CHAMPION—Champion Enterprises and Five Starr Corporation CEO Bill Neal welcomes former 3-time World Heavyweight boxing champion Michael Moorer to the Willie Stargell Awards Banquet.

The 37th Annual Willie “Pops’” Stargell Memorial MVP Awards Banquet was hosted and presented by Champion Enterprises and Five Starr Corporation, along with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chuck Sanders Charities.
This year’s event was truly “The Nite of the Champions” as former three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Monessen native Michael Moorer was honored for his great career.
Twenty-five others were honored as some of Western Pittsburgh’s Most Valuable Persons, including Pittsburgh Courier’s own Ulish Carter and Eric Gaines. Others honored included coaches Terry and Harvey Smith, Master Jacquet Bazemore, keyboardist Kevin Howard, AAWU President Calvin Clinton, former Pittsburgh Steeler Wes Lyons and 10 of the area’s top student athletes from various high schools.
The evening was taken to another level by the powerful voice of Yolanda Barber and the spectacular co-hosting of Pittsburgh entrepreneur Kevin Cameron and actress Rita Gregory.
Bill Neal, Five Star Corporation CEO,  said, “Special thanks goes out to event co-sponsors Art Hawk and the 3 Lakes Golf Course, Frank B. Fuhrer Co, the Penn Ave. McDonalds, The Savoy Restaurant and Curtis Aiken, The New Pittsburgh Courier, KDKA-TV and of course none of it would have been possible without the Champions executive staff and the many volunteers.” 

GOLDEN SORORS—Patricia English, Lee Nicklos, Della Hale, Doris Brevard and Mildred Glenn. Each has celebrated more than 50 years in AKA.

According to Webster’s Dictionary the word unsung is used to define someone who is not celebrated or praised.
On Feb. 22, at the Lemont Restaurant the Ivy Charitable Endowment of Pittsburgh Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter) presented their Founders’ Day Community Awards Reception: Unsung Heroes. Guest enjoyed a beautiful view, divine hors devourers and a well-organized program. ICE President Delphina Briscoe and Christina Wilds, chapter president, welcomed the crowd and Great Lakes Regional Director Charlene Truitt Nelson was in town to greet sorors, friends and Unsung Heroes. Delphina Briscoe and Carol Brackett (ICE, vice president) presented awards to some of Pittsburgh’s best and brightest.
The Unsung Heroes of education were Linda S. Lane, Ed.D., superintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Mark Brentley Sr., board of directors, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Gail Edwards, PhD, principal and CEO, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School.
In the field of health Kathy Mayle Towns, dean of nursing at the Community College of Allegheny County, was honored as well as Wilford Payne, executive director of PCHA Inc.-Alma Illery Medical Center.
In the humanities, Mildred E. Morrison, administrator Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging, and Cecelia Jenkins, executive director of Pittsburgh Community Services Inc. were honored.
Unsung Heroes the Arts were Patrice Wade Johnson, M.Ed, screenplay writer/author) and Janera Solomon executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
In the field of business, Theodore R. Vasser III, director, Pupil Transportation for the Pittsburgh Public Schools was honored as well as K. Chase Patterson, president and CEO of Corporate Diversity Associates, LLC.
On this night there was no lack of celebration and heartfelt praise.

