WACA honors 3 at Blue Monday Extravaganza at Yacht Club
Triple Honors! – Joseph “Joe” E. Moore Jr., president of The Moore Group and former Shell Oil Co. exec; Perri Irmer, CEO of Ill. Sports Facility Authority; and Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) receive high praise during “Blue Monday Extravaganza XXIV” hosted by the Westside Association for Community Action on July 12, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., at the Chicago Yacht Club, Monroe Street and Lake Shore Dr. The annual fundraiser, as always, will feature dancing, an abundant buffet, silent auction, brief program and lots and lots of networking opportunities right on the edge of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Sen. Art L. Turner, WACA board member and benefit chair, and Janet Jones (Janet Jones & Associates), WACA president, are the official co-captains and benefit hosts. Other officers: Bill Williams (Convention & Tourism Bureau) and Michael Lieteau (AT&T), vice presidents; Howard Patton, treasurer; Connie Harris (Lakeside Bank), secretary; and Michael Fountain (Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority), parliamentarian. Additional WACA board members and “Blue Monday” co-hosts are Michael Brown, Verneice Cherry, Dr. Sandy Gibson, Mel Hopson, Adrienne Jones, Al Palmer, Deborah Sexton, Citseko Staples, Don Wallace, Debra Welsey, Melvyn Williams III, Henry Wilson, Roy Young, Ernest Jenkins, WACA CEO and this writer. For more info and/or reservations, contact Lola Jenkins at (773) 277-4400, ext. 117. Yep, we’re there! Attn: Jazz Junkies! ¼– Joan Collaso, an Emmy Award-winning, internationally renowned, spirit-filled jazz, R&B, blues and gospel vocalist who is truly a refreshing and healing experience for the soul, performs “A Tribute to Nancy Wilson & Shirley Horn” while also honoring “The Lady & Her Music, Lena Horne,” on Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m., at DuSable Museum. In 1987, Collaso received an Emmy for her performance in the PBS special, Precious Memories (Strolling 47th Street). Among other stellar credits: Collaso appeared in the hit movie, Soul Food, has sang background with George Duke, Heather Headley, Jerry Butler, Celine Dion, Ray Parker Jr., Michael Henderson, Susan Boyle, Alicia Keyes, Jennifer Hudson, was a featured soloist on Ramsey Lewis’ Urban Renewal CD and in 2009 was background vocalist on Oprah Winfrey’s Karaoke Challenge and Christmas Show with Mary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Hudson and Sugarland. For ticket info for Collaso’s DuSable show, call (312) 808-0005. Advance tickets: $30; $35 @ the door. Cruise on Call! ¼–¼ Gloria S. Palmer-Pitts, president, and sister members of WIS (Women in Support of LaRabida Children’s Hospital) are in final countdown mode for “Cruisin’ on a Sunday Afternoon VIII,” touted as a benefit of unparalleled fun on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront. Dine, dance and enjoy the breath-taking skyline view on July 11 from the Mystic Blue Cruise Ship (docked at Navy Pier). Boarding time: 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.; ship sails promptly at 2 p.m. (don’t get left on shore!) and returns at 5 p.m. Other benefit hostesses: Danita Harth-Bates, Sheryl Stewart-Caldwell, Thelma Ervin, Tanya D. Anderson, Florestee Buss, Willia Carr-Parker, Joyce A. Gibson, Susan Handy, Diana Hennington, coordinator, Kathy Jackson, Betty L. Johnson, Lafradio Lusk, Lea Redmond, Linda T. Stewart-Belcher, Pamela A. Thomas, Mary Walls-Jackson and Cynthia Wright. On board fun also includes a raffle and fine art silent auction of original art by Andre Guichard and artists from Gallery Guichard. Cruise sponsors: James and Gloria Pitts Foundation, Joyce Johnson-Miller and The Relativity Fund. For cruise reservations, call (312) 409-5430. Woman’s Work – Judge Sophia Hall received a Jane Addams Woman of Valor Award for community involvement and commitment at a breakfast forum in the Palmer House Hilton’s Empire Room hosted by Jane Addams Hull House Ass’n led by Clarence Wood, CEO. Additional recipients: Margaret Berglind, president and CEO, Child Care Association of Illinois, and Aurie Pennick, executive director and treasurer, Field Foundation of Illinois. Dr. CreasIe Hairston, dean of the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the Univ. of Illinois/Chicago, spoke on Addams’ role as “the mother of modern social