Urban League’s annual event sees more than 400 attend, $400,000 raised
Neither frigid temperatures nor a winter storm advisory kept the more than 400 celebrants from attending the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s 28th annual Ronald H. Brown Leadership Awards Gala on Friday, Feb. 16. The guests gathered at the Rivers Casino ballroom on the North Shore for a virtual “Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh.” Just some of the power brokers present were Pittsburgh’s Mayor, Ed Gainey; Dr. Kathy Humphrey, President of Carlow University, William Generett Jr., Esq., Vice President of Civic Engagement and External Relations at Duquesne University, and Demeatria Boccella, President of Fashion Africana. Additionally, two CEOs from other Urban League branches were in attendance; Darrin W. Anderson Sr., Ph.D., M.S., President and CEO, Urban League of Philadelphia, and Dr. Erin R. Houston, Ph.D., President and CEO, the Shenango County Urban League Inc.
This year’s honorees were: Carmen Anderson (Vice President of Equity and Learning, The Heinz Endowments), Civic Leadership Award; Derrick Tillman (President, Bridging the Gap Development), Civic Leadership Award; Leah Lizarondo (CEO and co-founder of 412 Food Rescue), Community Leadership Award; and Alexandra Jones, Emerging Leadership Award.
Pennsylvania’s Second Lady, Blayre Holmes Davis, and Bryan Iams presented a joint welcome, after which, there was a video message from the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, extending his personal congratulations to both the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the honorees.
Andrew Stockey, of WTAE-TV (4), served as the emcee and facilitated receiving the honorees to the podium.
Anderson, who specifically oversees The Heinz Endowments’ funding that serves women and children, spoke of what civic leadership means to her, and the importance of providing the means that pour into the children.
“Our dreams cannot become reality for more than a few until we collectively have the will and determination to use our power to challenge injustice and oppression, to challenge hate in all its forms, and to stand in the gap for our children,” Anderson said after receiving her award. “They deserve a world where they can live to their potential. Civic leadership, to me, is more than just about leading; it’s about listening, learning and creating meaningful change. It’s about planting seeds for the future…This award serves as a reminder that leadership is not a position or title, but an example and action, and challenges us to always seek out ways to serve others before ourselves.”
Tillman said he first gave all honor to God “for giving me intellectual ability, work ethic and strength. I am reminded that I cannot be here on my own—the Word says your gifts will make room for you and bring you before great men, and as I look around this room, I see nothing but great men and women.”
Tillman, who, among other projects, is behind the Fifth & Dinwiddie development in Uptown, thanked his mother, his mentor, Greg Spencer, and his wife, Nykia. “My wife never stopped keeping me encouraged, pushing me, and being my number 1 fan,” he said.
Tillman continued: “Rosa Parks once said each of us possesses the power to become agents of change. Now I believe this for myself. I grew up in poverty, I experienced firsthand just how traumatic this can be and how poverty impacts every area of our lives and every decision of our lives. Bridging the Gap Development works to bridge gaps of opportunity, and bridge gaps in development for this region and beyond. Behind the scenes I give my time by sitting on boards, commissions and councils working to level the playing field to open up significant doors of opportunities for other minority enterprises and Black developers across the commonwealth. Our focus has been to impact the economic agenda for our people in this region and beyond. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘What good is it to be able to go into a restaurant when you can’t afford the menu?’ I’ll add to that by saying, what good is it to get the degree, purchase a home, or start the business, if you are constantly struggling to keep it. If you are not thriving, then we face the question of what your quality of life is. We must remember, Superman is not coming; God sent us! We are the ones we have been waiting for.”
Lizarondo shared her thanks for the award and stated that 412 Rescue “is about everyone in this room, that is the real magic of it. There are many faces in here who have been part of this bold, grassroots movement that Pittsburgh has introduced to the world. 412 Food Rescue’s homegrown technology is now being used all over the United States—they all want the movement we have created here. This truly exemplifies to me the true meaning of community. This is a technology, and I’m grateful to the foundations who listened to me when I said I had an app. I am grateful to the nonprofits in the room who, when asked if we’d bring food, would they give it to the people they serve, and there are 20,000 Pittsburghers who have downloaded the app and are getting notices every day.
The 412 Food Rescue app gives its volunteers the ability to get food that otherwise would have gone to waste into the hands of those who need it.
As for Jones, the recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award implemented by new Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Carlos Carter, said she’s the type of person to get her hands dirty and “do the work necessary to get the job done. When I am asked to help, and I know I am able to, and it is for the greater good, I’ll figure it out—from community service chair of the Urban League Young Professionals, to volunteering at the diaper bank and ending up their first employee—I say yes. Starting Aliquippa Green was about educating and empowering the community by teaching youth and young adults about urban agriculture, technology and home restoration.”
A significant highlight of the evening was a successful fundraising effort which not only included a silent auction of high-end items, but also a live action of a painting done by acclaimed Pittsburgh-based artist Kyle Holbrook. It was auctioned off for $1,700, which was added to the total of $400,000 raised for the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh overall.
Carter, now in his third year as the leader of the local Urban League (he took over for the retired Esther L. Bush), discussed to the crowd the importance of the Urban League and the organization’s goals, which is working to “change the landscape” for people of color in Pittsburgh.