Welcome Greetings Friends!
Welcome to our 17th Annual Award and Benefit Gala, “Creating Opportunities, Changing Lives” presented by State Farm. At the 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. (100BMC), our slogan is “What They See, Is What They’ll Be.” With the generous support of our corporate sponsors, partners and supporters like you, the 100BMC continues to create opportunities and positively change the lives of youth throughout the Chicagoland area. Windy City Live’s Ms. Val Warner and Mr. Ryan Chiaverini serve as our emcees for what will be a great program this evening. Their passion for impacting our youth will be evident as they help us celebrate our mentees and our honorees. Val & Ryan will help us to showcase the impact of our weekly mentoring. Our all-volunteer organization is the premiere provider of hundreds of mentoring hours impacting young people throughout the Chicagoland area. Tonight, we’re thrilled to present our Pathways to Success initiative graduates. This Wells Fargo and 100 Black Men of Chicago collaboration helps develop future corporate leaders and entrepreneurs. Creating Opportunities and Changing Lives. We’ll also preview our 12th Annual College Scholarship Fair Weekend. Our Platinum Sponsors this year are State Farm and The United States Air Force Academy. The University of Illinois at Chicago will once again host this year’s event scheduled for Friday and Saturday October 10 and 11, 2014. Creating Opportunities and Changing Lives. Showcasing the achievements of our honorees is the highlight of this evening’s programming. We’re glad you’re here to help us honor five Chicagoans who are committed to our mission- improving the quality of life and enhancing educational opportunities for African Americans. Anita Alvarez State’s Attorney Cook County Benjamin F. Blakeley, Jr. Senior Director of School Programs Urban Prep Academies
Rodney Gore Executive Director The Kappa League Institute Toni Preckwinkle Board President Cook County
Marlow Colvin Vice President, Government Affairs ComEd Our website at www.100bmc.org is a great place to learn more about how you can become involved in our other programs and initiatives. Enjoy your evening and we look forward to collaborating with you in our continued quest to Create Opportunities and Change Lives! Sincerely, Jourdan H. Sorrell President & CEO
Morris Smith Board Chair
Program Agenda AN EVENING WITH THE 100BMC Creating Opportunities…Changing Lives SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014 Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL West Tower – Regency Ballroom 6:00P.M. TO 9:00PM Reception – Dinner Program Honoree Awards Presentation Masters Of Ceremony ABC7-Windy City Live Co-Hosts Val Warner & Ryan Chiaverini 9:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT DJ Vince Adams & Dancing
Mission Statement
To improve the quality of life and enhance the educational opportunities of African-American males throughout the Greater Chicago area.
The Honorees
Anita Alvarez
Attorney, Cook County Anita Alvarez is the first female and Latina elected to the post of Cook County State’s Attorney. She leads the second largest prosecutor’s office in the nation, managing over 1,600 attorneys and administrative employees. Under her leadership, she has led the charge in the State of Illinois to enact important public safety initiatives, most notably, the “Street Gang Rico” law, that increases penalties for gang members arrested by police, who were apprehended for possession of illegal guns. Ms. Alvarez also created a first-of-its kind, Human Trafficking initiative to crack down on individuals and groups that attempt to exploit children. She also authored the Illinois Safe Children’s Act, a sweeping new law that enhances protection for juveniles caught in the sex trade. She has formed units that prosecute and investigate issues of public corruption, domestic violence, conviction integrity and organized retail theft. A Chicago native, Anita was born and raised in the Pilsen community. She received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University and her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is an avid runner, and a Chicago Blackhawks fan. State’s Attorney Alvarez and her husband, Dr. James Gomez, are the proud parents of four children.
Benjamin F. Blakeley, Jr.
Urban Prep Academies Senior Director, School Programs Benjamin F. Blakeley, Jr. has 20 years of experience in private and public school education. He has spent the last 17 years of his career focusing on the plight of urban young men. Ben helps manage the three campuses of the Urban Prep Academies Network, focusing particularly on the non-academic aspect of the school’s programs. He is charged with rewriting the network’s Code of Discipline to include more restorative justice measures that will lend themselves to reducing the suspension and expulsion rates of Urban Prep Students. Ben also served as Dean of Students at two urban high schools for boys in Chicago; Hales Franciscan High School and De La Salle Institute. Ben is also the co-founder of the Kerroy Wolfe mentoring program, which was created to serve boys between the ages of 12-17 in the city’s western suburbs. Ben is a graduate of Lindblom Technical High School in Chicago and earned a B.S. degree in Physical Science from Eureka College as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Supervision from National Louis University. Ben is also a very proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Mu Xi Graduate Chapter, where he currently serves as the chapter’s President.
Marlow Colvin
ComEd/An Exelon Company,Vice President-Governmental Affairs In 2012 Mr. Colvin joined ComEd as Vice President, Governmental Affairs. His primary responsibilities include managing strategic relationships with key state stakeholders. Prior to joining ComEd, he served as State Representative for the 33rd District in the Illinois General Assembly. He held this seat for over 11 years, and served on more than 25 Illinois House committees. Prior to joining the General Assembly, he worked as an administrator in the Cook County Assessor’s office, and also served as past Chairman of the Young Democrats of Illinois. Marlow earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Chicago State University. He currently serves on the boards for Advocate Trinity Hospital and Kiwanis Club of Southeast Chicago. Colvin lives in Chicago with his wife, Carmen Triche-Colvin.
