The Economic Awareness Day and Community Appreciation Benefit was a big success.
“We exceeded our expectations,” said Dawn Webb-Turner, who’s already planning for the next year
Sponsored by Our House Development, Inc., the event took place at the August Wilson Center and the Economic Awareness Day occurred at the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum, Oct. 30 and 31.
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| COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE—David Hopkins of PNC, Esther Bush of the Urban League of Pittsburgh and Rick Adams of CCAC, mistress and master of ceremonies, show their support for the Our House Economic Awareness Day. |
Focusing on Westinghouse High School and Homewood community notables, Webb-Turner says the event is designed to say thank you to people in the areas of service in education, community and business and to bring awareness to the culture and history of the community. The theme for the appreciation benefit was “A Royal Night of the Legacies.”
“The Pittsburgh education system is second to none producing good students,” said keynote speaker, Robert Burley, a former teacher, basketball coach and vice principal of Westinghouse High School and current executor of Burley Consulting. Assuring the audience that students can be anything they want if they put their mind to it, he pointed out that the key to education is capturing, inspiriting and teaching. “You have to capture a student’s attention and show them you are interested in them; inspire them by encouraging them and teach them that what they are learning is important,” he stated.
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| THE HOUSE IS IT—Robert Burley, keynote speaker, former teacher, basketball coach and vice principal of Westinghouse High School, congratulates the Westinghouse and Homewood awardees during the Royal Night of the Legacies celebration.
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Awardees for the evening included education, Linda Ross-Brown, John Tarka, Patricia Davis, Phyllis Jones and Community College of Allegheny County Homewood Branch; business, Belmar Printing, Dorothy and Leonard Washington of the Hoagie Castle, Wades Barber Shop, Simmies Restaurant and Debbie Hickman owner of the East Hills Giant Eagle. Community awardees include the Rosedale Block Cluster, Operation Better Block and the Community Empowerment Association and the Faith Based Organization Spotlight was on “Rapha Ministries.
Richard Adams of the Community College of Allegheny County and Esther Bush of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, both Westinghouse High School graduates, served as master and mistress of ceremonies for the Community Appreciation Benefit. Entertainment was provided by Nelson Harrison, Brother 2 Brother and students from the Helen Faison Primary Choir. The drum call and drumming was performed by the Ibeji Drum Ensemble.
The Economic Awareness day consisted of workshops and an African market of vendors, information tables, book signings and poetry readings. Presenters were John Brewer, conducting “Mysteries of the Sacred Grounds of Homewood;” Cherylie Fuller, conducting “Opportunities for Obtaining Great Property in Our Community;” and LaVerne Baker-Hotep conducted “Body and Soul, Your Most Important Business.” Line dance classes were conducted by Roland Ford.
The two days of activities were sponsored by the Multi-Cultural Arts Initiative, PNC, Urban settlement, and the Black Political Empowerment Project.
Concerned that the youths of today are not familiar with their history or economics, Webb-Turner operates Our House Development and is developing the George A. Webb Learning Institute that will teach financial education and entrepreneurship skills to school-age children. “Our House Development exists to help educate the youth in the communities on our true history and culture, science, math, business and finance, she says. She points out that its primary goal is to help prepare students to become young entrepreneurs, while utilizing the arts and culture as a positive medium to educate, promote, and reinstate self-pride.
Proceeds from the Economic Awareness Day & Community Appreciation Benefit help support the George A. Webb Sr. Learning Institute & Museum.
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