CityFlight Media Network and State Farm Insurance Named the "10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area™" for 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDITORS: Arts/Entertainment, Features, Media, Urban Affairs
CONTACT
Toni Beckham
408.499.3664
PR@cityflight.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- MARCH 27, 2006 -– On Saturday, March 25, 2006, State Farm Insurance, the number one auto insurer in the U.S., joined CityFlight Media Network to roll out the red carpet for its seventh annual gala to recognize 30 people for their respective contributions to the Bay Area African American community. San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theatre was the sold-out venue for the professionally-staged production, where CityFlight and its partners announced the "10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area" for 2005.
Numerous prestigious community, civic and professional organizations partnered with CityFlight to comprise the nomination committee. The committee selected the ten award recipients from among 30 nominees based primarily on the biographical data the nominees supplied to CityFlight, with special consideration given to their respective accomplishments and/or contributions during 2005. Additionally, popular votes submitted online via 10mostinfluential.com contributed 30 percent toward final award decisions.
The people named the "10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area" for 2005 are:
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Marcus Shelby - Music Composer & Arranger,
Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, SF
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Olis Simmons - Executive Director, Youth UpRising, Oakland
CORPORATE
Bernard Tyson - Sr. V.P., Brand Strategy, Kaiser Found. Health Plan, Inc.,
Oakland
EDUCATION
Dr. Arlene Ackerman, Ed.D. - Superintendent, SF Unified School District
HEALTHCARE
Mack Roach, III, MD. - Prof., Radiation Oncology/Urology; UCSF
MEDIA
Brenda Payton - Columnist, Oakland Tribune
POLITICAL/PUBLIC SERVICE
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins – Exec. Officer, South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council
SPIRITUAL
Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr. - Pastor, BeeBe Memorial Cathedral, Oakland
SPORTS
Bryant Young - Defensive End, San Francisco 49ers
YOUTH
Tristan Hicks - Senior, Valley Christian High School, San Jose
Sponsors
The very generous corporations and organizations that contributed to the "10 Most Influential …" campaign to benefit the "Take Flight™" Continuing Education Scholarship Program include presenting sponsor State Farm Insurance, co-hosts 102.9-FM KBLX and NBC11/KNTV, along with Adobe Systems, Inc., Ameriprise Financial, Inc., Catholic Healthcare West, Citibank, Comerica Bank-California, Rollz Royce Limousine, Tager Group, The Crown Royal Company, Yahoo!, and Youngblood Timepieces, Inc. CityFlight is also grateful for the support of 123-Awards, Digital Clubhouse Network of Silicon Valley, John Murray Productions, Kim Nalley / Jazz at Pearl’s, NorthStarr Media Group, and expert beauty consultants Leani Clay and Monique Ford for their respective contributions to the overall success of the six-month campaign and spectacular event.
Emcees/Entertainment
The history-making gala affair was strewn with excitement throughout intermittent award presentations, touching acceptance remarks, lively entertainment and a special reverence to Katrina victims. The very capable and refreshing Master and Mistress of Ceremonies were the hysterically funny and super high-energy comedian, actor and writer Rodney Perry from "Johnson Family Vacation" and the beautiful and talented actress Golden Brooks who plays Maya Wilkes on UPN's "Girlfriends," and stars in newly released movie “Something New,” opposite Blair Underwood and Sanna Lathan.
Youth dance group W.H.A.T lead off the evening with the next generation of break dance - an arresting hip hop dance routine to the bold sounds of the rap music genre. Performing two neo-soul selections, Sandy Griffith mystified the audience with her sultry voice and angelic-like presence. Eugene Cole and Persuaded brought joyful noise to the gathering with its uplifting gospel selection. KBLX's Nikki Thomas lended her familiar sultry voice to background announcements and narration, while NBC11’s Cheryl Hurd and T.J. Holmes provided video voiceovers.
Special Guest Award Presenters
Belva Davis, KRON and KQED special assignment reporter; Cheryl Evans, CitiBank
Community Relations Director; San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris;
Jennifer Madden, Charles Houston Bar Association President; James Jackson,
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer; Rev. Calvin Jones,
Jr., Providence Baptist Church Senior Pastor; Walter Rhodes, Vice President,
Strategic Sourcing, Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Larry Sneed, CLU,
State Farm Insurance; Joseph Wong, Port of Oakland Deputy Executive Director;
and other persons of distinction.
You may now learn more about the “10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area” for 2005, and soon view photos of the spectacular event at www.10mostinfluential.com.
ABOUT CITYFLIGHT MEDIA NETWORK: Founded in 1995, CityFlight Media Network was created to educate, entertain and inspire its audience in order to uplift the community, support business successes, and offer positive guidance for youth.
The Network encompasses its flagship division CityFlight Newsmagazine™, the award winning African American news publication; CityFlight Online™, which is represented by its premier website for African American news, events and search directories; and CityFlight Events™, the division that produces some of the Bay Area’s most highly-praised special events.
CityFlight Media Network operates under 501(c)3 non-profit status. CityFlight is produced in print, online and in person by a dedicated operations team and an incomparable all-volunteer editorial staff of nearly 90 individuals. www.CityFlight.com