Charles “Sweet Charlie” Brown, who broke the color line in college basketball, and Helen Sinclair, who has dedicated her life to serving as chaplain to Cook County inmates, received Lifetime Achievement Awards when the Board of Directors of th
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Charles “Sweet Charlie” Brown, who broke the color line in college basketball, and Helen Sinclair, who has dedicated her life to serving as chaplain to Cook County inmates, received Lifetime Achievement Awards when the Board of Directors of the Mary Herrick Scholarship Fund for DuSable Students hosted its 26th Annual Awards Reception & Program at University Church. Proceeds fund scholarships for graduating seniors at the three small schools located on the DuSable High School campus.
Other awardees: Fr. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church and champion for social justice, and Odis Richardson, Golden Apple Award-winning teacher counselor, and Golden Apple Foundation member, who received the Humanitarian Award; and Charlie Thomas, president of the Hyde Park Jazz Society, and Eugene Henry, DuSable campus manager, recipients of the Community Service Award.
Early on in her life, Mary J. Herrick (1895-1984), learned of the plight of refuges and the downtrodden in Chicago and took up their cause. A Phi Beta Kappa grad of Northwestern U., she alternated teaching, YWCA campus and settlement house work until 1928, when she began work on an M.A. in political science at the University of Chicago. She began teaching at Wendell Phillips High School in 1929 and became part of the original staff in 1935 of the new high school later named DuSable.
Herrick led the way in founding the Chicago Teachers Union, served as vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, wrote curriculum for CPS and in her later years ran a study/action program with senior citizens, receiving honors for her achievements at every stage. Yet nothing in her career touched the wonder of the bond she had with her students. Neither race nor class nor age could limit that mutual respect, as she prodded them to secure justice for African Americans. In 1964, her students honored her with a Tribute held at University Church. She agreed to such an honor “only if some good might come from it.” Hence, the Mary J. Herrick Scholarship Fund for DuSable Students.
Included on the Herrick Board: Grace Dawson, Timuel Black, Ollie McLemore, William Cousins Jr., Clarice Durham, Barbara Henley, Almarie Wagner, Mattie Hunter, Constance Montgomery, Peggy Montes, Charles Davis, Sharon Hunter-Smith, Carolyn Townes and others.
Four to Go! – Congrats to Ronald Holt (Class of ‘79), Eddie Johnson (Class of ‘78), Carol E. Bell (Class of ’82) and Dr. Odel Sterling III (Class of ’86), who will receive high praise when Corliss High School Staff & Alumni Ass’n sponsors its Honors Luncheon, “In Pursuit of Excellence,” on Nov. 11 at Harambee House, 11901 S. Loomis. The $45 per ticket event kicks-off at noon with a “Meet & Greet” and will include a cash bar, King Buffet, raffles, door prizes, networking, music by Reggie Porter, deejay, and dancing. Lunch chairs: Carolyn G. Palmer, Lisa Floyd, Ida O’Neal-Reed, Paulette Saxon, and Hubert Jackson, who can be contacted at (773) 674-1878 for reservations.
Crescent Citations – A number of women of African descent who have made significant contributions to their communities will receive coveted Crescent Moon Awards from Upsilon Sigma Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity on Nov. 19 at the celebration of the frat’s 84th Anniversary at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. It’s also the Sigma’s 48th Annual Scholarship Dinner Dance.
This year’s honorees: Allison Payne, Dorothy Brown, Zondra Hughes, Ald. Leslie Hairston, Dr. Karen Safford, Tonya Van Dyke, Jackie Taylor Holsten, Diane Shelley, Davina Login-Ward, Stephanie R. Gaines, Minister Gloria J. Randolph, Juan Teague-Kirkman, Sharon E. Strickland, Dr. Julie Taylor and Dr. GiselΘ M. Casanova. Proceeds will be distributed back into the community — either in the form of scholarships or in donations to other organizations to assist in their services to the community. To purchase $90 tickets and/or for more info, go to www.pbsupsilonsigna.org.
FashBash – Attn: Fashion-istas! Last call for “FashBash,” Barbara Bates’ 25-year Silver Celebration as a top, internationally renowned award-winning custom fashion designer. It’s Sunday at the Marmon Grand, 2230 S. Michigan Ave. The V.I.P. Reception (donation: $125) is from 4-5:30 p.m.; the run-way presentation of her magnificent, jaw-dropping Fall/Winter 2012 Collection is at 6 p.m. An extra special feature: a 12-year retrospective of Bates’ Designs. General admission tickets at $60 are moving fast, faster, fastest. So hurry and call (312) 808-8091 or stop by her South Loop boutique and design studio, 2031 S. Indiana. Surely you don’t want to miss out on this!
Cards Galore! – Whist! Bridge! Spades! Bingo! It’s yours to pick and choose when Alpha Pi Chi National Sorority’s Kappa Nu Chapter holds its13th annual scholarship luncheon, Lucky 13, on Nov. 12 at DoubleTree Hotel, 5000 W. 127th St. in Alsip. Show up before 11:30 a.m. and get “early bird” bonus points. Also on the agenda: fun, door prizes, raffles and vendors. For $40 tickets, call Charli Clayborne, (773) 960-6899.
Trunk Showcase! – Refresh, reinvent and remix your personal and individual style with statement fashions and unique adornment by clothing designer Sharon Boucher and jewelry stylist Cheryl Jefferson on Saturday, 7-9 p.m., at a Trunk Show hosted by Mari Ann Weiss Cater, of Urban Re-Mix, at 1468 S. Michigan. Sharon’s private label garments feature lush fabrics and dramatic lines; Cheryl’s custom, vintage and ethnic pieces are adventures in personal ornamentation. Call (312) 360-0011.
Harry’s Song! – No doubt, he’s America’s first African American matinee idol and indeed one of the greatest entertainers of our time! He is classically handsome Harry Belafonte, who comes to Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson, on Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., for YWCA of Metro Chicago’s Authors Group Luncheon to discuss and sign copies of his fascinating new memoir, My Song. In it, as well as in an HBO documentary, Sing Your Song, Belafonte recounts his extraordinary life. Books will be available for purchase. For $40 tickets, visit www.ywcachicago.org or call (312) 762-2757.
Happy B’day — to Frank D. Horton III, Steve Hopson, Alvita Rhone, Jim Montgomery, Kim McCullough, Vincent Davis, Dr. Shelley Poole Amu, Patricia Smith Barnes, Gwen Marshall, Sarah Ayers, Ella Muhammad, Ernest Dawkins, Clem Smith, Louis Byrd III, Jai Byron Poole, William Love, Michael Peery, Lillian Nash, Keisha Chavers, Deborah Douglas, Frank Gihan, Aleta Clardy, Pierre Poinsette, Brandon Byrd, Lorenzo Clemons, Donn Carl Harper, Rupert Graham Jr., Kim Stratton, Melvyn Williams, Carol Rayner Brazier, Lori Hendricks, Joslyn Slaughter, Dr. Katherine Brown and Paa Kwesi Yanney.
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
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