Urban League Community Leader Awards Announced:
Recipients to be Honored at the 39th Annual MLK Live Event on January 16
NORFOLK, VA (December 5, 2022) – The Urban League of Hampton Roads will host the 39th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Awards on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 8 AM at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Presented by Dollar Tree and Riverside Health System, this year’s in-person breakfast will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize dedicated leaders in the community whose significant contributions exemplify service, demonstrate the values modeled by Dr. King, and make significant contributions to the Hampton Roads community.
“We are excited to once again gather together in person to celebrate this important tradition in Hampton Roads. It is incredibly important that we continue to recognize and celebrate those leaders who are relentless in their efforts to contribute to the betterment of our community,” said Gilbert Bland, President and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads.
The MLK 2023 Award Recipients are:
- Education, The Honorable Robert Scott, U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor
- Employment, Shawn Avery, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Workforce Council
- Finance, The Honorable Louise Lucas, Virginia State Senate Representative, District 18, Finance Committee Member
- Health, William Downey, President & CEO, Riverside Health System
- Housing, Steve Lawson, Chairman of the Board, The Lawson Companies
- Lifetime Achievement, Reverend Dr. Joseph Green, Jr., Assisting Priest, Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
- Philanthropy, George Birdsong, President & CEO, Birdsong Peanuts
Tickets are available online at ulhr.org/mlk-awards/.
Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorships will give the gift of economic empowerment to the Hampton Roads community. For sponsorship opportunities, please visit the event page on the website or contact Ms. Latisha James at 757-627-0864 or [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact Mike Carosi at [email protected].
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. For more information, or to become a member, visit ulhr.org/membership/.
About the Urban League of Hampton Roads
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.
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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