Arts & Entertainment

Marcus Shelby
Music Composer and Arranger
Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
San Francisco

Marcus Shelby is an award winning composer, arranger, educator and bassist working in San Francisco. His credits include original scoring for film, theater and dance as well as jazz composition for his own groups, the 15-piece Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra and the Marcus Shelby Trio. He is nationally recognized for his innovative and collaborative approach to composing and arranging for text, the visual arts, dance and theater and for his commitment to using jazz to narrate the rich history of African Americans. Marcus Shelby is on the faculty at San Francisco State University and U.C. Berkeley’s Young Musicians Program.

Marcus' interest in composing for jazz orchestra and his work in collaboration with Intersection for the Arts led him to form the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra for which Shelby has written an extensive series of original compositions and suites as well as orchestrated a broad survey of arrangements from master big band composers.

In 2005, Shelby received a commission to create original arrangements of Ella Fitzgerald’s music for a world premiere ballet choreographed by Donald McKayle. The ballet “Ella” was performed in celebration of Opening Night of the company’s return season. Marcus received the 2005 Creative Work Fund in partnership with Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and the Museum of the African Diaspora to compose an original jazz oratorio about the great American hero Harriet Tubman. The project includes extensive educational programming in numerous communities and at the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD). It will conclude with a free premiere of the composition in Yerba Buena Gardens. Marcus received the 2005 Resident Dialogues Fellowship from the Committee on Black Performing Arts at Stanford University to further develop the Harriet Tubman Oratorio and attendant outreach programming. In addition, in 2005 Shelby worked with Youth Speaks subsidiary The Chicano Messengers to score an original play “Fear of a Brown Planet” as part of the Living Word Festival.

In 2005, Marcus recorded “Port Chicago,” a jazz suite for orchestra commissioned by Eva Paterson and the Equal Justice Society in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Port Chicago explosion and mutiny. The music was released on CD in February 2006.

Community Service

Olis Simmons
Executive Director, Youth UpRising
Oakland

Olis Simmons is the Executive Director of Youth UpRising, (YU), a public system and not-for-profit hybrid dedicated to building healthy, economically robust communities through developing and harnessing the leadership of young people. Ms. Simmons has nearly twenty years of policy, program administration, and research experience across the youth leadership development, health care, child welfare, treatment, and workforce development fields. This unique background and her unyielding commitment to community transformation allow Ms. Simmons to move seamlessly between disparate arenas. Olis leveraged her diverse skills and relationships to launch YU and, in 2005, her vision of comprehensive, integrated, youth-driven programming that supports disenfranchised youth in actualizing their potential manifested in the opening of YU.

Her success in building YU’s unprecedented coalition of public partners, youth, and the community while overseeing the renovation of its state-of-the-art, 25,000 sq ft facility—which includes a health clinic, media arts center and physical and performing arts spaces—has raised the bar for all Bay Area youth services. The clearest demonstration of Ms. Simmons’s current influence is the fact that YU now flourishes in what is considered one of the nation’s most dangerous neighborhoods, an East Oakland community known as the “killing fields.” However, her cultivation of leadership among high-risk youth makes her a leading authority on youth leadership development, which will allow her work to influence generations to come.

Before tackling YU, Ms. Simmons served as the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency’s Children & Youth Services Coordinator, leading major children’s health and wellness initiatives. Most notably, she led Alameda County’s nationally acclaimed School-Based Health Center Coalition, doubling the number and scope of these adolescent health centers during her tenure. Additionally, she oversaw a range of significant cross-system collaborations. Ms. Simmons’s other work includes national public policy and program design work with Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), where she helped states and localities adjust to welfare reform’s changing landscape.

Olis Simmons sits on a number of private and public system boards and commission committed to improving community outcomes. She currently, serves on the Board of Directors for Center for Youth Women’s Development.

Corporate

Bernard J. Tyson
Senior Vice President, Brand Strategy and Management
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
Oakland

In his senior level positions at Kaiser, Tyson’s focus is to promote Kaiser Permanente’s brand and reputation by telling the Kaiser Permanente story and enhancing the organization’s relationship with its communities at-large.

