By Helen M. Ofield, Contributing Writer
A lavish dinner, stirring entertainment, touching awardees, a lovely setting in the Liberty Station Conference Center, and, not least, elegantly garbed guests, characterized the 12th Annual Gala in support of a great newspaper, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint.
The San Diego Chapter of the historic Buffalo Soldiers opened the show by presenting the colors. Then the audience rose to sing the stirring Black National Anthem by the American poet James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938).
The dynamic singer, Lisa Payton Harris, set the tone with “A
Change is Gonna Come” and, later, tore up the room with
“Feeling Good.”
“Are you?” queried Latanya West, the paper’s Managing Editor, to wild applause.
Publisher Dr. John E. Warren extolled the paper’s 65 years of nonstop publishing–a national record for any weekly newspaper. “Why the Black Press”? he asked an attentive audience. Because The Press matters in a democratic republic, especially one founded by brilliant Black Americans, who labor patiently to produce a weekly edition that sets a standard for Editorial Opinion, International and National News, Local Coverage, Cultural Expressions, and recognition of Black achievers.
Warren followed with “The State of the Paper,” aided by West. A multicultural brace of twenty-somethings with backgrounds in journalism, news, technology, and history have transformed the paper to all digital. New elements like the oft-requested Calendar of Events will showcase area nonprofits.
Warren observed that “amplifying Black voices should be must reading for everyone in the community.”
West noted that they are reaching a coveted young audience–the next generation eager to discover the paper’s “fresh, modern look.”
Each Gala has special entertainment. The 12th featured a gifted young harpist, Marica Antoinette, who performed “Afrika” against a striking video of the continent’s people, cultures, and creatures. M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records again delivered excellent video and sound.
But it was the awards and awardees’ videos that brought down the house.
The Gerri Warren Humanitarian Award (she was an indefatigable supporter of area charitable organizations) went to Roosevelt Brown, founder, The Children’s Book Party. Elderly and frail, he was lovingly escorted to and from the stage by Dr. Warren. The “Book Party” is an annual event that gives little ones free books–Brown’s memory of his own childhood when he had nothing to read or learn from. This noble American is why there is an Annual Gala.
A trio of recipients received the Unsung Hero Awards: Shearl Lambert, Founding Director, The Grandparents Connection, Inc.; Latesha N. Fields, Founder, Inspire SD; and the indefatigable Dwayne Hill, your quintessential Community Organizer.
The Good Shepherd Awards, involving stunning trophies, went to Rev. Harvey Vaughn, Senior Pastor, Bethel AME Church of San Diego. And to Rev. Robert Pope, Senior Pastor, Encanto Southern Baptist Church.
Attendees smiled and danced the night away as the 12th Annual Gala came to a close, taking home the vestige of the occasion: Voice & Viewpoint’s Sparkling Apple Cider.
For full stories and photos only published in print, pick up a paper at a newsstand near you, or check out the latest edition of our newspaper on Thursday each week.
