The Heart of the Home Comes to the 2006 NAACP National Convention

Homes of Color magazine, the first national shelter or “home” magazine for African-Americans, and IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, have partnered to celebrate the kitchen and family room as the heart and hearth of the home and the nucleus of African-American living. The 1,500 square foot Home and Heritage Exhibit premieres July 15 at the Commerce and Industry Show at the NAACP 2006 National Convention in Washington, D.C. An opening log-saw ceremony attended by dignitaries from the NAACP, Homes of Color, IKEA and the Washington, D.C. Diplomatic Corps begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

(PRWEB) July 15, 2006 -- Homes of Color magazine, the first national shelter or “home” magazine for African-Americans, and IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, have partnered to celebrate the kitchen and family room as the heart and hearth of the home and the nucleus of African-American living.

The 1,500 square foot Home and Heritage Exhibit premieres July 15 at the Commerce and Industry Show at the NAACP 2006 National Convention in Washington, D.C. An opening log-saw ceremony attended by dignitaries from the NAACP, Homes of Color, IKEA and the Washington, D.C. Diplomatic Corps begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

“The exhibit speaks to the importance of family in the African-American community,” states publisher Corriece Perkins Gwynn. “By focusing on home and heritage, we believe that we can convey the essence of the important social, political and cultural role the NAACP has historically played in our communities nationwide. IKEA has been a terrific partner for us, and we look forward to celebrating four years of publishing with a partner in tune with providing innovative, functional and affordable home furnishings.”

Renowned architect Josiane Raphael and IKEA kitchen planners and interior designers combined creative talents to seamlessly blend a kitchen, family room and outdoor living room into one spectacular demonstration of the latest in kitchen design and home furnishings, but more importantly, a space that is mindful of the home as the foundation of the African-American family.

“We’re proud to have worked with Homes of Color to bring this experience to the NAACP Convention,” said Pernille Lopez, President, IKEA North America “At IKEA, we believe that home truly is the most important place in the world. And, as one of the world’s leading global companies, we know this is true the world over. Just as African-Americans gather in their homes to celebrate life’s most important milestones as well as everyday moments, we hope the Home and Heritage Exhibit will become a gathering place for NAACP Convention-goers.”

The Home and Heritage Exhibit will be host to a variety of free activities and events during the Commerce and Industry Show, including workshops and demonstrations by IKEA co-worker and HGTV host, Chelsea Norton as well as other home décor workshops.

The Commerce and Industry Show will be held Saturday, July 15 through Tuesday, July 18, 2006, at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. Commerce and Industry Show hours:

Saturday, July 15, 2006—2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Sunday, July 16, 2006—10:00am to 6:00 pm
Monday, July 17, 2006—10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday, July 18, 2006—10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Contributing Sponsors:

Home Depot
Southwest Airlines
Black and Decker
Glory Foods
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Valspar Paint
June Harrison Tiles

About Homes of Color Magazine
Named one of the top 30 magazine launches for 2002, Homes of Color is the first nationwide “shelter” or home magazine in the United States dedicated to showcasing the living styles of African Americans. The bi-monthly magazine was created to capture the spirit and vitality of the African-American home.
The Home and Heritage Exhibit premieres July 15 at the Commerce and Industry Show at the NAACP 2006 National Convention in Washington, D.C. An opening log-saw ceremony attended by dignitaries from the NAACP, Homes of Color, IKEA and the Washington, D.C. Diplomatic Corps begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

Homes of Color highlights the works of prominent African-American architects, designers, artists, gardeners, developers and preservationists. The magazine is available on newsstands nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Borders Bookstores, Barnes and Noble Bookstores and a variety of independent Black bookstores. Visit www.homesofcolor.net for additional information on the magazine. Also look for Homes of Color articles on www.aolblackvoices.com.

About IKEA
IKEA has 236 stores in 34 countries, including 28 in the U.S. The company offers a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA has been ranked in FORTUNE’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” List (two years in a row), Working Mother magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” (three years in a row) and Training magazine’s annual “Top 100” ranking of companies that excel at human capital development (four years in a row). IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly, socially responsible and cultural diversity efforts into day-to-day business, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. To visit the IKEA Web site or for information about working at IKEA, please go to http://www.IKEA-usa.com.

If you plan on attending the log-saw ceremony and media preview or if you would like to preview the exhibit, please call Aisha Davis or Inez Saki-Tay of DESHO Productions at 202.508.1045. Friends in the media will be required to display press credentials.

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