CITYFLIGHT MEDIA NETWORK(TM) and STATE FARM INSURANCE ®
Announce the "10 Most Influential
African Americans in the Bay
Area" for 2004
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 2006 - On Saturday, April 2, 2005, State Farm Insurance, the number one auto insurer in the U.S., joined CityFlight Media Network to roll out the red carpet for its sixth annual gala to recognize 30 people for their respective contributions to the Bay Area African American community in 2004. More than 1,000 people attended the black-tie affair, and experienced the evening's glitz, glamour, entertainment, and exciting Grammy®-style awards presentations. Oakland's Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center Calvin Simmons Theatre was the venue for the professionally-staged production, where CityFlight and its partners announced the "10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area" for 2004.
Twenty 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 2004. Additionally, popular votes submitted online via 10mostinfluential.com contributed 25 percent toward final award decisions.
The people who were name the "10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area" for 2004 are:
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kim Nalley - Actress, Jazz Vocalist and Owner, Jazz at Pearl's, San
Francisco
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Colin P. L. Lacon - President and CEO, Northern California
Grantmakers, SF
CORPORATE
Cheryl L. Evans - Dir., Community Relations Western Div., Citibank
West, SF
EDUCATION
Linda Morris Williams - Associate President, Univ. of California
System, Oakland
ENTREPRENEUR/SMALL BUSINESS
Michael E. Johnson - President and CEO, Em Johnson Interests Inc., SF
HEALTHCARE
Lloyd H. Dean - President and CEO, Catholic Healthcare West, San
Francisco
MEDIA
Belva Davis - Television reporter and program host, KQED and KRON-TV
POLITICAL/PUBLIC SERVICE
Alona Clifton - Trustee, Peralta Community College District, Oakland
SPIRITUAL
Rev. Calvin Jones, Jr. - Pastor, Providence Baptist Church of San
Francisco
YOUTH
Myia Jones - President, Multicultural Youth-in-Action (MYIA), Vacaville
The very generous corporations and organizations that contributed to the "10 Most Influential ..." campaign to benefit the "Take Flight(TM)" Continuing Education Scholarship Program include presenting sponsor State Farm Insurance, co-hosts 102.9-FM KBLX and NBC11/KNTV, along with Adobe Systems, Inc., Applied Materials, Inc., Citibank, City of Oakland, ChevronTexaco, Comcast Corporation, Comerica Bank, Hayden Creative, Hewlett-Packard Company, Inteligit, Inc., Knight Ridder, Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, RollzRoyce Limousine, Sun Microsystems, Inc., The Crown Royal Company, Kaiser Permanente, Macy's, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP, and Tager Group.
The history-making gala affair was strewn with excitement throughout intermittent award presentations, touching acceptance remarks, lively entertainment and special clips of nominees in their respective work settings. 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 multi-talented actress, singer and dancer Valarie Pettiford from UPN's "Half and Half." Among the evening's most poignant periods was Sun Microsystems' presentation of scholarships to the three Youth category nominees - one to award recipient Myia Jones in the amount of $1,500 and one each to high school seniors Olajumoke Falusi and Aisha Maria Simpson for $750.
Aquarela Brazilian Dance Group lead off the evening with an arresting dance routine to bold ethnic music, "clad" in their brilliantly colorful and exotic signature costuming. Accompanied by poet Anna Nicole, dynamic Bay Area spoken word poet Ise Lyfe gave an enlivening performance for the third time in as many years to yet another standing ovation. Teen singer Adisa Browning took the audience to church with his gospel selection and soulful crooner Reall serenaded the audience with an old-school reminiscent love song from his recently-released CD titled "The Real Story." KBLX's Nikki Thomas lended her familiar sultry voice to background announcements and narration. Emmy Award recipient (for "Half and Half") and multi-award nominee Valarie Pettiford belted a delightfully exhilarating Broadway-style rendition of "I Can't Give you Anything But Love" to thunderous applause.
Special guest award presenters included: Wilson H. Abram, mayor of San Ramon; Keith Carson, Vice President, Alameda County Board of Supervisors; Charles James, General Counsel for ChevronTexaco; Nancy Pfund , Managing Director for J.P. Morgan; and Carol H. Williams, President and CEO of Carol H. Williams Advertising Agency, among others.
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(TM) , the award winning African American news publication; CityFlight Online(TM) , which is represented by its premier website for African American news, events and search directories; and CityFlight Events(TM) , 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.