Local Leaders in Running for NAACP Image Award Hometown Honor
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan.12, 2015)
The vote is on. Seventeen Detroit Area leaders have been nominated as part of the NAACP Image Awards Hometown Champion Award. Through an online competition, the nominee who gets the most votes will be flown to Pasadena, California for the NAACP Image Awards, a “multicultural awards show, from an African American point of view.”
The voting goes through Jan. 19, and people can vote once per day.
Among the nominees from Oakland County are:
Khaalida English and the Pretty Positives After School Program. Nominator Elizabeth Shaifer wrote “Khaalida English started the “Pretty Positives Club” afterschool program over 10 years ago out of the need to help young girls build self-confidence, dispel negative media images, empower them with tools that will help increase their self-esteem and love of self. They are taught how to apply positive affirmations in their daily lives and meaningful ways to feel good about being in their own skin. Exposure to cultural enrichment field trips (ballet, orchestra, museum, and arts) for children and their parents are also provided. 5-6 Detroit schools are under her program tutelage now.
Khaalida was recently featured on “Mitch Albom Heart Of Detroit” TV Show and “Live In The D” followed by numerous requests for her to partner with other schools as well as donations to “Pretty Positives” Go Fund Me account . Her family and friends largely sponsored scholarships for individual girls who cannot afford to pay.”
Kaino Phillips of the Clarence E. Phillips Ascend Foundation. Nominator Deandre Clarkston wrote “I have known Mr. Kaino Phillips for more then 25 years and he has always been a person of high character. No matter what the need is or what the cause might be Mr. Phillips always seems to be there to support his fellow citizen. Over the past few years I have seen Kaino pour the resources of the Clarence E. Phillips Ascend Foundation into communities like Pontiac and Detroit to help empower the young people. It rare that you find a person that, everyone likes and no one has anything bad to say about them, a person fighting the good fight to bring about positive change in our communities. It is with great pleasure that I nominate Mr. Kaino Phillips for The Hometown Champion Award, I cannot think of anyone else who more deserves to receive this honor.”
LaTrice Jordanof Matrix Human Services. Nominator Nika Saunders wrote “LaTrice Jordan is more than is more than just a mentor she is the definition of help, assistance and a blessing. As the VP of Marketing and Development at Matrix Human Services LaTrice uses her platform to bless many people in the Detroit community. From the Matrix Human Services Annual walk against Poverty to the Adopt the Senior Program. LaTrice is not just a dreamer she is a doer and will do what it takes to make sure others have what they need to strive, succeed, survive and bless others. LaTrice is a phenomenal example of being a lady, a businesswoman, a mentor and a mom. Even if she doesn’t win this award, she still wins everyday by blessing others with food, shelter, clothing and life skills. And that is what being a positive role model in the community is all about…helping and equipping others.”
Ken Jones of The Cheap Chimp App. Nomiated by himself, Jones wrote “2014 was a breakout year for Ken Jones. Owner of The Cheap Chimp App, he has been able to give back to the community by donating school supplies, providing information/education/opportunities to save money as well as giveaways to families and individuals. His contributions can be found in the Detroit News, CBS Radio, IT in the D, and more.”
Sheilah Clay of Neighborhood Service Organizaiton. Nominator Harold Clay wrote “Sheilah Clay President and CEO of Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO). This $31 million Detroit-based nonprofit provides mental health, addiction treatment, crisis intervention/suicide prevention, homelessness, early childhood education, youth leadership, workforce development, violence prevention, supportive housing development, to individuals and families in Wayne and Oakland counties. Sheilah is the visionary leader of a $52 million restoration of the former historic Michigan Bell Building into permanent supportive housing for the homeless.
Sheilah serves as President of the Farmington Board of Education , serves on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Michigan League for Public Policy, Behavioral Health Professionals, ConsumerLink Network, Community Investment Fund, Southeastern Michigan Public Policy Task Force, Non-Profit Leadership Michigan Harvard Business School Club, Detroit Economic Club, Southeast Michigan Partners Against Cancer Center, Farmington African-American Parent Network (Founder), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
To view the entire slideshow, go to http://wcbnewsdetroit.upickem.net/engine/Votes.aspx?PageType=VOTING&contestid=158718#SubmissionDisplay.
To vote for an individual, click on their underlined name in the descriptions above.