He began his career at Kaiser Permanente in 1985 at the San Francisco Medical Center, and went on to work in a number of management positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to his current role, Tyson was chief operating officer of Regions Outside California (ROC) for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. In this position, he was responsible for the nonprofit health plan's operations in all regions outside California, which collectively serve 2.8 million members in 16 states and the District of Columbia.

Currently, Tyson is chairman of the board of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in the Mid-Atlantic States and is a board member of the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP). He serves on the advisory committee of the National Committee for Quality Health Care (NCQHC) and serves on an advisory board for the National Managed Health Care Congress.

In addition, he served on the board of directors of the American Association of Health Plans, a national association whose 1,000 member plans care for more than 100 million Americans. Tyson was also a board member for both AvMED Health Plan of Gainesville, FL, and the Federal City Council in Washington, D.C.

In 1998, he was one of five health care executives nationwide to win the "International Emerging Leaders in Healthcare Award," sponsored by The Healthcare Forum and Korn/Ferry International. In 2001 he was awarded the NAACP Freedom Fund Award honoring him for “sensitizing corporate America to the talents of people of color.”

Tyson’s involvement in other civic and professional organizations includes the National Association of Health Services Executives, the NAACP, the Executive Leadership Council, Inc., United Way, and the United Negro College Fund.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration; his masters of business administration in Health Care Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California; and an advanced leadership degree from Harvard University.

Education

Arlene Ackerman, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools, San Francisco Unified School District

Dr. Arlene Ackerman has served in public education for more than 30 years and is currently Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District. Dr. Ackerman possesses a strong leadership background with an unparalleled blend of academic credentials and professional accomplishments.

Dr. Ackerman’s board memberships include San Francisco Fine Arts Museum Board of Trustees, San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors, KQED Public Television Board of Directors, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Council of the Great City Schools Executive Committee, Bay Area School Reform Collaborative Board of Directors, Bay Area United Negro College Fund Board of Directors, WestEd Board of Directors, Reading is Fundamental, Inc., and National Advisory Council Board Member. Other organizational affiliations are with the California Quality Education Commission, California Public Schools Accountability Act Advisory Committee; National Alliance of Black School Educators, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the American Association of School Administrators, and the Local Workforce Investment Board of San Francisco.

Dr. Ackerman has received numerous honors and awards, including appointments to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; the College Board’s Commission on Writing in America’s School and Colleges; the Teaching Commission and Stanford Educational Leadership Board of Advisors. Academic awards include Uniquely University City Award for Outstanding Service; Iota Lambda Sorority’s Apple for the Teacher Award; Harris Stowe Teachers College’s Distinguished Alumni Award; and the Harvard Urban Superintendents Program’s McDonnell Douglas Fellowship. Other accomplishments include community service awards from San Francisco Business Times’ 100 Most Influential Women in the Bay Area, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Madam CJ Walker Award, the Phi Delta Kappa Citation Achievement Award, and citation in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Ackerman received her doctorate in Administration, Planning and Social Policy through the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Urban Superintendents Program. She holds a Master of Arts in Education from Harvard University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Policy from Washington University, St. Louis, MO and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Harris Stowe Teachers College, St. Louis, MO.

Healthcare

Mack Roach, III, M.D.
Prof., Radiation Oncology & Urology
Dir., Clinical Research, Dept. of Radiation Oncology
Vice Chair, Dept. of Radiation Oncology
UCSF

Dr. Roach is recognized as a major authority on the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer with radiation therapy. He is best known for the recently completed prospective randomized RTOG trial that demonstrated the value of pelvic nodal radiotherapy for patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

As lead author for the 1996, 2000 and the pending 2006 editions of the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria Guidelines, Dr. Roach helps define how men in this country should be simulated and treated with radiotherapy for cancer, and is also a member on the National Cancer Institute’s Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Working Group to define jargon and criteria for defining the use of this new technology.

Dr. Roach serves on the editorial boards of The Prostate; the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics; and Clinical Prostate Cancer and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. He is an associate editor of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. He coauthored the American Cancer Society 2001 prostate cancer screening guidelines, and serves on the Board of Scientific Advisors and most recently served on the Executive Committee of the American Joint Committee on Cancer.

