Judge Diane M. Shelley will “take her seat” as the 2011-2012 chair of the Illinois Judicial Council on July 16 at its 29th Installation & Awards Ceremony at historic Parkway Ballroom, preceded by a courtyard cocktail reception in Gallery Blanc
Judge Diane M. Shelley will “take her seat” as the 2011-2012 chair of the Illinois Judicial Council on July 16 at its 29th Installation & Awards Ceremony at historic Parkway Ballroom, preceded by a courtyard cocktail reception in Gallery Blanc with Samuel “Savoir Faire” Williams, jazz violinist. Besides the installation and awards program emceed by Diann Burns, former CBS 2 news anchor, the $100 per person evening, themed Recalling Our Past: Taking Responsibility for the Future will include dinner and dancing. Other 2011-2012 officers to be installed: Judges Carol M. Howard, chair-elect; Dominique Ross and Marilyn Johnson, secretaries; and William Jackson and Thaddeus L. Wilson, treasurers; IJC’s 2011-2012 executive committee members: Judges Arnette Hubbard, William Hooks, Ted Sherrod, Carl Walker and Leonard Murray, ex-offficio.
Back on Jan, 13, 1982, a small group of African American judges met at the Community Insurance Co., to discuss problems common to Black judges. Called by Judge Charles J. Durham, the meeting led to the formation of the Illinois Judicial Council. On Oct. 12, 1983, the group held its first banquet at the Soul Queen Restaurant, installed Justice Kenneth Wilson as chair, Judge Durham as chair-elect, Judge Everette A. Braden as secretary and Judge Blanche M. Manning as treasurer. The small gathering was attended mostly by members, families and a few guests. On Oct. 18, 1988, the IJC was incorporated by Judges Russell R. DeBow, Marion Garnett, Glenn T. Johnson, William E. Peterson, Albert S. Porter, Lucia T. Thomas, Durham, Braden and Justice Wilson. Judges Sophia H. Hall, James L. Harris, William Sylvester White, DeBow, Peterson and Justice Wilson formed the first board of directors to enhance the image of the judiciary and to improve the quality of life in the community through educational enlightenment as to the manner in which the legal process serves the community. IJC has awarded thousands of dollars in law school scholarships to minority and needy students and annually participates with the Circuit Court of Cook County in Law Day. Also, IJC conducts a high school essay project.
For several years, IJC partnered with the Chicago Housing Authority to provide residents with a library, camp scholarships, assistance in securing summer jobs for youth and Christmas parties with food baskets and toys for the needy. IJC members work with community groups, such as the Cook County Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers’ Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Judges Association, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Chicago Bar Association, and numerous churches and civic groups presenting educational programs regarding the court system.
IJC Foundation is the charitable arm of IJC, which has grown to an organization of over 100 members. While it is primarily composed of African American judges and judicial officers of the state, it has grown to include judges and judicial officials representing a myriad of ethnicities as well as judges who serve on the federal bench. IJC is proud of all of its members, but two of its members have distinguished themselves: Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Freeman, and the current Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Timothy C. Evans, so say Judge Leonard Murray, IJC chair, and Judge Cheryl D. Ingram, chair of the installation and awards ceremony.
Art Showing – Andre and Frances Guichard, of Gallery Guichard fame, present a special exhibit, Dak Art 2: I Am My Brother’s Keeper, which opens Friday, 6 p.m., at the gallery, 3521 S. King Drive and continues through July 31. (A collectors’ preview is Thursday, 5 p.m.) The exhibit features a collection of over 50 contemporary works of art by artists they met during their trip to Senegal in west Africa several weeks ago. For other gallery programs, call (773) 373-8000.
Congrats – to Grammy-winning Mavis Staples, the legendary R&B-soul-gospel vocalist and this scribe’s special sistah-friend and a fav-o-rite neighbor. Mavis was awarded a prestigious honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music during its 2011 Commencement Ceremony at Boston University. Conferring the degree was Berklee’s President Roger H. Brown, who also presented honorary degrees to Michael McDonald, rock, pop and R&B singer; Cuban musicians, Chucho Valdes and his dad, Bebo Valdes; and jazz legend Kenny Garrett. Over 900 grads from 58 countries participated in the ceremony – Berklee’s largest graduating class to date!
