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Men of Honor - Power and Excellence
POWER AND EXCELLENCE
BY D. SHENELL REED
2021 Men of Honor with inaugural members on front row Commissioner Regina Hill, ONYX Publisher Rich Black, Congresswoman Val Demings, Man of the Year Mayor Jerry Demings, ONYX Events Chair Dee Parker, Congressman Charlie Crist
Keynote Speaker Vincent Evans
In a night of esteem and honor, ONYX Magazine recognized 19 of Florida’s leading Black men for their outstanding achievements at its annual ONYX Magazine’s Men of Honor Awards. Along with Founding Partner Orlando Health, ONYX, the 24-year-old publication that celebrates Black achievement throughout Florida, named elected officials, C-suite leaders and market presidents among Florida’s top leaders, including Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings as Man of the Year. The black-tie, soldout dinner was held Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in the posh Grand Bohemian
Orlando Downtown Hotel.
“I stand on the shoulders of those African slaves who got us to this point….We are going to work every day to make the world a better place,” said Mayor Jerry Demings when he stepped onto the stage at the end of the night thronged by a standing audience.
He thanked the ONYX Magazine team for the effort, especially Chair
Dee Parker and Publisher Rich Black for the vision of Men of Honor. He gave credit to his wife, Congresswoman Val Demings, and sons for their continued support. But perhaps his most poignant words were to the aspiring male leaders in the room. “Young men…you know there is an opportunity for all of you to rise to the occasion and be of service and good will to others like all of these honorees here tonight,” he said.
The evening opened with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer congratulating the
“change agents” who were being recognized. “They have all had impact on our community, our state and on the national level,” he said. Following Dyer was a chorus of uplifting words by some of America’s most committed leaders.
In an explosive keynote address, speaker Vincent Evans, influenced by the theme “Commitment to Mentorship,” challenged honorees to continue positive role modeling for young men. “Who is willing to carry the weight,” Evans asked the honorees. “As you exceed lofty heights, don’t lose your fight! You are the best this community has to offer. Do not grow weary in your well doing. Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, for as long as ever you can.”
Evans is the deputy director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Office of the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. He also admonished that [as a community responsible for helping the next generation do well, we are not doing enough if we have only one of each honoree]. Then he named them one-by-one. The sentiment brought the audience to its feet with heavy applause.
ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black received a gesture from his godson, Treyvon Fair, which highlighted what the entire evening was about: mentorship. The award, selected by Fair, carried the words “To Rich Black, the best father and mentor a young man can have.”
POWER AND EXCELLENCE
ONYX Publisher Rich Black and his godson Treyvon Fair
“Black people across our state continue to play a pivotal role in the future growth of our communities and ONYX Magazine strives to stay at the helm in telling those stories,” said Black. “Our distinguished honorees stand at the very peak of excellence in their communities and professions and we think it is critical that Florida and the nation know about their accomplishments.”
Also attending the event were two members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida. Rep. Charlie Crist congratulated the honorees by saying, "This is a great night. Mayor Demings surely deserves the honor he is receiving this evening."
Rep. Val Demings, from Florida's 10th District, followed. "There is nothing that we cannot accomplish in this nation...as long as we live up to America's promise," she said. "I want to thank the men who are being honored tonight for all that you have done and all that you will continue to do to make sure we will continue to form that more perfect union." She made a special point to congratulate the Man of the Year.
The theme, “Commitment to Mentorship,” punctuates the need for influencers to create a path of success for ambitious young men, and the importance of mentorship to help guide them toward the goals—and it resonated throughout the event.
“As men in our community, we’re blessed to be positioned to influence others, especially the
MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS
Orange County Government Man of the Year
Desmond Meade, Esq.
Executive Director Florida Rights Restoration Coalition The Rich Black Vanguard Award
Belvin Perry, Esq.
Retired Chief Judge Excellence in Education Award
Alzo Reddick, Sr., Ed.D.
Chairman of the Board, Guardian Care Florida Legislature, Retired UCF Director, Retired Publisher's Award
Innocent Akujuobi, M.D.
