Photos by Erin Mizeile
An interpretive mime performs during the program.
Honors w
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the annual event.
Man of the Year honors went to
the director of corporate and civic
engagement at Reynolds American
Inc., Alan Caldwell. Caldwell said, "I
am truly humbled by being named
man of the year.
"I don't do the things I do for
recognition," he continued. "I do it
because it is the right thing to do."
The Woman of the Year award
went to the executive assistant to the
chancellor and university secretary at
Winston-Salem State University
(WSSU), RaVonda Dalton-Rann.
After accepting her award, Dalton
Rann thanked those she has worked
with and encouraged those in atten
dance to become servant leaders.
"It's the servant leader who opens
your door when you can't open it
yourself. It's the servant leader who
sees a struggle and is right there," she
said. "Those are the type of people
whose shoulders I stand on today.
Those are the people who brought me
here."
The Chronicle also made special
tributes to the co-director of the Maya
Angelou Center for Health and
Equity, Ronny Bell, and WSSU asso
ciate professor of political science and
former leader of the Black Panther
Party, Dr. Larry Little.
After accepting his award, Little
gave an emotional speech on the
importance of social justice before the
hundreds in attendance.
,/ "When we talk about quality of
i life in this city, it must be inconspicu
ously connected with the quality of
justice," he said.
Little noted that it was his first
public appearance since the death of
his dear friend Darryl Hunt last
month. Before taking his seat, Little
urged all to continue reading The
Chronicle because the newspaper is
providing citizens with the truth.
"I want you to read The Chronicle
because they were the first to give us
the truth about Darryl and they are
now giving us the truth about the rail
roading of Kalvin Michael Smith."
"If we did not have The Chronicle,
we would not be as knowledgeable
about these cases," Little continued.
"Read The Chronicle because they are
giving us the truth."
Publisher emeritus of The
Chronicle, Ernie Pitt, said he is
Judge Denise Hartfield revs up the audience as mistress of ceremony at
the awards program.
delighted to see how the event has
grown over the years. Pitt mentioned
he considers everyone in attendance
his family because all are working
toward the goal of making the city of
Winston-Salem a better place.
"The people honored here today
are attacking the issues head on and
doing what has to be done to make
this city a better place," he said.
Pitt mentioned the affair is simply
a way to thank those in the community
who go about their daily lives helping
to improve conditions of the city.
Other honorees include Cheryl
Lindsay, Hanesbrands Inc. director of
human resources and inclusion/diver
sity, who received the Curator Award.
Organizations of the Year are the
Winston-Salem Urban League and the
Wake Forest University Innocence &
Justice Clinic.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
went to Francene Hash, campaign
manager at Project "UP"; Hazel
Mack, former regional managing
attorney for Legal-Aid N.C. and
founder of Carter G. Woodson School;
and Benjamin Harris, director at
Carter G. Woodson School.
Community Service Awards went
to Suzanne Reynolds, dean of the
Wake Forest University (WFU)
School of Law; Kelly Carpenter, sen
ior pastor of Green Street United
Methodist Church; Omari Simmons,
director of the business law program
at WFU; Bishop Todd Fulton, presi
dent of the Minsters' Conference of
Winston-Salem and Vicinity; and
Elizabeth Speight, the longtime choir
musician and musical director for the
Rupert Bell Singers, who perform in
the community for residents of nurs
ing homes, assisted living facilities
and adult day care pro
grams.
Longtime Chronicle employee
Paulette Lewis Moore was presented
with a Community Service Award as
well.
The church of the year award went
to Union Baptist Church.
Mayor Allen Joines said he was
honored to attend such an important
event for the community. Joines also
applauded The Chronicle for being the
voice of reason for more than 40
years.
"For years. The Chronicle has
been the keeper of the holy grail here
in Winston-Salem, and I know they
will continue to be the voice of the
community."