1.3K Guests Celebrated MLK’s Legacy and the Power Of Words with the Urban League of Hampton Roads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Norfolk, VA (January 20, 2025) – Words have the power to shape the narratives that define our beliefs and inspire action. This resonant truth was at the heart of the 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Awards, hosted by the Urban League of Hampton Roads on January 16, 2025, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The sold-out event brought together 1,300 attendees to celebrate the enduring power of Dr. King’s dream and honor local leaders who embody his vision of equality, advocacy, and service.

Presented by Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, the evening was a stirring reminder of how words—spoken, written, and visual—can challenge injustices, inspire movements, and create change. From keynote remarks by Dr. Sarah Lewis to heartfelt reflections by E.L. Hamm Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Tim Reid, the program highlighted the transformative power of storytelling and representation.

Dr. Sarah Lewis delivering her keynote address on “The Power of Words” at the 41st Annual MLK Community Leaders Awards Dinner at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on January 16, 2025.

The Power of Words and Representation
Dr. Sarah Lewis, renowned Harvard professor, author, and cultural historian, delivered a thought-provoking keynote address exploring the role of words and imagery in shaping what we see, believe, and achieve. She reflected on a photograph of a young boy touching President Obama’s head in the Oval Office, sharing:

“Why did his dreams feel so precarious? What narratives had he been given that made him need to touch the evidence that his life could result in being in that Oval Office as the President? The narratives we live with and we live without every day are costing us our freedoms. We have to ask what we’re seeing and why we are seeing it if we are to live out our dreams.”

Tim Reid, actor, director, and Norfolk native, brought the theme to life as he recounted the powerful influence of words and stories on his own career.

“I want to thank Norfolk, Virginia, because were I not born here…

I met amazing people, all kinds of people, all kinds of professions. When I watched television as a kid, I never saw people that looked remotely like those in my neighborhood. That’s why I became a storyteller—so you could meet them, too. And that’s my job now, and I will continue to do it till the day I die.”

Tim Reid accepting the E.L. Hamm Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Annual MLK Community Leaders Awards on January 16, 2025.

Honoring Those Who Carry the Dream Forward
The awards recognized extraordinary individuals for their contributions to the Urban League’s program pillars of education, health, economic development, and housing, including:

Tim Reid, Actor, Director, and Producer (E.L. Hamm Lifetime Achievement Award)
Dr. Scott Miller, President, Virginia Wesleyan University (Education)
Victor Branch, Senior Vice President, Bank of America (Finance)
Kenny Alexander, Mayor of Norfolk (Housing)
Donovan Duncan, Executive Vice President, Urban Strategies (Housing)
Jeremy Bridges, President, Hampton Roads Shipping Association (Economic Development)
Dr. Alfred Abuhamad, Executive Vice President, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and Dean, Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU (Health)

Pictured (left to right): Edward L. Hamm, Jr. (President and CEO, E.L. Hamm & Associates), Finance Awardee Victor Branch (Senior Vice President, Bank of America), Education Awardee Dr. Scott Miller (President, Virginia Wesleyan University), Health Awardee Dr. Alfred Abuhamad (Executive Vice President, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and Dean, Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU), Housing Awardee Donovan Duncan (Executive Vice President, Urban Strategies), Michael C. Creedon Jr. (CEO, Dollar Tree/Family Dollar), Jessica Thomas (Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Dollar Tree/Family Dollar), Dr. Sarah Lewis (Harvard Professor, Author, and Keynote Speaker), Housing Awardee Kenny Alexander (Mayor of Norfolk), Economic Development Awardee Jeremy Bridges (President, Hampton Roads Shipping Association), E.L. Hamm Lifetime Achievement Awardee Tim Reid (Actor, Producer, and Director), and Gilbert Bland (President and CEO, Urban League of Hampton Roads).

Partnerships That Bring Words to Life
The Urban League extended its gratitude to presenting sponsor Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, as well as over 40 additional sponsors, partners, and supporters whose contributions helped make the evening a success.

“Dr. King’s dream reminds us of the profound impact of words,” said Gilbert Bland, President and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads. “His words challenged the world to confront injustice and inspired millions to dream of a brighter future. Tonight, we celebrate those who continue to carry his dream forward with action, reminding us that the power of words is only matched by the courage to live them out.”

For more information about the Urban League of Hampton Roads and upcoming initiatives, visit ulhr.org or follow us on social media.

About the Urban League of Hampton Roads
The Urban League is one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the country. Their mission is to secure economic equity, investment, and civil rights for the Black community. The mission of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. (ULHR) is to enable African Americans and others to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. The ULHR implements its mission by providing services and programs in education, employment, health, and housing to Hampton Roads communities through direct services, advocacy, research, policy analysis, community mobilization and collaboration throughout communities. For more information, or to become a member, visit ulhr.org/membership.

The Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax deductible as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. EIN 54-1083985.

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