TRAE THA TRUTH NAMED CO-GRAND MARSHAL OF HOUSTON'S 3RD ANNUAL MLK DAY YOUTH PARADE

HONOR GIVEN IN RECOGNITION OF HIS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY

Houston, TX - The city of Houston has acknowledged the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in such a way that over the past 15 years, its events have grown into the nation's largest celebration of the now-official holiday and for the past three years, those celebrations have broadened to include a Youth Parade in addition to the MLK Day Grande Parade. In recognition of his many contributions to the community and to the young people in his city, Houston rap artist Trae Tha Truth has been chosen as Co-Grand Marshal of this year's MLK Day Youth Parade, along with Praise 92.1 FM talk show host, Brother Larry Jones.

Trae's service to the city of Houston has included everything from an inspirational prison tour, to free concerts, donations of every kind and his tireless relief work alongside Mayor Bill White and Council Member Peter Brown; with whom Trae is riding in the MLK Day Grande Parade, during Houston's most recent major disaster, Hurricane Ike. The city itself has been so impressed with Trae's commitment to his city that he was honored this past July with his own day by Proclamation of the Mayor and Peter Brown; July 22nd, the first time this honor was given to a rap artist.

The MLK Parade Foundation–Houston will host its 3rd Annual MLK Day youth Parade – Houston on Saturday, January 17, 2009 in Downtown-Houston beginning @ 12:00PM. The Parade’s Theme “The Color of Unity” will emphasize cultural diversity, and will feature more than forty (40) award-winning marching bands from across the nation and twenty (20) parade floats.

The 2009 MLK Day Youth Parade will be lead by The Crenshaw High School Marching Band, Los Angeles, CA, The Wossman High School Marching Band, Monroe, LA, The Justin Kimball High School Marching Band, Dallas, TX, and The Booker T.Washington High School Marching Band, Shreveport, LA.

The Honorees for the 3rd Annual MLK Day Youth Parade-Houston will be recognized for their commitments to excellence in community service, and will include Debra Martin, Gospel Recording Artist/Founder Borae' Records, Fernell Hogan Youth Advocate/HCEC Founder and Richard Carmona, Promoter/Youth Advocate. The Co-Grand Marshals for the 3rd Annual MLK Day Youth Parade-Houston are recording artist Trae Tha Truth and talk show Host, Brother Larry Jones, Praise 92.1FM. The 2009 MLK Day Youth Parade will consist of more than 36,000 Parade participants, and will have a duration of three (3) hours along a 2.0 Mi parade route. The 3rd Annual MLK Day Youth Parade-Houston is expected to attract more than 250,000 spectators from all over the country.

For more information for all upcoming MLK Holiday Events, visit us online @ www.mlkgrandeparade.org