Urban CNY’s 30th Anniversary, recognizing CNY Minority Men Media at sold-out Syracuse Stage event. Mayor Ben Walsh and Cora Thomas recognized by cast at curtain call.
An overflow crowd attended the sold-out celebration which took place prior to the final performance of Syracuse Stage’s Thoughts of a Colored Man on Saturday September 21st . It was clear from the crowd in the lobby ,this was going to be a special night. The attached Sutton Pavilion was the site of Cora Thomas’ Ms. Mary Philanthropy Day Celebrating Ken Jackson and Urban CNY’s 30th Anniversary, in addition to recognizing CNY Minority Men Media. The September 21st event sold out days before anticipated, a large crowd was entertained by The Kool Jazz Band assembled just for this evening. Food in abundance was provided by St. Louis Finest Catering with Chef Tommy Jackson. Special thanks goes to sponsors Iheart Radio/Power 620 and Destiny USA, Mayor Ben Walsh and staff and The Kool Jazz Band.
CNY Minority Men Media Awards presented to: Charles Cannon, Butch Charles, Kenny Dees, Charles C-Jack Jackson, Pastor Daren Jaime, George Kilpatrick, Joe Lee, Reggie Seigler, Quindell Williams, Dr. Rick Wright and Legacy Award in Media, Charles Anderson. Final Remarks were delivered by Cora Thomas, Adelia Royal and Frank Ogletree.
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh was assisted by Assemblyperson Pamela Hunter in presenting the honorees with plaques and recognition letters. Ms. Mary Philanthropy Day and urbancny.com/The Constitution were recognized by Joint Proclamations signed by Syracuse, Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon II.
Assemblyperson Pamela Hunter presented a Proclamation to Cora Thomas in honor of Ms. Mary Philanthropy Day from the Assembly of the State of New York; urbancny.com and Ken Jackson also received a proclamation celebrating the urbancny.com 30th Anniversary Recognition.
CNY Minority Men Media are as follows
Kenny Dees
“I came to Syracuse to attend Syracuse University and I never left. I’ve grown very attached to the city and its people.” Kenny Dees came to Syracuse in 1978 majoring in Political Science. Dees is WHEN-Power 620’s program director. Power 620 is the only R&B radio station serving CNY. He is also host of Power Perspectives, a community affairs program on Power 620.
- Power 620
- R&B Radio
Charles Cannon
Charles Cannon is well known as leader of the gospel group, Bells of Harmony. He spent decades on Gospel Radio WSIV AM1540, hosting The Charles Cannon Gospel Hour.. Mr. Cannon has promoted many concerts throughout Central New York. He is also involved with the NYS Fair annual Gospel Sunday.
- Gospel Radio WSIV
- Bells of Harmony Gospel Group
Merrill B. “Butch” Charles
Merrill B. Charles or Butch, as friends call him, came to Syracuse University in 1975 and had a very rich and active experience. Beginning his freshman year, Charles worked at campus radio station WAER-FM and continued through his undergraduate and graduate years. Charles also is a pioneer in African American Broadcast Radio Station Ownership.
- Pioneer African American Broadcast Radio Station Ownership
- Professor/Mentor
Charles “C-Jack” Jackson
There are 2 things that make Charles “C-Jack” Jackson a valuable treasure for the Syracuse community. One is that he documents many events that define who we are as community. He also hosts the C-Jack Run Talent Showcase at the NYS Fair. Just as important, C-Jack is always striving to develop, mentor, and give a platform for up and coming talent. Through C Jack Productions, Jackson is a local independent videographer.
- C Jack Productions
- C-Jack Run Talent Showcase
- Independent videographer
Rev. Daren C. Jaime
As he works diligently to fulfill the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of his congregation at People’s AME Zion Church, Pastor Jaime’s mission transcends well beyond the pulpit. He is often sought after to be a community advocate and a voice for the voiceless. He successfully led the Flint, Michigan Water Supply Donation Campaign. Pastor Jaime has also been privileged to reach a global community as an award-winning journalist, educating minds across the world through his radio show “Power Perspectives” on Power620-iHeart Media.
- Power 620 Radio Talk Show Host
- Flint, Michigan Water Supply Donation Campaign
- Pastor Peoples AME Zion Church
George A. Kilpatrick
A dynamic broadcast talent, George A. Kilpatrick is an advocate of solutions-oriented media, using broadcast and new media to bring exciting, inspirational content in radio and TV. Television and Radio, 20 years with 570 WSYR, Power 620 “Inspiration for the Nation” Community involvement includes; Jerry Rescue Monument – member of monument committee. Mayor’s Minority Affairs Advisory Council.
- Television
- Radio “Inspiration for the Nation”
- Community – Jerry Rescue Monument
Joseph “Joe” Lee
Joe Lee is the Director and General Manager of WAER FM at 88.3, a 50,000 watt National Public Radio affiliate owned and operated by Syracuse University. With a career that spans over 25 years in public media that has been focused on providing enriching content that educates, enlightens, and informs civil discourse and cultural expression. Recent notable contribution, the yearlong initiative called City Limits: A Poverty Project, a multi-platform civic engagement project that examines poverty in Syracuse.
