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By Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey, and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
Closing out a month of Black History Month events, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) honored 12 Californians with its “Unsung Hero” award during a ceremony held at the State Capitol on February 26.
The awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to civic life within each CLBC member’s district.
Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) presided over the ceremony and presented a resolution on the Assembly floor celebrating the extraordinary work the award recipients are doing in their respective communities.
“The CLBC created the Unsung Hero Awards in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – to celebrate those who embody his philosophy and ideas,” said Jones-Sawyer, a member of CLBC. “We continue this tradition with this distinguished group of individuals.”
This list of honorees included city of Fairfield librarian Mychael Threets (Assemblymember Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City), Treehouse’s CEO and founder of Prophet Walker (Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, D- Ladera Heights), Young and Prosper Foundation’s Chris Jones (Assemblymember Akilah Weber, D-La Mesa), Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce’s President Cathy Adams (Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Alameda), and Los Angeles Unified School District’s Government Affairs advisor Carolyn Fowler (Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood).
Awards were also given to Brother 2 Brother At-risk Mentoring and Gang Prevention’s co-founder Mervin Brookins (Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento), KBLA Radio 1580 talk show Host Dominique DiPrima (Reggie Jones Sawyer, D-Los Angeles)), California Justice and member of the California Supreme Court Leondra R. Kruger (Assemblymember Chris Holden, D-Pasadena), Vice Chair of Compton Unified School District’s Board of Education Dr. Ayanna Davis (Assemblymember Mike Gipson, D-Carson), and Moreno Valley youth advocate Kymberly Taylor (Assemblymember Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley).
On the Senate side, Dr. Thomas Parham, the 11th President of California State University Dominguez Hills, was honored (Sen. Steven Bradford, D-Inglewood). His wife Davida Parham accepted the award on his behalf. Fran Jemmott, founder of California Black Women’s Health Project and the Jemmott Rollins Group, was escorted to the Assembly floor for her award by Assemblymember Bryan, who stood in for Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles).