work” at the free event funded by The Smart Family Foundation. Newsy Names – Musette Henley, of the U.S. Postal Service, wants us all to know that the 33rd stamp in the Black Heritage series, issued in late June, honors pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, who wrote, directed, produced and distributed 40-plus movies during the first half of the 20th century. Appropriately enough, the stamp was dedicated at DuSable Museum … “Step, Meet & Mingle” with Bill Williams and the Rat Pack every Wednesday “after work” at Marmon Grand … Hats off to Jacquelynn Marshall, executive assistant to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, on receiving the treasured “President’s Award” from the Chicago Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. A board member since ‘95, Jackie has served on various committees and participated in numerous NFBPA activities for 25 years. Currently, she’s on the chapter’s Conference Planning Committee that is coordinating its national conference, “Forum 2011,” April 16-20, 2011. The Chicago Chapter, founded by the late Mayor Harold Washington, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2011 … Condolences to Doris (Mrs. Michael) House, wife of Defender president, on the sudden passing of her beloved sister, Kaye Diarra. A memorial is planned for late July … Congrats to brand new great-granny, Fran Gibbs, a Board of Education nurse and “local comedian.” Baby Avery Frances, born Friday at 7 lbs., 3 ounces, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lonell Smith of Oklahoma City, Okla. New mommy is Dr. Winter Joy Smith, a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Pharmacy … Happy b’day to Carole Brown, Jim Rose, Homer D. Franklin, Sandi Lynn, Gale Foster Farley, Margaret Garner, Willia Carr-Parker, Victor Powell, Rolanda Watts, Kai El Zabar, Sara Greene, Angela Delaney, Gwen Rowan, Leon Finney, Amelia Bishop, Stephanie McEwen Samuels, Megan Brown, Sam Greenlee, Desiree Sanders, James Rogers, Ayodele Shaihi, Kathy Pilcher, Nate Andrews, Veronica Harris, Kesha Davis and (ooops! belatedly) to Brenetta Howell Barrett … Rev. Dr. F. Bruce Williams, pastor of Louisville’s Bates Memorial Baptist Church, kicks-off the three-day Churchwide Revival on Sunday at Trinity United Church of Christ, preaching the 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. worship services. On Monday and Tuesday, 7 p.m., the message will come from Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, pastor, Alfred St. Baptist Church, Alexandria Va., and Rev. Dr. Maurice Watson, pastor, Beaulahland Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Living Legends – Rev. Dr. Clay Evans and his sis, Dr. Lou Della Evans Reid, will be saluted as “living legends” on their 85/80 combined birthday celebration honoring their life work and the difference they continue to make. On Monday, 7 p.m., at Christ Universal Temple, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, Grammy, Dove and Stellar awards gospel artist, performs with the Divine Divas (Felicia Coleman-Evans, Connie Kinnison and Elizabeth Norman-Sojourner) singing under the direction of Fred Nelson III. Also a 500-voice church and community choir performs. Dr. Evans was founding pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (“The Ship”) and with Dr. Reid, his minister of music, provided songs of hope, joy and peace – spreading the gospel via words and music. Free admission; a love offering will be lifted. Doors open at 6 p.m. Whazup! Whazup! – “Lollapolooza,” the annual three-day, eight-stage music fest, Aug. 6-8 in Grant Park, will star Mavis Staples, Eryka Badu and Lady Gaga among other alternative rock, hip hop and punk rock bands, dance and comedy performances and craft booths. For the last two years, daily attendance at “Lollapolooza” exceeded 750,000. And with additional space added this year, attendance numbers are expected to soar … Rev. Jesse L. Jackson spoke from the same podium from which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the Elmhurst College community 44 years ago at a program sponsored by the Student Government Ass’n and the Dr. Andrew K. Prinz Guestship for Political Awareness. Rev. Jackson’s remarks, “Straight from the Heart: Empowerment, Violence, Race and Ethnicity in America,” were delivered at the Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
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