African-American festival will be held at arts center BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer Sharon Brown helped to make a small dream become a big reality. Brown, a Freehold Township resident, is one of the founders of the African- American Arts and Heritage Festival which will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the PNC Bank Arts Center, on the Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, on Sept. 15. The festival offers free admission and will be held from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. rain or shine. Brown, who has participated in the festival from its beginning in 1987, said she has always been interested in the arts and in helping the African-American community. She became involved in the effort when she met Clinton Crocker, of Red Bank, at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, where he was giving a presentation. According to material provided by Brown, Crocker had envisioned a major festival which would reflect the African- American pride and presence in New Jersey. He assembled a group of artists, educators and business people with a mission to produce a festival at the arts center. With his background in the arts, including experience at the Garden State Arts Center and Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts, he guided the first committee in laying a foundation which would allow the festival to survive obstacles in its early development and grow into a commitment to present the beauty and artistic excellence of African- American culture. "He had a vision which I shared," Brown said, "to provide scholarships for African-American youth, to expose the community to the rich African-American culture and all the wonderful accomplishments that the African-American community has made." The festival has grown over the years, adding a Junior Olympics, an arts and cultural heritage pavilion, a gospel show, a youth activities arts and crafts section, a health and wellness pavilion, and a nonprofit section. This year Brown will see her vision become a reality with the addition of a college fair at the festival. Representatives from colleges such as Alabama A&M University, Fisk University, Tennessee, Morgan State University, Maryland, Tuskegee University, Alabama, Southern University, Louisiana, Central State University, Ohio, and the Richard Stockton State College of New Jersey will be on hand to offer assistance and information to guests. A representative from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will offer advice on financial assistance matters. A plaza stage show has been added and will feature Valerie Adams and the Dimensions Band, illusionist Philip Jennings, Jason, "Malletman" Taylor, IweIewa Heritage Dance Ensemble performing African dance, and the Reggae Experience Band. The festival will feature cuisines influenced by cooking methods and spices of the African continent. Speaking about the festival, Brown said, "As an educator and a dancer and one interested in the culture of my heritage, I was interested in helping to make this vision a reality." It was an uphill climb in the beginning, according to Brown, who said that everyone involved worked hard to bring this vision to fruition. The initial work for the festival included meetings between committee members and members of then-Gov. Thomas Kean's office, as well as members of the agency which runs the Garden State Parkway and owns the arts center. Brown made special mention of Julian Robinson, who sat on the parkway agency at the time when organizers were trying to create the festival. She said Robinson was instrumental in helping to bring the festival to fruition. One of the primary aims of the festival is to raise funds to help African- American youths with their education. Brown said the festival hopes to yield enough funds to provide 10 youths with between $500 and $700. For years the organizers presented five scholarships at each festival. Now they are providing 10 scholarships per year, according to Brown. "This year we lost a very important member of our team," Brown said, referring to Gerald S. Jackson of Plainfield. "We are presenting a $1,000 scholarship in his name. Gerald was our "It" man, but he truly was a "quiet storm." He had a positive approach to everything. We would see an idea and we'd ask what he thought and he would say, 'Try it. Why not?' He got everything done without even knowing it and he was a positive role model for our youth." Community service awards will be presented to Robert Harrison, Long Branch, publisher and editor of African Shore magazine; Avery Grant, Long Branch School District Board of Education member, who Brown said has served on a variety of civic boards and organizations; Julia Straughter, Neptune; Bernadette Guyton, a teacher in Edison who Brown said has helped many young people follow a positive path; and Carl Williams, Asbury Park, owner of Mr. Fashion. Williams initiated the Asbury Park Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. Local residents Lorraine Ramsy, Freehold Township, Sheryl Mott, Freehold Borough, and artist Christopher Kortez Robinson, Freehold Borough, are on the festival committee. Kortez Robinson will once again be a featured artist at the event. Brown formerly taught at the Freehold Intermediate School, Freehold Borough, and the Eisenhower Middle School, Freehold Township. Brown, who sustained a serious injury in an accident, said, "I realize the life I once had is gone, but I am in the process of making a new life now. I cannot do much walking but I can certainly make phone calls and make things happen that way. A positive approach to living and peace of mind are in my survival kit now."