Skip to content
Advertisement

Cheryl Boone Isaacs recieves Horizon Award; Munson Steed honored by Urban League; Jesse Owens medal up for auction

Advertisement

California

The African American Film Critics Association on Monday announced the winners of its 2014 Special Achievement Awards. The Weinstein Company’s Bob and Harvey Weinstein are the recipients of the Cinema Vanguard Award, while Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs will receive the Horizon Award. Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay is the winner of the Legacy Award,

 (51831)

and Fox Searchlight senior vice president of production Zola Mashariki is the recipient of the Ashley Boone Award. Variety film critic Justin Chang is the winner of the inaugural Roger Ebert Award. The African American Film Critics Association is scheduled to present the awards at a ceremony on Jan. 31 at the Taglyn Complex in Hollywood.

District of Columbia

The White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship Program provides current undergraduate and graduate students with an opportunity to learn about African American-focused education policy, communications, and outreach at the U.S. Department of Education. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Collecting and compiling research and data on African American education, institutions and communities; participating in strategic planning and staff meetings and other department policy briefings and meetings relevant to the work of the initiative; liaising between the initiative and local and national African American organizations and federal agencies; and much more. Throughout the course of their internships, students will have the opportunity to attend and potentially lead in the planning and management of meetings, briefings and other special events on Capital Hill, at the White House and in other federal agencies. For more details and/or to apply, visit:

www.findinternships.com/2013/04/white-house-initiative-year-round-internship-program.html

Florida

Florida A&M University’s Student Health Service’s Rattler Wellness program is collaborating with Nubian Wellness to address the obesity issue by encouraging students, faculty and staff to participate in Run With Me. This is a nationwide initiative to promote physical activity in the Black community. Run With Me participants must pledge to participate in a 5K, 10K, half-marathon or marathon of their choosing—either by walking, jogging or running—between now and Dec. 31. Participants are to find a race in their local city. Individuals are not required to run; walking or jogging is permissible. Those who finish their race are eligible to win prizes which include wireless activity trackers, wireless headphones, gift certificates to sporting goods stores and more. Kimi Walker, a health services educator, said she wants Run With Me to “give people attainable goals to train for that don’t necessarily revolve around the scales.” These goals could be dropping a dress size, being able to run a mile in under 15 minutes or working out at least three times a week. Run With Me differs from other initiatives because it is all focused on women and men of color.”

 (51832)

More than 1,400 local students recently viewed the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron’s RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit sponsored by JM Family Enterprises and Stonegate Bank. Hosted by Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale the exhibit provided a unique learning experience about the inspiring story of the Tuskegee Airmen because it was held in a 35-seat movie theater housed in a semi-rig. “The exhibit is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure similar to something you would experience at Disneyland,” said Brad Lang, CAF Red Tail Squadron Leader. Students from Dillard High School and youth enrolled in afterschool programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County and Urban League of Broward County, enjoyed a screening of a short original movie, “RISE ABOVE,” which focuses on the obstacles faced by America’s first Black military pilots and their support personnel, known today as the Tuskegee Airmen. Following the movie, students received inspirational dog tags with the six guiding principles of the CAF Red Tail Squadron’s Rise Above educational program. The dog tags read: Aim High – Believe in Yourself – Use Your Brain – Never Quit – Be Ready to Go – Expect to Win. Students and community members were also able to meet and greet Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Leo Gray.

Nevada

 (51833)

The Las Vegas Urban League held its annual fundraiser Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) Community Luncheon recently at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. Las Vegas Urban League’s President and CEO Kevin E. Hooks honored entrepreneur and visionary Munson Steed with the Innovator of the Year Award. Steed is the CEO of Steed Media Group, a multimedia company that includes the 15-year-old publication, Rolling Out—the largest chain of free African American-owned weekly newspapers in the country. “Munson Steed was given the Innovator Award for his accomplishments in transforming his company from a single newspaper into a full-fledged media content development company. Steed has taken a newspaper product and transformed it from one newspaper into an entire chain. As technology advanced, he transformed Rolling Out from a national print publication to the largest transformed web destination for a print publication conversion, while still reaching two million people a month at RollingOut.com,” explained Las Vegas Urban League president Kevin Hooks.

New Jersey

An ornate red brick house on West State Street in Trenton, that has stood empty for years, will become the new headquarters for the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. Chamber President John Harmon said the business group is looking forward to renovating the 5,000-square-foot space and moving offices from down the street, where the chamber has been renting space since 2007. The move is expected in January. The larger offices at the West State Street property will leave room for the chamber to lease out rooms to members as “incubator office space” to help growing businesses, said Harmon. He added that the chamber has received interest from three different members looking to relocate into the historic building, including an architecture firm that is attempting to grow its presence in New Jersey. “This really solidifies our presence and our commitment to our community,” Harmon said. “We are here to stay.”

National

 (51834)

An Olympic gold medal won by African American track-and-field legend Jesse Owens is being auctioned off, the Associated Press reported. The medal, won at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, is currently held by SCP Auctions, one of the largest auctioneers and private sellers of important sports memorabilia, and represents a significant part of African American-and world-history. When Owens broke the world record for the 100-yard dash, it destroyed the Nazi myth of Aryan supremacy, the AP notes. The medal was obtained from the estate of one of Owens’ friends, entertainer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Overall, Owens won four medals—for the 100- and 200-meter, the 400-relay and the long jump—during the games, which Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had hoped would showcase his people’s superiority. SCP Auctions has already confirmed that the medal is legitimate. “We just hope that it’s purchased by an institution where the public could have access to it, a museum or something like that,” Owens’ daughter said. The Robinson family reportedly plans to use the funds to pay for college and to donate to a charity. The auction closes Dec. 7. Individuals can bid online at www.scpauctions.com

Compiled By Juliana Norwood.

Advertisement

Latest