Lawrence (Larry) Kennon, premier civil rights attorney who retired Dec. 31 from Power & Dixon Law Firm after practicing his craft for 55-plus years, receives a special tribute at the Cook County Bar Association’s 11th annual Barristers & Scholars
Lawrence (Larry) Kennon, premier civil rights attorney who retired Dec. 31 from Power & Dixon Law Firm after practicing his craft for 55-plus years, receives a special tribute at the Cook County Bar Association’s 11th annual Barristers & Scholarship Ball on Saturday at the Oak Lawn Hilton. The $100 black-tie benefit includes dinner, dancing, entertainment and plenty of networking, so say Delores Robinson and Harriet Parker, co-chairs, and Marian E. Perkins, president. CCBA is the oldest African American association of lawyers and judges in the nation. Call (312) 630-1157, ext. 4. Global Group – Rev. Richard L. Tolliver, Ph.D., pastor of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, in his role as vice chair of Chicago State Univ.’s trustee board, traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago to the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority Global Competitiveness Forum at Kingdom Center-Four Seasons. The fourth “by invitation only” parley, themed Sustainable Competitiveness, assembled some of the world’s most successfully competitive people from diverse fields – distinguished international business, political and intellectual leaders along with top journalists. Hit Makers – Sounds of “old and new skool” faves will rock the house when South Central Community Services stages its 25th annual ”Puttin’ on the Hits,” a lip-sync dinner show fundraiser on Friday at the Sabre Room in suburban Hickory Hills. One of Chicago’s most popular and fun events will “star” top-notch lip-sync “performers” (all SCCS board members, staff and volunteers!): Michael Jackson, BeyoncΘ, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Teddy Pendergrass, Freddie Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Holiday, Elvis Presley and Stephanie Mills. Joseph Caldwell, president of TailoRite Professional Clothing & Repair Co. and long standing leader in business and civic circles, will be cited for his consistent support of Puttin’ on the Hits, dating back to its earlier years when it was held in SCCS’s gym. WGCI’s Tony Sculfield emcees. SCCS, led by Felicia Blasingame, Ph.D., president and CEO, is one of Chicago’s largest and oldest non-profit agencies providing human service programs from five sites for youth, adults and seniors. Corporate sponsors: Chicago Defender, AT&T, Risk Management Resources, Optimum Dental Center, State Farm, Jewel-Osco, Shell and Target. Call (773) 483-0900. Newsy Names – Mo’Nique, Oscar and Golden Globe winning actress, comedienne and late night talk show host, comes to Arie Crown Theatre May 19 on her 20-city ”Spread the Love” comedy tour with actor Rodney Perry and comic Tone-X. Tickets: all Ticketmaster locations and online and at Arie Crown box office … Ava Logan, award-winning, classically-trained jazz singer by night and veterinarian by day, presents “Lena Horne & Friends,” songs of Lena, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Anita O’Day, Etta James, etc. on Saturday at Skokie Theatre. The Yale and Univ. of Penn grad who has performed jazz, pop and R&B in the U.S. and abroad, has portrayed two of her faves, Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson, at Black Ensemble Theater. For tickets: www.skokietheatre.org or (847) 677-7761 … Actor/singer Sheryl Lee Ralph emcees when Lawyers United to Help Haiti Rebuild host a Strength Through Unity dinner on March 31 at the Hyatt Hotel on Wacker. Judge George N. Leighton (ret.), 97, is an honorary chair. Also on the Call to Action committee: Emil Jones Jr., Cheryle R. Jackson, U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny K. Davis, Clerk Dorothy Brown, Joyce Tucker, Larry Rogers Sr., Mayor Richard Daley and Gov. Pat Quinn. Tickets: $150-$1,000 … Being Single’s Bonita Bennett hosts How to Dance thru Life, celebrating her mag’s 11th year, at Hall Branch Library, 4801 S. Michigan, on