Rodney Gore
Executive Director of the Kappa Leadership Institute – Chicago & Co-Vice Chairman of the National Guide Right Committee for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Over the past eight years, 100% of the students he has helped have matriculated to colleges rated as highly competitive. In the last three years, his students have averaged an ACT composite score of 28 or higher. In the past three years, he has helped young men obtain 5 Gates Millennium, 3 Jackie Robinson, 4 Coco Cola, 6 Quest Bridge, 3 Magic Johnson Scholarships, and 28 National Merit Finalists. In 2005, he began serving as the Executive Director of the Kappa Leadership Institute – Chicago. He completed his MBA in 2009 at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and is currently completing his Doctorate in Education at the Loyola University of Chicago. Rodney has been recognized by his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., as the “Guide Right Director of the Year”. Humbly, Rodney affirms, “I am only interested in promoting the academic and professional achievements of underprivileged young people, inspiring them to accomplish their goals despite the odds against them. I want my success to be illustrated in the successes of the youth I serve”. He received his education from Howard University and Harvard University Law School.
Toni Preckwinkle
Cook County Board President Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has been a dedicated community leader for over two decades. President Preckwinkle has worked with the County Board, our elected officials and county employees to implement major reform and reshape county government into a world-class institution based on the foundation of fiscal responsibility, innovative leadership, transparency & accountability, and improved services. Over the past three years, President Preckwinkle has eliminated the 1% sales tax of her predecessor, saving County residents $1.1 billion. Since taking office, she has cut $430 million in expenditures, passed four budgets and established a more transparent budget process. She has been focusing on critical public safety reform, while working to strengthen our health care system and increasing the capacity and capability of our economic development efforts. Before being elected Cook County Board President, Preckwinkle served 19 years as Alderman of the 4th Ward. There, she successfully fought for greater funding for education and affordable housing in her ward, sponsoring the Living Wage and Affordable Housing Ordinances. Her independent and progressive leadership earned her the IVI-IPO Best Alderman Award six times and two Leon Despres Awards. Prior to holding elected office, President Preckwinkle taught high school history for ten years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from the University of Chicago.
The Emcees Ryan Chiaverini
is co-host of ABC 7’s new, talk and entertainment show Windy City LIVE, and was formerly the sports anchor for ABC 7’s top-rated weekend newscast. His charm and ease as an interviewer were first noticed when he hosted ABC 7’s Bears’ pregame show, THE CHICAGO HUDDLE. Ryan possesses a quick wit, work ethic and reputation as someone you can’t help but like. Ryan came to ABC 7 from KUSA-TV in Denver, Colorado, where he had been the station’s sports reporter since 2002. He contributed to various sports shows, including “John Elway’s Crush Zone” and “The Broncos Huddle with Mike Shanahan.” Ryan attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he majored in Broadcast/ Journalism and played strong safety for the Buffalo football team. One of Ryan’s fondest memories is being able to play football with his twin in both high school and college.
Val Warner
is the co-host of Windy City LIVE, ABC 7 Chicago’s new morning talk and entertainment show. Prior to joining Windy City LIVE, Val was co-anchor and traffic reporter on WGN-TV’s Morning News. She joined WGN-TV in July 2005 as weekday anchor of the station’s 5:00 am newscast. Before coming to Chicago in 2005, Valerie served as primary evening anchor and reporter for WEYI-TV in Flint, MI for five years. From 1998-2000, Valerie anchored and reported the morning newscast at KSNT-TV in Topeka, KS. She also spent a year as fill-in anchor/reporter at KRQE in Albuquerque and KBIM in Roswell, NM. While attending the University of California at San Diego, she spent three of those years working behind the scenes at KGTV. Val’s work has been nominated for several Emmy Awards in Chicago and other markets. She has cohosted half-hour health specials covering topics such as diabetes and breast cancer. She has also hosted WGN’s Auto Show special. Valerie is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at San Diego in 1996. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Valerie’s family roots are here in Chicago.
Our Sponsors Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
Friends of the 100
Media Sponsors
Thomas B Henderson- 2014 Gala Chairman Tyrone Branch – Project Manager Special Thanks to: DJ – Vince Adams Photographer – LeVern Danley Limo Service – Travis Latham: Fellowship Fleet Videographer – Phillip Powell Volunteer Coordinator – Sharron Troupe Stage Manager – Beverly Washington Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel
2014 Gala Committee Ed Briscoe Art Burton Curtis Cooper Kevin L Davis David Day Jeff Douglas Owens Franklin Eddie Gaines Jasper Hagan
Michael Hughes Sr. Rock Irvin Neamen Lewis Cedric McCay Roosevelt Moncure Jourdan Sorrell Tyrone Thompson Carl Tutt Mike Williams
Membership Roster John Anderson Kenneth Baker Sam Balark Jeff Beckham Ray Bell Edward Briscoe James Brooks Fred Carter Robert Carter Ashton Clark Curtis Cooper Kevin Davis David Day Al Demming Charles DeShazer Mulbe Dillard Jeffrey Douglas
Shun Dyes Andre Edmonds Fabian Elliot Michael Fisher Norman Fleming Horace Flournoy Owens Franklin Eddie Gaines Craig Gilmore Robert Graham Jasper Hagen Gerald Harris Thomas Henderson John Holloway Herbert Hopkins Ruben Howard Rahman Irvin
John Kendall Spencer Leak Jr. Neamen Lewis Reginald Marsh Charles Joe Martin Anthony McCain Cedric McCay Roderique McClain Devin McCormick Isaac McCoy Jelani McEwen Will McNeil Eric Meredith Roosevelt Moncure Malik Nevels Daryl Newell Kendal Parker
One Hundred Black Men of Chicago, a 501(c)(3) organization, focuses on mentoring, education, health & wellness, and economic development. The Annual Gala raises funds to support our programs.
Kevin Pinkston Courtney Pogue Phillip Powell Lennie Pulliam Al Reid Roddric Sims Morris Smith Jourdan Sorrell Kenneth Speller Alvin Stafford Tyrone Thompson Aaron Travis Carl Tutt George Young Michael Williams