I recently had the occasion to show off my city. To lay the foundation I began the tour at the Senator John Heinz History Center. I wanted my friend to see the stainless steel car that is on display on the first floor. This is a person who owns nearly a dozen cars and I knew they had never seen a car made of stainless steel up close and personal. They were impressed.
We moved into the current exhibit at the center, which is “1968: The Year That Rocked America.” Presented by UPMC Health Plan, the exhibit chronicles the pivotal year in U.S. history that saw assertions of Black Power at the Olympic Games, the national launch of Pittsburgh-produced “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” stardom for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, the debut of locally made cult classic “Night of the Living Dead,” and the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The year began with the Tet Offensive, the deadliest period of an increasingly divisive Vietnam War, and ended with hope for the future, as the Apollo 8 capsule beamed back images of “Earthrise” from the far side of the moon for the first time.
Nearly a dozen interactive video presentations and more than 100 evocative artifacts that explore how the year 1968 helped shape our modern world are featured. You can explore the sights and sounds of ‘68, including:
•Original set and several puppets from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” on public display for the first time outside of the WQED studios
•20-foot Bell UH-1H “Huey” helicopter used in the Vietnam War—the largest item ever displayed inside a History Center exhibition
•Video footage from Dr. Martin Luther King’s final public speech and items from King’s funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church, including the communion plate, microphone and program.
I really enjoyed the interactive segment; we watched clips of television shows from that era and sang along with each theme song. If you go please go beyond the first floor and visit the entire history center, even if you have been there before. You always see something that you didn’t see before, especially if you see it through someone else’s eyes.
I used to work at the history center and many things have changed since I was a member of the Stages in History acting company.  I loved showing off Pittsburgh, our Incline and universities. We had Sunday Brunch at Savoy and had a wonderful time.
In the meantime mark your calendars for March 9, at the Homewood Coliseum, Kings & Queens Mardi Gras Quesnino 2013, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. This is always a good time.  I wish more people would dress for the occasion. It would be great to see more masks, costumes and that Mardi Gras feeling from the guests.  
On March 23, BASH will hold their annual fashion show and Scholarship luncheon at the Double Tree in Greentree. Yours truly will present an eclectic fashion show “Add A little Bling.” The show will feature items that you can walk away with at a great price. Can you believe an evening dress for $5? Visit www.BASHFORWOMEN.COM for more information.

GOSPEL GIANT—First Lady Denise and Pastor Timothy Caldwell of New Life Deliverance Ministries strive to restore hope to their City of Duquesne by bringing Gospel giant Donnie McClurkin, center, to the area. (Photo by Diane I. Daniels)

Pastor Timothy Caldwell is on a mission to uplift the residents of the city of Duquesne and other towns in the Mon Valley.
“It seems like people here in the Mon Valley are losing hope,” said Pastor Caldwell, president of Miracle Temple Evangelistic Ministries in Duquesne. “I’m trying to encourage people that they can do better.”
The City of Duquesne was founded in 1789. It is about two square miles and has a population of approximately 5,500 residents.
To help alleviate the hopelessness, Pastor Caldwell has come up with several ideas to “put Jesus in the street” and get the people of the region to realize how special they are and how much they are loved by God.
Some of those ideas include hosting a clothing drive and raising money to help needy Mon Valley residents with Thanksgiving and Christmas.
To help further his mission, Pastor Caldwell and his wife, Denise, brought gospel powerhouse singer Donnie McClurkin to Miracle Temple.
Pastor Caldwell sent a request to McClurkin last October, but wasn’t sure he would accept it. But he did. Pastor Caldwell saw it as divine intervention.
“Donnie is a big name in gospel and the event was standing room only,” said Pastor Caldwell, who inherited Miracle Temple Evangelistic Ministries from his father R.I. Caldwell. “He spoke about how we as a people need to put the focus back on God and do what’s right.
“We had about 700 people from all across the Mon Valley. It was standing room only,” Pastor Caldwell continued. “Pastors from other churches came to support us and that’s great because it helps us build relationships and we can all work together. The event was definitely a success. People have been calling since the event asking about CDs and DVDs. We are looking to bringing other artists to the Mon Valley.”

In the meantime, Miracle Temple Evangelistic Ministries and several other churches within Duquesne have been working together for the last five years to provide scholarships for students who wish to attend college.
“We help with books, living expenses or anything the kids need the money for,” Pastor Caldwell said. Each scholarship ranges between $200 to $300 and Pastor Caldwell estimates that the conglomerate of churches has given out about 60 of them.
In addition to Miracle Temple, the other Duquesne-based churches that help with the scholarships are: City of Hope Church of the Nazarene, Christ Soul Saving Station, Christ Lutheran, First Presbyterian, Payne Chapel AME, Macedonia Baptist Church, New Birth Baptist Church and New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Healing Temple has also been a part of the group in past years.
The group also holds a fifth Sunday service together and holy week services, which begins on Palm Sunday. They are also trying to find a way to hold skating events for all of the area’s children, although some of the churches hold skating events on their own.
“I believe the communities are separated because the churches are divided. What matters is that there is one God. If the churches come together that will bring the people in the community together,” Pastor Caldwell said.
Anyone interested in helping Pastor Caldwell with his mission is encouraged to contact him at 412-758-6274.