The Dr. Dorothy Height Call to Service Centennial Celebration with Presiding Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Award-winning Gospel Singers Vickie Winans and Smokie Norful, Urban Jazz Harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet, and WPAS choir Women of the Gospel was held on March 17, 2012 in Washington, DC at Shiloh Baptist Church. The event was a roaring success.
Sponsored by the Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation and the National Council of Negro Women, the event served as the kick-off of the weeklong call for service marking the centennial birthday of civil rights, women rights and social activist Dr. Dorothy Height, who died in 2010 at 98 years of age. The 2-hour kick-off service was a celebration of music and a call for everyone to participate in some form of service to others during the seven days leading up to and after March 24, the date Dr. Height was born in 1912.
Among the program participants were former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, President of the Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation and NCNW chair
Dr. Barbara Shaw; Maureen Bunyon (Lead Co-Anchor at WJLA-TV) served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The celebration was free and open to the public. Everyone was asked to wear something purple, Dr. Height’s favorite color.
Happy Birthday to my niece Jina Haynes Esq.(Washington, DC) and Master George Roby(St. Louis) who both share a birthday (March 24) with my beloved Great Aunt Dorothy. Mom Linda Roby says George is planning to go on the golf trip described below next year!
A few savvy St. Louisans enjoyed an annual golf outing in Phoenix, AZ last month. Old friends and golf buddy’s here in St. Louis played golf by day and discussed various community projects over dinner. The Meridian Condos and Resort in Scottsdale, AZ was command central for this group co-chaired by Rev. Donald Hunter (New Sunny Mount Baptist Church) and Wayne Harvey, Esq. (Harvey and Associates). Attendees included; Jim Buford (Urban League St. Louis), Saul King (Boeing), Ron Roby (AT&T), Victor Julien (retired AB), George Robnett (Co-Founder Minority Contractor Initiative), and Joe Martin (consultant). The group really enjoyed the group breakfasts and early tee times while golfing at Raven, Hillcrest and Desert Sands courses.
On February 11, 2012 many St. Louis fashionistas attended the YWCA’s 42nd annual Alberta E. Gantt Valentine Fashion Show and Luncheon. Event Chair Denise Casey and her top notch committee raised more than $20,000 to benefit the Transitional Housing Program (THP) for homeless women. Casey, a business development advisor for Scottrade Advisor Services chaired the event last year. The affair was held at the Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel. Annually, the luncheon is planned by the Committee on Administration (COA). The COA was organized in 1911 to support the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the YWCA that served African-American women and girls in St. Louis. Since its inception, the organization has continually supported the YWCA for 101 years.
Marion Miller and two of her daughters (Audrey Miller MD. and Jane Miller Brown, ESQ.) spent Marion’s March lst birthday at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Audrey’s two dogs (Otis and Emily) enjoyed frolicking on the beach along the water’s edge and chasing the birds in their paths.
Brian Owens was in St. Louis where he performed live at The Old Rock House on March 6. 2012. Attendees enjoyed a VIP reception for the listening preview of his soon to be released CD “Moods & Messages” available June 2012. The much anticipated CD will feature Owens breaking from his traditional and contemporary jazz styles to old school soul. He is often compared to Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and other top artists. Please look look forward to a pre-taped interview with the The Nine Network’s Ruth Ezell on Living St. Louis to air in April. A native of Belleville Illinois may be best known as the singer with the former U.S. Air Force band: Sidewinder. He sang “God Bless America”, at one of The St. Louis Cardinals World Series games, has made appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America”, BET’s “Jazz Discovery”, “Entertainment Tonight” TV Show and the Emmy Award winning,” The Wayne Brady Show”.
Dana Grace
~Are you “Living With Purpose” ? Dr. Dorothy Irene Height ~
