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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Karamu House,
Inc.</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><strong><b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>2355 East 89th Street</span></font></b></strong></st1:Street></st1:address><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><strong><b><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>Cleveland</span></font></b></strong></st1:City><strong><b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State w:st="on">OH</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">44106</st1:PostalCode></span></font></b></strong></st1:place></st1:address></span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>216-795-7070<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Contact: Vivian C. Wilson<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> 216.795.7070 x 215<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> </span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>CELEBRITIES JAMES PICKENS JR. AND KYM
WHITLEY TO HOST <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>KARAMU HOUSE 2008 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION ON
JUNE 28 <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><span class=style6><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>CLEVELAND</span></font></b></span></st1:City></st1:place><span
class=style6><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> – March 27, 2008
–</span></font></b></span><span class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'> ABC-TV’s
“Grey’s Anatomy” actor James Pickens Jr. and versatile
entertainer Kym Whitley will co-host the 3rd Annual Karamu House Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony on June 28 at the newly opened and avant-garde restaurant,
20/20 in the Flats.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>Pickens and Whitley, both Clevelanders and Karamu
alumni, will travel to <st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City> from <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City></st1:place>, where they
have successful careers in the entertainment industry. The performers are
returning to their hometown to help the city honor fellow Karamu alumni, many
of whom have reached national and international acclaim on stage and behind the
scenes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Lucida Calligraphy"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy"'>"</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>So much history is
contained within Karamu's walls,” said <span class=style6>Cuyahoga County
Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones</span>. “It is a privilege to serve
once again as the chairman of an event that has not only proven to be the
performing arts center's major annual fundraiser but has also become the
primary means of sharing Karamu’s rich legacy with the broader
community. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Quite
frankly, what other local event could attract such talented actors as James
Pickens Jr. and Kym Whitley as its co-hosts?" Jones said.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'> “If These Walls Could Talk” is the theme
of this year’s event, which will pay tribute to:<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Actor Al Fann in the National Legend-Living category<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Playwright Langston Hughes (National Legend-Posthumous)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Actor Jean “Granny” Hawkins (Local Legend-Living)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Directors Benno Frank and Helmuth Wolfes (Local Legends-Posthumous)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
</div>
<span class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><br clear=all style='page-break-before:
always'>
</span></font></span>
<div class=Section2>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>R. Joyce Whitley (Fine Arts)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (Benefactor)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Ken Snipes (Administrator). <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:
150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span class=style6><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Actor Katrice Monee Headd will receive the “On the Rise”
award, an honor reserved for the next generation of Karamu stars.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>A weekend of homecoming activities is planned around
the induction ceremony, beginning on Friday, June 27, with an alumni reunion at
Karamu. On Saturday, Pickens, Whitley and other esteemed alumni will field
audience questions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Karamu during “Inside the
Performer’s Dressing Room.” NewsNet 5 anchor Danita Harris Pratt
will moderate the free event. The induction ceremony and dinner will begin
later in the evening at 6 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Karamu
holds the honor as the country’s oldest multicultural theater and can
trace its humble origins to 1915, when founders Russell and Rowena Jelliffe
acted upon a revolutionary idea considered absurd by many. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>The
Jelliffes married shortly after graduating from the progressive <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Oberlin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType>,
located just west of downtown <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>.
They each dreamed of using the fine arts as a vehicle for promoting interracial
understanding, engendering respect for different cultures and the cornerstone
for creating a venue where artists of all nationalities could perform without
deference to race, creed or color. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>The
white couple’s vision, extraordinary during a period of widely accepted segregation,
led to the creation of Karamu, a Swahili word meaning “a place of joyful
gathering.” Located deep within the inner city, the joyful gathering
place is now home to a world-renowned theater and offers additional services to
the community, including an early childhood development center, after-school
programs, cultural and arts education outreach and senior citizen activities. <span
class=style6><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>Tickets to the induction ceremony are available by
calling Vivian C. Wilson at 216.795.7070, ext. 215, or by visiting Karamu’s
Web site at <a href="http://www.karamu.com">www.karamu.com</a>. </span></font></span><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>Karamu House has been an important part of the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> community for
nearly a century. From a unique vantage-point within the African-American
community, Karamu has fostered true interracial understanding and cooperation,
an awareness of cultural diversity and an appreciation for the rich
African-American cultural heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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