Under the theme, "Celebrando la diversidad", NIIC 2012 will get a jump start with the first ever New Americans Street Festival on historic Eutaw Street at the intersection of Pratt Street, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Lt. Governor Anthony Brown will deliver the keynote address at the festival, that also features an awe-inspiring Naturalization Ceremony, during which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Associate Director Rendell Jones, will administer the Oath of Allegiance to 50 candidates for citizenship.
The celebration of diversity continues with cultural and vocal presentations by performers from around the state, accented by introductions of the Governor's Ethnic and Cultural Commissions. Performers include the Maryland Indian Tourism Association, Mabuhay Inc., the Howard County Chinese School, Bailes de Mi Tierra, Natananjali School of Dance and the St. Veronica's Steel Drum Orchestra and more. The New Americans Street Festival is sponsored by the Governor's Office on Community Initiatives, the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, the Department of Human Resources and the Baltimore Hilton Hotel.
Port Discovery Children's Museum, the Maryland Insurance Administration, the Baltimore Hilton Hotel are among the vendors that will provide a backdrop for this celebratory family-friendly event, that is FREE and open to the public.
Governor Martin O'Malley, Ben Jealous, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas are featured speakers at the conference, along with a wide range of panel experts.
For more information on the New Americans Street Festival contact the Governor's Ethnic Commissions Office at 410-767-2937. For more information on NIIC 2012, visit www.
