The City of Ocala Presents...

ONE OCALA ONE AMERICA Week to celebrate racial harmony and cultural awareness.

Mission:

Bring together diverse citizens to promote racial harmony, encourage appreciation and respect for cultural differences and to spotlight racial and cultural issues that need to be addressed in our community.

History:

One Ocala One America is an outgrowth of the National League of Cities campaign to promote racial justice that started in 1999 at the urging of Bob Knight, mayor of Wichita. An advisory council undertook a yearlong exploration of the topic of racism and produced the 1999 Futures Report, Undoing Racism: Fairness and Justice in America's Cities and Towns. When Mayor Knight took over as President of the National League of Cities in December of 1999, he called on all local leaders to join the Campaign to Promote Racial Justice. In early 2003 Ocala decided it wanted to participate in a major way this year. With City Council's blessing, Councilwoman Mary Sue Rich formed a task force in order to put on this major community event. The task force decided Ocala's week should focus on racial harmony and cultural understanding and the name One Ocala One America was chosen as the theme.

Task Force:

An active volunteer task force of over 40 citizens has been planning this week for over six months. The Racial Harmony and Cultural Awareness Task Force will ensure that this observance is inclusive of the entire community. The Community Programs and Public Affairs Departments are working closely with Councilwoman Rich to support the week's events.

For additional information, contact Jenilee Tomlinson at 352-629-8444,
or email jtomlinson@ocalafl.org