jan 14: workshops at schools on Rota

Thur, Jan 15: workshops at schools on Tinian

Fri, Jan 16: workshops at schools on SAIPAN

MLK DAY Mon, Jan 19--Forum: 1-2 pm; mini-March thru Garapan: 3- 4 pm; Program and keynote: 4-6pm

Tue, Jan 20--workshops at schools on SAIPAN

Wed, Jan 21—Dinner (details to follow)

MLK Day 2009 Essay and Elocution Contest!

This coming January 19, 2009 marks the 3rd official commemoration of Martin Luther King Day since Governor Fitial signed the bill enacting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official CNMI holiday. In honor of this approaching Commonwealth-wide commemoration, the African American Cultural Preservation Committee (AACPC) is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay & Elocution Contest open to all students of the CNMI.

The theme of this year’s Essay & Elocution Competition is “What Would Martin Say?”

We’d like to request that the attached information be shared with all schools within the CNMI.

Thank you


Joe Hill
The African American Cultural Preservation Committee


Contacts:
• Mr. Samuel Joyner, Kagman, Elementary School;
• Mr. Ambrose Bennett; Kagman High School;
• Walt Goodridge; Tel.
• Mrs. Hilda Joyner; Chacha Oceanview Jr. High;

Entries may also be submitted via email to mlkcontest@welovesaipan.com,

---

ESSAY CONTEST: Topic: WHAT WOULD MARTIN SAY?

Barack Obama has won the 2008 election for president of the United States of America.
What do you think civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. would say? What would he say to the American people, to the world, to president-elect Obama himself? Do you have a creative way to answer that question? If so, share it with the CNMI! Submit your answer for the CNMI’s 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration, for prizes and prestige!

CRITERIA:
• Essay must be relevant to theme; double-spaced, typed; 12pt font
• Essay must be well-written (follow proper conventions of language, usage and grammar)
• Include Student’s Name, School, Grade Level, Teacher’s Name, and Principal’s name
• Each school is allowed to submit 3 entries per Grade Level category.
-3rd to 5th Grade: 150-250 words
-6th to 8th Grade: 250-350 words
-9th to 12th Grade: 350-500 words
PRIZES:
• One winner will be selected for each grade level.
• A prize of $100 will be awarded to the three overall winners; consolation prizes to others.
Among other prizes to be announced, winners of the contest will receive:
- Freedom Fighter Award (An MLK legacy award honoring youth as well as adults)
- Excerpts of their essay published in local media
- On-stage recognition during the MLK Day Rally & Presentation scheduled for Memorial Park
- various gift certificates, coupons & free passes donated by local businesses

SUBMISSION:
Participants are asked to inform their teachers of their intent to compete in the contest as soon as possible.
Students may enter EITHER the Essay OR the Elocution portion of the contest, but not both.
Teachers are asked to judge all entries and submit 3 finalists per grade level category.
Entries will be collected from your school or must be delivered by Monday, December 15, 2008 to:
• Mr. Samuel Joyner, Kagman, Elementary School;
• Mr. Ambrose Bennett; Kagman High School;
• Walt Goodridge;
• Mrs. Hilda Joyner; Chacha Oceanview Jr. High;

Entries may also be submitted via email to mlkcontest@welovesaipan.com

---

ELOCUTION CONTEST: Topic: WHAT WOULD MARTIN SAY?


Barack Obama has won the 2008 election for president of the United States of America.
What do you think civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. would say? What would he say to the American people, to the world, to president-elect Obama himself? Do you have a creative way to answer that question? CAN YOU DELIVER IT IN A MEMORIZED SPEECH LIKE MARTIN WOULD? If so, share it with the CNMI! Enter the ELOCUTION COMPETITION as part of CNMI’s 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration, for prizes and prestige!

CRITERIA:
• Imagine YOU are Martin Luther King Jr, and give the speech just as he might
• Appropriate gestures, confidence, feeling, enunciation, and interpretive excellence are the prime criteria for this competition.
• Maximum time: five minutes; Students are encouraged to top-end limit of allowable time.
• Each school is requested to submit 3 entries per Grade Level category.
-3rd to 5th Grade; 6th to 8th Grade; 9th to 12th Grade

SUBMISSION:
Participants are asked to inform their teachers of their intent to compete in the contest as soon as possible.
Students may enter EITHER the Essay OR the Elocution portion of the contest, but not both.
Names of entrants may be submitted via email to mlkcontest@welovesaipan.com

DEADLINE:
Schools are asked to FORM A JUDGING COMMITTEE to judge all entrants and submit the names of the 3 finalists per grade level category by Dec 15, 2008. Contest judging will be on January 10, 2009. Location to be announced. Questions may be directed to:
• Mr. Samuel Joyner, Kagman, Elementary School;
• Mr. Ambrose Bennett; Kagman High School;
• Walt Goodridge;
• Mrs. Hilda Joyner; Chacha Oceanview Jr. High;

PRIZES:
• One winner will be selected for each grade level.
• A prize of $100 will be awarded to the three overall winners; consolation prizes to others.
Among other prizes to be announced, winners of the contest will receive:
- Freedom Fighter Award (An MLK legacy award honoring youth as well as adults)
- Excerpts of their essay published in local media
- On-stage recognition during the MLK Day Rally & Presentation scheduled for Memorial Park
- various gift certificates, coupons & free passes donated by local businesses