News Release

Kwanzaa Celebration with Chocolate Me Illustrator

Date: December 14, 2012

Contact: Angela Estep
Phone number: [phone]

Topeka, KS - Award-winning illustrator and storyteller Shane Evans will bring Kwanzaa to life on Friday, December 21, 2012, at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. The event will begin with a book signing at 3 p.m., immediately followed by the Kwanzaa celebration at 4:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to dress up in Afrocentric or celebratory outfits.

Evans will use his talents to incorporate discussion, music and dance to teach about the holiday that is celebrated by millions in communities of African heritage throughout the world promoting family, community and culture. Evans, an artist from Kansas City, will also be offering an additional program "Chocolate Me" for the students at Williams Science and Fine Art Elementary Magnet School. Evans' appearance in Topeka is part of a partnership between the National Park Service and the Families Empowered from Additional Teaching of Students (F.E.A.T.S.) program.

Books available for autographs include Chocolate Me, Nobody's Gonna Turn Me Around, No More and Free at Last. Western National Park Association will be offering a 15% holiday discount on the day of the program on all merchandise.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site tells the story of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation in public schools. The site is located at 1515 SE Monroe Street in Topeka, Kansas, and is open free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. For more information call [phone] or visit www.nps.gov/brvb and www.facebook.com/brownvboardnps.