CityFlight Newsmagazine to honor ‘Ten Most Influential African Americans in Bay Area’ Awards gala at Herbst Theater Feb. 1
Posted on SFBayView.com
on 1/22/03
Written By Lee Hubbard
When John Hilton founded CityFlight Newsmagazine seven years ago, he wanted to spotlight African Americans in the Bay Area by telling the stories and displaying positive images of influential people and newsmakers. Then a sophomore at Santa Clara University, John had grown up in the South Bay without any local Black publications that spoke to his reality.
Since then, the all-volunteer magazine has grown to a circulation of over 30,000. CityFlight highlights African Americans in sports, education, politics, culture and business and provides information about what is happening in the Bay Area’s Black community.
At its fourth annual awards celebration on Saturday, Feb. 1, in San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre, CityFlight will honor 10 people deemed the Bay Area’s most influential – one in each of the categories of Arts and Literature, Community Service, Corporate, Education, Entertainment, Entrepreneur Small Business, Media, Public Service, Spiritual Leader and Youth. A CityFlight panel, after considering suggestions from the public, nominated three people in each category, and right now the public may vote for their favorites by visiting the magazine’s website at www.cityflight.com.
According to CityFlight, “Influential is defined as the ability to affect change; the capability to have others look up to, or emulate; having power.” This is the definition used to determine awardees. “Thirty percent weight is given to the selections made by the public, while the final determination will be made by the CityFlight Newsmagazine awards panel.”
“These awards will give unsung heroes a spotlight and
show the community at large these shining examples of excellence,” said
Hilton. “We had covered so many great people throughout the year, and
I had gotten to know many of these achievers.”
While only one of the three nominees in each category will be named one of
this year’s Ten Most Influential, “all 30 individuals will be
celebrated and profiled,” said Hilton. “We have fun with the competition,
but all of the people on the list are doing great things in the community.”
“It is good for us to honor our own,” said Dr. Julia Hare, a previous award winner in the area of education and the emcee for the event this year.
“This is an excellent way to start Black History month,” Hilton said, “by not only reflecting on what has happened in our history, but by celebrating those that are making history today.”
The CityFlight awards ceremony will take place at Herbst
Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for youth age 21 and under. Tickets include
a year’s subscription to CityFlight. Buy tickets in advance by phone
at (415) 392-4400 or online at www.tickets.com.
For more information or to vote for your choice in each category, check out
www.cityflight.com