On June 12, the National Conference for Community and Justice held its 73rd Brotherhood Sisterhood Awards Celebration at the Caramel Room at Bissinger’s. The six individuals being honored were recognized due to their work that demonstrates the power of diversity, inclusion, and equity.
The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) is a human relations organization that promotes inclusion and acceptance by providing education and advocacy while building communities that are respectful and justice for all.
Receiving the biggest award of the night, the Lifetime Achievement Award, was Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American and president of the St. Louis American Foundation.
“I think it reflects what a lot of people do,” Suggs said of the honor. “I just happen to be the person receiving the honor, but it reflects the American.”
During the awards presentation, Mayor Lyda Krewson got on stage and proclaimed June 12 as St. Louis’ Dr. Donald Suggs Day.
“These are very difficult times, and I think organizations like NCCJ are aligned in a good way,” Suggs said.
“I think we need to have more people that are willing to be involved in trying to find some solutions to problems that affect the entire community. There’s a lot at stake, and if this is not addressed more aggressively and assertively, it’s going to continue to burden this society and bad things will continue to happen.”
In 1980, Suggs and two partners purchased the then-struggling St. Louis American. Four years later, Suggs was majority shareholder and overseeing daily operations. Today, The American is the largest independent newspaper in Missouri and one of the largest African-American papers in the nation. It has won more than 200 local, regional and national awards in the last three years alone.
Other honorees included Zack Boyers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation; Jason Purnell, associate professor at Washington University ; Sharon Harvey Davis, vice president and chief diversity officer at Ameren; Steve Lipstein, past president and CEO of BJC HealthCare; and The Holocaust Museum & Learning Center.
“I think a lot of us can get discouraged by the current climate that we are living in, and it’s important to take time to recognize people who are working every day to try and make things better,” Jason Purnell said.
Purnell’s research at Washington University focuses on how socioeconomic and sociocultural factors influence health behaviors and health outcomes and on mobilizing community action to address the social determinants of health.
For Sharon Harvey Davis, vice president and chief diversity officer at Ameren, who also sat on the board for NCCJ, the night had symbolic meaning.
“Tonight’s program is exciting and bittersweet for me,” Davis said. “I am on the board for NCCJ, but I’m rolling off of the board this year, and this is my last event for NCCJ, and I’m also an honoree. It is a lot to kind of process, and they do such good work, and at this time I really hate to leave, but I know that they’re in good hands. I know they’ll continue to do the good work, and I know tonight will be a great way to celebrate that work.”
Davis began her career with Ameren 10 years ago as the company’s first diversity manager. It was during a time when many companies lacked diversity officers. Ameren distinguished itself by acknowledging that diversity was a business imperative and committed to resolve this issue. She said Ameren has kept its commitment to diversity.
“When you’re doing this work you have decisions to make, and every single decision comes down to choosing right and choosing fear,” Davis said. “We have to help people build the courage to do the right, and not the fear, because we have to overcome the fear. It’s just gripping us so much these days. We have to show people the pathway to get right done.”
For more information on NCCJ, visit https://nccj.org/.
Ashley Jones is an Emma Bowen Foundation editorial intern at The St. Louis American, supported by a grant from the Democracy Fund.
