Mon Valley Initiatives Group honors community leaders during Black History program
The event paid tribute to community members for their contributions.
The Mon Valley Initiatives Group held its inaugural Black History program Feb. 27 at the Donora Borough Building.
Awards were presented by Minority Initiatives Group founder and President Roderick Wilson Sr. with assistance from Niesha Davis, Roberta Taylor, and Commander Kevin Davis.
Awards were presented to the following:
• Sharpsurg Mayor Kayla Portis (first Black mayor of the borough)
• David Hunter, Michelle Kitchens and Aleasa Ward, community awardees
• Evangelist Montell Carlock, Niesha Davis and Roderick Wilson Jr., Black Youth of America awardees
• Sherrie Garry, education award
• Wyatt Hart, Martin M. Law Tuskegee Airmen medallion • Commander Kevin Davis, military award
• Bridgeville Mayor Betty Copeland (first Black mayor of the borough)
• Norman Madison (Special Melvin Madison Award)
• Trudy Taylor, business
• Dennis Hawkins, athletics award.
Those receiving awards but not in attendance were retired Donora police Superintendent James Brice (legend award), former City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey (first Black mayor of Pittsburgh), Melanie Sandrock, education award, and Tommy Thompson, military award.
The program also included a Black History presentation on Emmett Till by Niesha Davis, a tribute to Lt. Martin M. Law (a Donora native who was part of the original Tuskegee Airmen). Law is remembered as a storyteller and inspiration to others.
Musical selections were rendered by the “queen,” Anita Burton who started off the program with “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Trudy Taylor rendered two selections, “His Eye on the Sparrow” and “Because of Who You Are.”
The evening concluded with a keynote speech by Bishop Karl Jackson, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Monessen. Jackson challenged those in attendance to come together as a community regardless of any differences in race or religion.