Newsy Names – Friends of Cook County’s board president, Toni Preckwinkle, host “An Evening at The Chicago Cultural Center” in her honor on Tuesday beginning with a sponsor reception and a general reception. On the fundraising committee: William Lowry, Pat Ryan, Frank Clark, Larry Huggins, Paul King, Louis Carr, Philip Corboy Jr., James McHugh, Lester McKeever, Larry Rogers (Sr. and Jr.) Tony Smith, Norm Bobins, Barbara Bowles, Donald Stewart and David Mosena, among others. Suggested donations: $50,000 – $500. RSVP: Marion Batey, (773) 288-0000 or rrcmarion@yahoo.com … Happy b’day to Min. Darryl Walker, Joe Soto, Aaron Gaines, Jacques Eady, Barbara Bates, Janet Wright-Moore, Belinda McFolling, Patricia Dabner, Minnard Skiles, Donna Hammond, Sylvia P. Flanagan, Jesse White, Shayna Bracha Farber, Amaniyea Payne, Kevin McIlvaine, Iman Jefferson, Suz Griffith, Glenn Reedus, Wilfred Bentley, Sasha Daltonn, Donna Allen, Praydup Wanda, Bridget Taylor, Carol Hughes and Cliff Ruffin.
Awards Dinner – Some 40 young men from Simeon Career Academy will be celebrated by Concerned Christian Men, led by George Glenn, founder and executive director, and Carlton L. Guthrie, board chair, at its fifth annual John Everett Awards Dinner on Saturday at Apostolic Church of God, for winning scholarships in a yearlong competition with over 700 of their peers to the Thompkins-Stimley-Beachpoint Summer Camp in Allegan, Mich. Other awards are for the Stock Market Challenge, top grades, improvement of grades and the outstanding school and adult volunteers. Dinner speaker: Sid E. Taylor, CEO of SET Enterprises and founder of Real Life 101 Scholarship Fund.
The awardees, saluted “for choosing to transform rather than conform to the realities of the Englewood and Gresham communities,” earned their way to the camp by participating in after school programs, attending monthly Man-Boy Breakfasts, signing on for Excursions (weekly trips to area museums, universities and sports events), earning orange belts in karate, writing flash essays and giving speeches.
Arts & Crafts – Kindred the Family Soul, the R&B, soul and neo-soul duo made up of married duo, Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon, head a line-up of top entertainment for DuSable Museum’s 37th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival, July 9-10, noon-8 p.m., at the museum. Theme of the free fest is “Back to Our Roots.” Known for such popular tender-hearted hits as Far Away, Stars, Where Would I Be (The Question) and Arrival, Kindred will be centerstage on day two at 7 p.m. Also to perform: Najwa Dance Corp, Billy Branch & Sons of Blues, High Pe
rformance Band, Julia Huff & Co., New Generation Fancy Drill Team, and line dancing by Marva Childress. Original works of art will be featured as the fest returns to being a showcase for local artists with a juried exhibit of fine and uniquely crafted works. Artists work in traditional, ethnic and experimental fine arts and crafts that embody African American themes of identify, history and culture. Also: check out Kids Flicks.
The fest is partly funded by Africanancestry.com, Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Park District, Kraft Foods, Ill. Arts Council, Ill. Tool Works, Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation Inc., The John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation, WVON-AM radio and United Airlines. Call (773) 947-0600 or visit www.dusablemuseum.org.
Alumni Lunch – If you’re a 1961 graduate of Hirsch High School, you are expected at your Golden (50th) Year Luncheon Celebration on July 9, noon–4 p.m., at the Oak Lawn Hilton Hotel. Per person reservations at $60 include a class gift to the school. Class members and/or friends can get more info by sending an e-mail to hirschhuskiesco61@gmail.com or leaving a message (with your name and contact info) on the Huskies’61 Facebook page.
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
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