The honorees were 13 year old entrepreneur, Leah Baker; 22 year old Carter Redwood, Carnegie Mellon alum who graduated with high honors and is currently living and working as an actor in New York City; 22 year old Kai Roberts, a Project Director at the Lighthouse Project, a skilled musician and an advocate for mental health awareness; 18 year old Amir Allen, 2016 graduate of CAPA High school, a gifted writer, an environmental champion and an advocate for social justice, 18 year old Tiger Weaver, an Amachi spokesperson and an advocate for children of incarcerated parents, 14 year old Keimon Dupree, an honor student, musician and athlete who aspires to study engineering at Harvard, 17 year old Robert Rose Johnson, and 17 year old Raynard Lucas, singer/song writers who form the group Ink and who are participants in the YMCA Lighthouse Media Arts Program in Homewood; Sisters Chandel and Cieayrra Boozer 23 and 21 respectively—Chandel studying law and Cieayrra, studying to become a Neuro-Surgeon at Temple University; 17 year old Ionie Banner, Honor Student, Penn Hills Graduate, star basketball player, and 6-time Ben Carson Scholar, 22 year old Kuwame Kinsel, advocate for social justice, mentor to youngsters for Bike Pittsburgh and a multimedia artist, 17 year old Quincy Stanley, scholar; reading tutor and mentor to elementary school students; and Terrence Johnson Hart 17 year old scholar and advocate for social justice.
Master of Ceremonies for the event was Harry Johnson, the Manager for BMe Pittsburgh, he extended a welcome and recognized the young people for their outstanding accomplishments, saying “BMe is proud to partner in this event, as these are all our next community leaders.”
Also on hand to extend words of encouragement, congratulations and wisdom to the young people were Melvin Hubbard El, Chief of Staff from the Office of State Representative Ed Gainey’s, who had each family member and supporter of these youth stand and in unison tell them how much they were loved and Mary Esther VanShura, director of Community Affairs, Allegheny County, representing County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald.
She eloquently reminded the audience of the story of Michelangelo who was asked how he sculpted such a beautiful Angel, he answered the inquiry by saying, I saw an Angel in the marble, so I carved until I set it free; to the young people she said, you are our Angels… we set you free to be your excellent selves.
Fourteen poster size replicas of each student showing the photos and article as they were featured in the New Pittsburgh Courier decorated the auditorium.
The group Ink comprised of Raynard Jackson and Robert Rose Johnson, two of the honorees, rendered musical entertainment.
Michele Rone Cooper, executive director of McAuley Ministries spoke directly to the audience and the honorees when she said, “The great Muhammad Ali once said, ‘impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential.’ I congratulate these young people who have taken that dare, and who inspire us with their potential.” She continued
“I have been inspired by the accomplishments of our honorees and I feel that our future is in very good hands.”
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