Congressman Charles Rangel and gospel legend Shirley Caesar offer healing words at NCBCP awards dinner

- About 300 people received a strong dose of holistic therapy during the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (NCBCP) Eleventh Annual Spirit of Democracy Awards Ceremony held in Washington DC last week. Dinner guests were treated with good food, a mixture of church and gospel music delivered by Pastor Shirley Caesar, and poignant remarks brought by Chairman’s Circle awardee Charles B. Rangel, chair, Ways and Means Committee U. S. Congress.

“All of the 2008 honorees were truly deserving of accolades. Each of them have demonstrated a consistent commitment to creating balance in the democratic process,” said Melanie L. Campbell, executive director and CEO of the NCBCP.

In addition to Congressman Rangel, honorees included Community Empowerment Award recipients, Derrick A. Humphries, Esq, executive director Black Congress on Health, Law & Economics, and Roland S. Martin, syndicated Columnist, radio host, and commentator for TV One Cable Network and CNN.

Jerry Lopes, president of American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), was on hand to accept the Corporate Leadership Award for the entire team at the largest radio network reaching urban America.

Acclaimed actress and producer, Sheryl Lee Ralph, presented Bev Smith with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as host of the syndicated radio program, “The Bev Smith Show.”

A special presentation was made to NCBCP Black Youth Vote! (BYV!) leaders, Jordan Thierry, national coordinator, BYV!, and Christina Sanders, state coordinator, Texas BYV! They accepted Outstanding Civic Leadership Awards for their overwhelming success in increasing youth participation in this and previous election cycles. Thierry and Sanders also coordinated a march to vote with over 3,000 students at Prairie View University this past February.