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Photo of Katherine Mary Dunham, dancer, choreographer, songwriter, author, educator, activist (June 22, 1909 - May 21, 2006). East St. Louis Post Office Renamed in Honor of Choreographer Katherine M. Dunham by Bob Moore, SWI-News.com EAST ST. LOUIS, IL, (SWI-News.com), June 18, 2007 - Katherine Mary Dunham has been called the Matriarch and the Queen Mother of Black Dance. Today, in a special dedication ceremony, the East St. Louis Post Office was renamed in her honor. Local and state officials, representatives from the Post Office, and residents gathered at the facility, located at 950 Missouri Avenue in East St. Louis. The East St. Louis Post Office serves an East St. Louis population of 31,542 and a Fairview Heights population of 15,034. Postmaster Dorothy Robertson oversees 122 employees. With the renaming of the Post Office, which was established in 1826, Katherine Dunham will be be remembered as someone who also touched many lives. The dancer, choreographer, songwriter, author, educator, activist, who died in 2006 after a long illness, left her mark on East St. Louis with a community-based arts education program called the Katherine Dunham Centers for the Arts and Humanities. Efforts are underway to preserve Haitian and African instruments and artifacts from her personal collection. Young dancers from the Katherine Dunham Children's Workshop performed prior to the dedication ceremony. Following the dedication, East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. told this reporter, "Anytime you can have someone of the magnitude of Katherine Dunham being a part of something positive in East St. Louis, it's a wonderful occasion. We love marrying up the positive of Katherine Dunham with something as important as the Post Office. I'm very proud to have the honor of it being held right here in East St. Louis." Mayor Parks said that the Katherine Dunham Museum and Children's Workshop was going well. "I love the way they are keeping up the grounds. We wish them nothing but the best in their efforts. We plan to be a part of the cleanup and restoration." Danita Aquiningoe, District Manager, USPS, stated that she was happy that the postal service was an important part of the East St. Louis community. She noted that it was a long process to have the Post Office renamed in honor of Katherine Dunham. "Senator Barack Obama started the process in 2006 so that it could be approved by an Act of Congress," said Aquiningoe. (Left) East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. and former Mayor Carl Officer attending dedication ceremony. (right) (L to R) Danita Aquiningoe, District Manager, USPS, Congressman William "Lacy" Clay, Jr. and Congressman Jerry F. Costello unveiled a plague during a special ceremony in which the East St. Louis Post Office building was renamed in honor of Katherine Dunham. Archived Stories: Eddie Fisher & The Next One Hundred Years "Break Word with the World" Celebrates Release of Drumvoices Revue Landmark Eads Bridge Has Reopened, So How Do Motorists Access It? Annual Black Literary Heritage Symposium to Present 'Linkages' Miles'Ville Meets Kwanzaa 2002 Metro East Merchants Learn How the Fusion of 'Hip Hop' Culture Is Driving Revenue and Their Businesses "Get Fit With Five" Program Features Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee Olympic Spirit Burns at Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Club Miles 2001 Festival Draws Thousands of Jazz Fans MetroLink Extension in St. Clair County Opens East St. Louis Library Built Brick by Brick Home Team Helps Two St. Louis-area Families Achieve Dream of Home Ownership Habitat for Humanity JJK B&G Grand Opening Mayor Christens Crown Hotel Happy Birthday, Katherine Dunham New Library For East St. Louis MetroLink Brings Viability to East St. Louis JJK Youth Center Is a Dream Come True Return to Southwest Illinois News Southwest Illinois News & Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2007 Moore Design Group.

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