Making the city a better place
Photo by Erin Mizelle
Dr. Ronny Bell, co-director of the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, is seen in a contemplative mood during The Chronicle’s 31st annual Community Service Awards Banquet last Saturday at the Donald Julian Reaves Center on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. Bell was awarded a tribute for the work he does in the community.
The Chronicle honors community servants
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Like the Dixie Classic fair, or the annual Christmas parade held downtown The Chronicle’s annual Community Service Awards has become one of the city’s most anticipated events.
Since 1985, Winston-Salem’s oldest and most-respected community newspaper has invited elected officials, business professionals, community leaders, residents and other stakeholders in the community to take part in the award ceremony designed to honor individuals throughout the area for their hard work and dedication to improving lives. Last Saturday evening, April 23, hundreds of people gathered at the Donald Julian Reaves Center on the campus of Winston-Salem State University for the 31st edition of he annual event.
Man of the Year honors went to the director of corporate and civic engagement at Reynolds American Inc., Alan Caldwell. Caldwell said, “I am truly humbled by being named man of the year. “I don’t do the things I do for recognition,” he continued. “I do it because it is the right thing to do.”
The Woman of the Year award went to the executive assistant to the chancellor and university secretary at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), RaVonda Dalton-Rann. After accepting her award, Dalton-Rann thanked those she has worked with and encouraged those in atten-dance to become servant leaders. “It’s the servant leader who opens your door when you can’t open it yourself. It’s the servant leader who sees a struggle and is right there,” she said. “Those are the type of people whose shoulders I stand on today. Those are the people who brought me here.”
The Chronicle also made special tributes to the co-director of the Maya Angelou Center for Health and Equity, Ronny Bell, and WSSU associate professor of political science and former leader of the Black Panther Party, Dr. Larry Little. After accepting his award, Little gave an emotional speech on the importance of social justice before the hundreds in attendance. “When we talk about quality of life in this city, it must be inconspicuously connected with the quality of justice,” he said. Little noted that it was his first public appearance since the death of his dear friend Darryl Hunt last month.
Before taking his seat, Little urged all to continue reading The Chronicle because the newspaper is providing citizens with the truth. “I want you to read The Chronicle because they were the first to give us the truth about Darryl and they are now giving us the truth about the rail-roading of Kalvin Michael Smith.” “If we did not have The Chronicle, we would not be as knowledgeable about these cases,” Little continued. “Read The Chronicle because they are giving us the truth.” Publisher emeritus of The Chronicle, Ernie Pitt, said he is delighted to see how the event has grown over the years. Pitt mentioned he considers everyone in attendance his family because all are working toward the goal of making the city of Winston-Salem a better place.
“The people honored here today are attacking the issues head on and doing what has to be done to make this city a better place,” he said. Pitt mentioned the affair is simply a way to thank those in the community who go about their daily lives helping to improve conditions of the city.
Other honorees include Cheryl Lindsay, Hanesbrands Inc. director of human resources and inclusion/diversity, who received the Curator Award. Organizations of the Year are the Winston-Salem Urban League and the Wake Forest University Innocence & Justice Clinic. Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Francene Hash, campaign manager at Project “UP”; Hazel Mack, former regional managing attorney for Legal-Aid N.C. and founder of Carter G. Woodson School; and Benjamin Harris, director at Carter G. Woodson School.
Community Service Awards went to Suzanne Reynolds, dean of the Wake Forest University (WFU) School of Law; Kelly Carpenter, senior pastor of Green Street United Methodist Church; Omari Simmons, director of the business law program at WFU; Bishop Todd Fulton, president of the Minsters’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity; and Elizabeth Speight, the longtime choir musician and musical director for the Rupert Bell Singers, who perform in the community for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult day care programs.
Longtime Chronicle employee Paulette Lewis Moore was presented with a Community Service Award as well. The church of the year award went to Union Baptist Church. Mayor Allen Joines said he was honored to attend such an important event for the community. Joines also applauded The Chronicle for being the voice of reason for more than 40 years. “For years, The Chronicle has been the keeper of the holy grail here in Winston-Salem, and I know they will continue to be the voice of the community.”
