Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 16 July 1998 — Page 3

JOB FAIR, FROM PG !

they have. We are trying to do the same thing here.” In a separate interview, McLaren said many people eschew visits to the doctor or medical clinic because they have experienced multiple needle jabs to draw blood. “Martin Center from Indianapolis will conduct a one-stick blood draw. That means blood will be drawn one for all blood tests, instead of doing numerous draws for each test. This makes it easier for those who don’t want their blood drawn. Many people don’t want to come to health fairs for fear of being stuck many times,” she said. “This time it’s all done at one time. Once we have done

VILLAGE, FROM PG !

community,” Smith said. Tickets, Smith said, are “only $4 per person. They are sold to the first 120 people to request. It’s unlikely any tickets will be sold at the door. In the past, tickets have sold out early. If you want to enjoy this special night you better get your tickets early.” The tickets are available from The Muncie Times and from the Minnetrista Cultural Center. Although Village Celebration is sponsored by the Minnetrista Cultural Center’s African American Council, the dinner and the other events are open to all Muncie and Delaware County residents. “We are inviting everybody, people from all walks of life, to come and join us and participate in something

PRINCE, FROM PG I

He said he has been playing since he was 3. Adeniyi said it was his grandfather who taught him how to make drums, a heritage that he brought to the United States where he plays regularly at schools. “In Nigeria, music is the manifestation of culture. My grandparents were highly revered master drummers

that, the blood will be tested for various things, such as sickle cell (anemia), HIV, diabetes. It will all come from that one draw. One of the things that the Muncie Black Expo wants to do is to help people live better lives. Many health problems can be prevented through early detection.” About 38 different medical screening and testing will be done at the fair. McLaren said the Minority Health Coalition, Little Red Door and Pathologist Associates would be working together during the fair to provide a reduced fee for prostate blood screening. “The fair will stay open until 7 p.m. to make it possible for those who get off

work late, at 4 or 5 p.m. to be able to come and attend the fair and take advantage of what it has to offer. “I am hoping that up to 1,000 people will be able to attend this year’s fair. Last year about 300 people attended. If we could double that I would be happy. But 1,000 would make me even happier,” McLaren said. “I am hoping that free rides will increase the numbers. MITS has agreed to provide free bus transportation that day to people going or coming from the Health and Employment Fair.” Both Foster and McLaren said a number of major employers had committed to attending the Employment Fair.

“We’re thrilled that MITS has agreed to provide free transportation to those who want to come to the fair. Under one roof we shall provide health screening as well as employment opportunities for Muncie and Delaware County residents,” said McLaren. Added Foster, “The Muncie Black Expo Employment Fair is 3 year old. The Horizon Center is much easier for many inner city residents, especially African American, to get to than any other location in the city. We expect a lot of participation this year, especially in view of the fact that so many jobs have been lost in Muncie. Many people are unemployed as a result of that. “The Employment Fair is

acie Times, July 16,1998, Page 3 important for connecting prospective employees with prospective employers. We encourage anyone and everyone to take advantage of the Health and Employment Fair, to come to the Horizon Center for medical screening and also to talk to employers about possible jobs. “We’re looking forward to a very successful Health and Employment Fair this year.” WLBC radio station will be broadcasting live from the Horizon Center during the fair, said McLaren. Motivational speaker Dee Hartman will be the keynote speaker at the noon luncheon on Aug. 6, followed by Marilyn Scales of Hoosier Healthwise for Children Insurance at the 1:30 p.m. lunch.

“We are inviting everybody, people from all walks of life, to come and join us and participate in something positive. We welcome all people to this celebration. It is a wonderful opportunity to come and join the African American Council in learning something about us, our culture and our heritage. ” Benita K. Smith Muncie Housing Authority Executive Director

positive. We welcome all people to this celebration,” Smith said. “It is a wonderful opportunity to come and join the African American Council in learning something about us, our culture and our heritage.” Smith said the two-day event will also feature music by the Chromatics, an India-napolis-based band, Munciebased Nu Soul & Nu Destination and other local groups. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 1 there will be a Muncie Children’s Museum booth

where youngsters can make masks or be entertained by clowns, mimes and dance groups from throughout the city. “There will also be a drill team showcase, where various drill teams will show their talent, but there will be no judging,” she said. There will also be baking and barbecuing contests, with prizes to the first, second and third-place finishers in each category. The barbecuing will be on site. Participants in the baking contests are ex-

pected to bring covered dishes. Vendors and the baking and barbecuing participants will be stationed outside Minnetrista. Inside the center will be displays of African art and artifacts. Smith said the Village Celebration was started 3 years ago as an opportunity to share information about African Americans, their heritage, culture and contributions. “It remains that, an opportunity to showcase informa-

tion about ourselves. It is an opportunity to present publicly what some of us may know privately. It gives us an opportunity to bring about broader awareness in the general community who we are and what some of our people have done and achieved,” Smith said. “This is a chance to promote better understanding in the community. “This year there will also be an exhibit of local talent and the honoring of local people who have done something, such as the first minority in this field or that. Some of these displays will be available in the Indiana Room of the Minnestrista Cultural Center.” For more information, call the Minnetrista Cultural Center at 282-4848 or The Muncie Times at 741-0037.

and native herbahsts and they gave me the deep understanding of Yoruba culture and tradition,” he said. “I was taught that artistic excellence forbids artificial performance and that there will never be any textbook capable of doing justice to what was originally a vibrant, oral tradition, “Being a master drummer, my family’s ancestral culture and tradition inspired me to propagate and disseminate

the Yoruba culture in ait forms to the people of Indiana... In traditional Yoruba culture, music and dance are significant educational tools to advance the traditional objectives of the society. “After spending 17 years of my life in Indianapolis, I have maintained my Nigerian culture and tradition.” Adeniyi said he is a prince because his father was a king.

“In Nigeria, music is the manifestation of culture. My grandparents were highly revered master drummers and native herbalists and they gave me the deep understanding of Yoruba culture and tradition. ”

Julius Adeniyi Nigerian-born Prince