[Archived] Charles Houston Recreation Center Naming Committee Extends Deadline Seeking Nominations

For Immediate Release: September 22, 2010

The Ad Hoc Charles Houston Recreation Center Naming Committee, established to honor individuals who made outstanding contributions to Alexandria’s African American community by dedicating recreation center rooms in their honor, has extended the deadline to submit nominations of honorees for a second round of dedications to Wednesday, October 20.

Specifically, the Committee seeks nominees who fit the following criteria: People who participated in the struggle to advance African Americans economically, socially, educationally, and religiously from the 1920s to 1965, who have made

• a doctrinal or technical contribution;
• an innovation with an identifiable impact on Alexandria's African American community;
• efforts that were an inspiration to others;
• any combination of the above that records the excellence of their achievements for posterity.

The goal of the committee, composed mostly of former students of the Parker-Gray School, and other Alexandria schools attended by African American students before integration, is to preserve the history of those whose hard work left a legacy for others to emulate.

Nomination packets may be mailed or dropped off to RPCA, c/o Jack Browand, Division Chief, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Nominations must be received in person or postmarked by Wednesday, October 20.  For more information or to receive assistance in submitting an application, contact Jack Browand at 703.746.5504 or by email at jack.browand@alexandriava.gov.