- City Limits Poverty Project
- Director and General Manager WAER FM
Reginald “Reggie” Seigler
As The Stand’s music columnist Reggie Seigler traveled to Grahamstown, South Africa, where joined a group of students and faculty from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse school of Communications. Seigler is Leader of SSB Soft Spoken Band– Music performance Group and founding member of JAMS – (Joined Artists Musicians & Singers) JAMS: is a collective of artists, musicians & singers available for event organizers and promoters who are seeking to diversify the talent lineup within their presentations.
- Writer – The Stand
- JAMS – Founder of organization to promote local Musicians and Bands
- Soft Spoken Band– Music performance Group
Quindell Williams
Quindell Williams is an Emmy Award-winning photojournalist. He was a Photojournalist & FAA Part 107 certified sUAS Drone pilot at WSTM, WTVH, and WSTQ in Syracuse, NY. Recently Quindell made a career switch becoming a High School educator at PSLA at Fowler, teaching Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS/Drone) technology in Syracuse, N.Y.
- Emmy Award-winning photojournalist
Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright
Roosevelt “Rick” Wright Jr. Professor Emeritus, Television, Radio & Film– Newhouse School of Communications, has been active in professional broadcasting; serving as general manager, program director, account executive, DJ announcer, chief engineer and local sales manager for a number of radio stations. Including WNDR-AM and WOLF-AM in Syracuse. He has served as faculty manager for WAER-FM in Syracuse and faculty adviser/licensee for student-owned and operated WJPZ-FM 89.1 at Syracuse University. He currently hosts, “Old School Sunday” from 1-7p
- Radio Pioneer in Syracuse New York
- Professor – Newhouse School of Communications
- PHD – Instructional Technology, with an emphasis on Radio
Charles Anderson
Charles Anderson’s story begins in the segregated countryside of Virginia. It took him to college at the University of Detroit, across the world to the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, and finally, to Syracuse. He served on the Syracuse Common Council representing the city’s Fourth District from 1985 to 1997. He was the host of the public affairs program Insight, was the first African American Common Council President, Pro Tempore. Major accomplishments; Citizen Review Board and LGBT Legislation.
- Host, Public Affairs Program Insight
- First African American Common Council President
- Citizen Review Board and LGBT Legislation
Proclamations
Cora Thomas’ Ms. Mary’s Philanthropy Day
Mary Elizabeth Reese-Ogletree (Ms. Mary) was known as a loving and caring member of the Syracuse community. A 53-year member of Second Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, Ms. Mary formed many crusades as a missionary which included her work organizing the “March for Christ” for church and community members to attend. She also worked with a number of organizations such as the Huntington Family Center and Girl Scouts of CNY; and since her passing on June 19, 2005, Ms. Mary’s family has received various honors in her name. Since 2006, the family recognizes her life’s work by giving back to the community and honoring her spirit in the name of Cora Thomas’ Ms. Mary’s Philanthropy Day.
The legacy of Ms. Mary’s work drives her children: Frank, Betty, Edna, Cora, Barbara, Agnes and Adelia. All natives of Syracuse, Ms. Mary’s children support the ongoing work of their mother through their sister, Cora Thomas, director of Cora Thomas’ Ms. Mary’s Philanthropy Day.
Cora Thomas and her siblings have served as hosts of community breakfasts and other events with donations supporting not-for-profit organizations, as well as sponsoring many Ms. Mary Philanthropy nights at Syracuse Stage including this year’s Media Night for Minority Men in Central New York.
Ryan McMahon II, County Executive of the County of Onondaga and Ben Walsh, Mayor of the City of Syracuse, proclaimed the Twenty-First Day of September, Two Thousand and Nineteen as Cora Thomas’ Ms. Mary’s Philanthropy Day In the County of Onondaga and the City of Syracuse
urbancny.com 30th Anniversary Recognition Day
The Constitution Newspaper was established on February 25, 1989 in Syracuse, N.Y. by Kenneth Jackson and business partner, Stanley M. Dean; and the publication’s central theme and mission is to “Celebrate Urban Life”; The Constitution became Urban CNY/The Constitution to reflect changes in the media landscape. In 2013, Urban CNY Newspaper became urbancny.com, the digital incarnation of the print publication.
Publishing exclusively online, the news Web site went from monthly distribution to regularly posted articles and information of interest to urban residents; the initial monthly print edition of 5,000 copies per month expanded to urbancny.com now having an average of 40,000 online visits per month. The Web site is now updated on a daily basis and has experienced unprecedented growth over the last five years; and each post contains informative, stimulating articles not found in other local publications, including hard-hitting feature stories, award-winning columns, probing analysis and award-winning “Breaking News” coverage; and
Urban CNY/The Constitution marks its thirty-year anniversary at a ceremony on September 21, 2019 in the Sutton Pavilion at Syracuse Stage prior to the evening’s performance of Thoughts of a Colored Man; and the contributions of urbancny.com to the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County community are recognized, and best wishes are extended to publisher Kenneth Jackson, and the urbancny.com writers and contributors for many more years of journalism success to come.
Ryan McMahon II, County Executive of the County of Onondaga and Ben Walsh, Mayor of the City of Syracuse, proclaimed the Twenty-First Day of September, Two Thousand and Nineteen as urbancny.com 30th Anniversary Recognition Day In the County of Onondaga and the City of Syracuse
Thank you to Syracuse City Hall for capturing the event for the city’s Facebook page.