Saturday. Call (312) 567-9900 for seating … Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, keynotes Chicago Business Opportunity Fair’s Sponsors Breakfast presented by Allstate Insurance on March 31 at Navy Pier. Newsy Names II – Actor/rapper Common received $10,000 for his foundation at the NAACP Image Award Symposium in Hollywood from Ford Motor Co. The check was presented by Pamela Alexander, FMC’s director of community development and fund operations … Ken Bedford, Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) and Tommie Williams bring live jazz to Alhambra Palace, 1240 W. Randolph, starting Sunday, 3 p.m., with free after-church buffet (or order from the menu), sax man Ray Silkman & Ensemble performing live, deejay music by Sam Chatman and more surprises. Entry: $10 … Abe Thompson’s Captivate Marketing Group takes over the production and event management of Real Men Cook, a fun-filled Father’s Day of food tasting, family celebration that was started some 20 years ago by Yvette Moyo, who still owns the brand. This year’s event: June 21 at Kennedy-King College … Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, made up of 15 of the best soloists and ensemble players around, celebrate the large ensemble tradition on Friday at Orchestra Hall, performing masterpieces written by jazz legends. Tickets: (312) 294-3000 or cso.org/jazz … Happy b’day to Cliff Kelley, Fred Matthews, Dr. Franchot Givens, Ald Toni Preckwinkle, Dr. Thomas Lightfoot, (Supv.) Thomas Peeples, Judy Walters, Lula Ford, Toddy Carlisle, Sylvia Ewing, Roman Warren, Mark Allen, Robert Johnson, Sondra Hoard, Toure Muhammad, Odessa Pugh, Pam Pitts, Frederic Bernard Edwards Jr., Hugh Brandon, Marc Brooks, Ywain Fields, Pamela Thomas-Hall, Rev. Marshall Hatch and Willie Gray, who lunched with kin and friends in the Signature Room. Centenarians Celebrate! – Happy 100th to Ruby Jefferson Worsham and Evelyn Fraley. “Mother Ruby,” a 59-year member of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, was saluted by her pastor, Rev. Dr. George Waddles Sr., and church members at a tribute dinner with lots of kin and friends who came from across the country for the celebration. She was born in Belzoni, Miss., moved to Chicago in 1932 and married James Coleman. After his death, she married Adolphus Worsham, who died in 1989. At Zion Hill, she’s sung with the Mass Choir, taught Sunday School and is a member of the Missionary Society, Senior Guild, Mothers’ Board and March Ministry. “Mother Evelyn,” whose birthday is March 17, was born in Itela, Ala. At age 10 she moved to Detroit, later worked for Chrysler Corp., married Lewis Fraley and they had three children. In 1983 she relocated to Chicago to live with her daughter, Paula James. “Mother Evelyn” is a devout member or Trinity United Church of Christ; Rev. Otis Moss III is her pastor. Art Affairs – An exhibit of paintings, prints and collages by famed artists and printmakers Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden from their series, The Genesis and The Prevalence of Ritual, respectively, opens Friday with a 6 p.m. reception at G.R.N’Namdi Gallery, 110 N. Peoria, and runs ‘til April 30. On display: the artists’ mastery of medium and personal relationship with spirituality and ritual experiences. On Sunday, 1:30 p.m., the gallery hosts an Art Day for kids and parents with abstract painter Antonio Carreno, whose works hang in art museums in the Dominican Republic and Washington, D.C.. Call (312) 563-9240 to sign up. Book Look – Angela Jackson, award-winning poet and playwright, signs, reads from and discusses her debut novel, Where I Must Go (TriQuarterly/ Northwestern Univ.) on Thursday, 6 p.m., at eta Square, 76th and South Chicago. The story of an African American working-class girl from a big city attending an elite university in the late ‘60s delivers a historic and engaging narrative of a young Black woman during the Civil Rights Movement. The book follows an artistic student from a large nurturing family as she goes away to college and discovers empowerment through activism.
About Post Author
