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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><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'>CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES <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'>HONORED AS A KARAMU HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE<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%'><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 – June 24, 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'> </span></font></span><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Congresswoman Stephanie
Tubbs Jones, the first African-American woman from Ohio elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives, will receive an honor from her hometown on June 28,
when she is inducted into the Karamu Hall of Fame. <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'>Jones
is an ardent supporter of arts in education and has been instrumental in
securing significant federal money through the U.S. Department of Justice for
cultural arts youth programs at Karamu House.<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'>In
2000, she conducted a student art competition for local students. The artwork
was exhibited in Karamu ’s Concert Hall. The winning works were displayed
with others from around the country for several months at the U.S. Capitol in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place>
<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'>Jones
is a lifelong resident of the 11<sup>th</sup> District, which includes most of
the city’s east side, a portion of the west side and parts of 22 suburbs.
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>Currently serving her fifth term in office, Jones has
championed wealth-building and economic development, access and delivery of
health care and quality education for everyone. <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'>Her
list of first-ever accomplishments includes becoming the first African-American
woman to chair the House Ethics Committee and to serve on the powerful Ways and
Means Committee. She is an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus and
numerous federal legislative groups. <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'>Prior
to her election to the House, Jones served as the first African-American and
the first female <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cuyahoga</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> prosecutor. She
was the first African-American woman to sit on the Common Pleas bench in <st1:State
w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State> and sat as a municipal judge in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>.<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'>Jones
has received numerous honors, including the National Bible Association Capitol
Hill Distinguished Leadership Award, Human Rights Campaign of Cleveland
Equality Award, Backbone Campaign's Backbone Award and the Carib News
Multi-National Business Conference Marcus Garvey Award.<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'>“If These Walls Could Talk” is the theme of
this year’s Karamu Hall of Fame event , which will be held on June 28 at
20/20 in the Flats. James Pickens of television’s “Grey’s
Anatomy” and entertainer Kym Whitley, will serve as event co-hosts.
Pickens and Whitley are also Clevelanders and Karamu alums.<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'>In addition to Jones, Karamu will induct actors Al
Fann, Jean E. Hawkins and <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText3><span class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%'>R. Joyce Whitley, playwright Langston
Hughes, artistic directors Helmuth Wolfes and Benno D. Frank and former artistic
director Kenneth E. Snipes. 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'>Prior to the induction ceremony, Hawkins, Fann, Headd,
Pickens and Kym Whitley will field audience questions during “Inside the
Performer’s Dressing Room” at Karamu. NewsNet 5 anchor Danita
Harris Pratt will moderate the free event at Karamu. <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'>Event sponsors include Medical Mutual of Ohio, The
Cleveland Clinic, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">National City</st1:City></st1:place>
Bank, Gross Builders, KeyBank, Positively Cleveland, the Plain Dealer and the
David Group.<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'>Tickets 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>. <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. The name Karamu is Swahili for “a place
of joyful gathering.” Nestled in an urban community, the center offers
additional services, including an early childhood development center,
after-school programs, cultural and arts education outreach and senior citizen
activities.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;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'>---</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.</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><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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