Catholic Charities is teaming up with the organizers of the City of Tampa’s Dr. Martin Luther King Day Parade*. Catholic Charities Immigration Services will participate in the lead event during a week of activity aimed at celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King with the goal of displaying the beautiful diversity and community spirit of the Tampa Bay Area. Thousands will line the streets of the two-mile MLK Day Parade route that winds through East Tampa beginning at Cuscaden Park and ending at Middleton High School.
Catholic Charities Immigration Services, which provides assistance to those individuals who wish to immigrate to the United States and become citizens, is participating in this year’s walk through its sponsorship of a nonprofit group – International Academy of Sports Foundation – founded by one of its employees, Ms. Wanda Johnson, who is the group’s President. The groups’ goals are to:
- recognize the importance of integrating our world and helping our youth experience the act of working together as we help achieve unity through the blending of nationalities
- identify international competitions in which our young, local athletes can participate with the goal of integrating the athletes in order to develop bonds of partnership. These experiences may help our student-athletes attend college stateside or in foreign locations.
- work towards a process of development and guidance for our student athletes in order to aid them in achieving their goals as amateurs or professionally in sports. It will also assist them with their academics and ultimately their final future careers.
The parade grows larger and is better every year, attracting bands from as far away as Kingston, Jamaica. The 28th Annual City of Tampa Martin Luther King Day Parade will be held on Monday, January 16, 2017 and begins at 12:00 noon. The MLK Day parade is family friendly, entertaining, and fun. It’s also an opportunity for the businesses, social and community groups that make this city strong to come out and be recognized, while supporting a common cause. Come out early and grab a good spot!
