CHICAGO –State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) hosts the 4th year anniversary naming of
Mandela Road and Mandela birthday celebration on July 18th at 10:30 a.m at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Cicero Avenue (Mandela Road) in Chicago. Commander Betts, 15th Police District, will also join the celebration in a effort to raise peace in Austin, and talk about CPD's new crime fighting technology. In addition to the celebration, Rep Ford will unveil Chicago's only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's statue on Chicago Avenue and Cicero Avenue.
Nelson Mandela International Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on July 18, via
unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly in 2009. It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now”. The celebration is intended to be more than a celebration of Madiba’s life and legacy, but a global movement to honor his life’s work and act to change the world for the better.
To honor the late South African statesman, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and First President of the post-apartheid South Africa, Nelson Mandela, State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, introduced a House Joint Resolution in 2014 designating the portion of Cicero Avenue from Grand Avenue to Roosevelt Road as Mandela Road. The resolution passed both the House and the Senate in unanimous, bipartisan votes. The dedication of the naming of Mandela Road occurred on July 18, 2014, Mandela’s birthday.
“Mandela and King stood for peace, and with the crime and violence high in the Austin community, we will
celebrate President Nelson Mandela's birthday and the 4th Anniversary of the naming of Mandela Road with a day of service,” said Ford. Celebration activities include youth marching bands, dancing, and a push to stop the violence on the West Side of Chicago. The unveiling of Chicago's only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's statue on Chicago Avenue and Cicero Avenue will be part of the festivities.
“On July 18th we will honor President Mandela, and will join the movement of change-makers and do our part
to in the spirit of Madiba and his vision to spread social justice and freedom for all - this is our chance to become a part of a continuous global movement for good,” said Ford. “Let us all emulate the servant leader we loved by becoming servant leaders ourselves. By becoming a Mandela Day change-maker and doing something that effects positive change every day, we can show that actions speak louder than words.”
For more information, contact one of Ford’s constituent service offices: 816 S. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park
at 708-445-3673, 4800 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago at 773-378-5902 or in the Stratton Office Building in
Springfield at 217-782-5962, or visit www.lashawnford.com.