Emergency Medicine Physician Orlando Health
Norton Bonaparte, Jr., ICMA-CM City Manager City of Sanford, Florida
Alvin "A.C." Cowans
President/CEO McCoy Federal Credit Union
Jaret Davis
Co-Managing Shareholder Greenberg Traurig, P.A. - Miami
John Davis
Secretary of the Florida Lottery State of Florida
Samuel Eubanks
Senior Vice President, Private Bank Bank of America
Gregorio "Greg" Francis, Esq.
Osborne & Francis Law Firm, PLLC
B. Lee Green, Ph.D.
Vice President, Diversity, Public Relations & Strategic Communications Moffitt Cancer Center
Eugene Jones, Ph.D.
Executive Dean Valencia College Downtown Campus
Roderick "Rod" Love
President & CEO Community Synergy Group, Inc.
Esu Ma'at
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Orlando Magic
Bishop Derrick McRae
Senior Pastor The Experience Christian Center
Derrick Wallace
Chairman Construct Two Construction Managers, Inc.
Clarence Wilkerson, Jr.
Vice President, National Accounts Weyerhaeuser Distribution
Antwan Williams
Administrator, Allied Health & Support Services Orlando Health
Founding Partner Orlando Health Representatives Antwan Williams, Donna Gilmer, Quib Graham, Dr. Innocent Akujuobi ONYX Publisher Rich Black, Keynote Speaker Vincent Evans, 2021 Co-Chair Nancy Port Schwalb, Man of the Year Mayor Jerry Demings, ONYX Events Chair Dee Parker, ONYX Co-founder Lesster Seays
next generation,” said honoree John F. Davis, the secretary of Presenting Sponsor the Florida Lottery. “I believe it is our duty to challenge and inspire them to greatness—greatness that will transform them from today’s youth to tomorrow’s leaders. I am a firm believer that providing students with opportunities for education and mentorship can change their lives from acceptable to exceptional.”
The sentiment carried on throughout the evening.
“An investment in the next generation is priceless,” 2021 Chair Dee Parker, the president of Parker Realty Group said in a statement. “So many young men simply need someone they can trust to guide them.” Parker and co-chair Nancy Port-Schwalb, the president of Schwalb Public Relations, along with the committee, planned a memorable event for the honorees and their families.
Each year, ONYX Magazine selects Black men who achieve noteworthy successes that measurably change lives—gentlemen like retired Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who is an advocate for higher learning. Perry received the Excellence in Education Award. Desmond Meade, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition president, who is widely recognized for his work on voting and criminal reform issues received the 2021 Rich Black Vanguard Award. Alzo Reddick, Ed.D., a former Florida representative and founder of UCF’s Soldiers to Scholars Program, received the Publisher’s Award. They and Demings led an impressive troupe of 2021 award recipients. Speakers did not miss the significance of what the men have achieved.
"These are the accomplishments of influential men who understand why it's important to be influential," said Orlando Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5. "If you are not positively influencing someone else, you are not influential."
She was followed by Orlando Commissioner Bakari Burns, District 6, who encouraged honorees to continue greatness. "These men are what men of honor are supposed to be: men of vision, strength, esteem and valor," he said. "Each person being honored tonight has worked to push our region forward and has worked to leave an indelible mark to those who follow them. You will eventually leave big shoes to fill. But the good news is you are leaving a blueprint that can be followed and improved upon."
For the second year, Orlando Health supported ONYX Magazine's Men of Honor. Leaders there say they believe in the vision ONYX has for the community.
“It is always a privilege to uplift our men of color in the community,” said Quibulah Graham, the corporate director of Diversity and Minority Business Development at event Founding Partner Orlando Health. Other sponsors were Presenting Sponsor the Florida Lottery; Honoree Reception Sponsor Gilchrist Enterprises; Event Sponsors Orlando Magic, McCoy Federal Credit Union, Orlando Downtown, and Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5, Clear Channel Outdoor, Concorde Career Institute, Downtown Arts District, and GGR; Program Sponsor University of Central Florida; and Entertainment Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Orlando.
Elcy Hernandez, the president of The Closer International, Inc., served as the event’s host; and Eryka Washington, the director of Communications and Reedy Creek Improvement District, introduced the honorees.
This Event Overview Has Been Sponsored by OUC