Dr. Roach’s research interests involve the application of image-guided 3D conformal, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and Brachytherapy. His research efforts have been directed at defining the optimal imaging modalities, criteria for target definitions, development of improved treatment techniques, and avoidance of complications. In collaboration with other investigators at UCSF, he has helped to pioneer the use of endorectal Magnetic Spectroscopy imaging as a means of monitoring prostate cancer outcomes.

In addition to his work in improving the treatment of cancer, Dr. Roach is a crusader in efforts to reduce healthcare disparities in outcomes for underserved population. Throughout a distinguished career, Dr. Roach has authored or coauthored more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and/or editorials and received numerous awards such as the American Cancer Society Career Development Award and the UCSF Health Net Wellness Award. He has been listed among the “Best Doctors in America” consistently since 1996.

Media

Brenda Payton
Columnist, Oakland Tribune

Brenda Payton writes a twice-weekly column for the Oakland Tribune covering local politics, social issues and slice of life scenes in the city. She also writes the Eye on the Arts weekly feature covering the East Bay's arts community. She has been a columnist at the Tribune for the past 24 years. She also does radio commentaries for KQED-FM public radio.

In 2005, her column tackled issues ranging from the American public's tolerance for torture in the war on terror, a study that found a link between racial discrimination and coronary disease, an Oakland African American women's social club that's been meeting for the last 52 years, underage prostitution in Oakland, the media's bias favoring stories about missing white women and Hurricane Katrina's exposure of Third World conditions in the U.S. She broke the story that former Congressman Ron Dellums was seriously considering running for mayor of Oakland in June 2006. (He eventually announced his candidacy.) In October, the Bay Area Black Journalists Society honored her and KTVU television anchor Dennis Richmond for their long-term contributions to Bay Area journalism.

Payton was an associate producer and the investigation director for "Your Loan is Denied," an hour-long documentary on mortgage lending discrimination that aired on PBS' Frontline in June, 1992. She researched and wrote ``The Challenge," a national report on programs addressing youth violence in the African American community, published in 1994 by the Black Community Crusade for Children, a project of the Children's Defense Fund. Payton's career as a newspaper reporter and columnist has spanned 30 years.

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Nation and Encore Magazine and has been published in "Thinking Black", an anthology of African American columnists and "MultiAmerica", an anthology edited by Author Ishmael Reed.She was a journalism lecturer at San Francisco State University and was the recipient of a John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in 1988-1989. Her work has received numerous awards and citations for her reporting on education, civil liberties and the internment of Japanese-Americans in WWII. She received awards for column writing from the National Association of Black Journalists and the California Newspaper Publisher's Association.

Political/Public Service

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council
South Bay

The South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council represents over 110,000 union members in Silicon Valley. As Executive Officer, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins has distinguished herself as an innovator in Silicon Valley’s high-tech economy. At age 29, she is among the youngest labor council leaders in the nation.

Ellis-Lamkins is also the Director of Working Partnerships USA (WPUSA), a public policy research and advocacy organization. Her leadership skills with both organizations have distinguished her as one of the foremost political minds in the region. The universal children’s health insurance program has provided health coverage to over 100,000 children in Santa Clara County. The program has expanded to twelve other California counties and is the subject of legislation to implement the program statewide.

She gained unprecedented support to include privately-financed community health care clinics as part of the infrastructure for Coyote Valley in San José, an urban reserve slated to house 70,000 new residents as part of a new mega-development. Ellis-Lamkins directed a labor-led field campaign for the first person of Vietnamese descent to serve on San José City Council. She formed the STOP Coalition (Standing Together to Protect our Families), a local coalition to oppose the Governor’s attacks on working families. This coalition served as a model for the Alliance for a Better California, a statewide coalition of teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police to defeat the Governor’s 2005 special election proposals.

Ellis-Lamkins pioneered Team San José, a public benefit corporation managing the San José Convention Center and cultural venues. As Vice Chairman of the Board, the corporation has increased bookings while maintaining high quality jobs. Ellis-Lamkins has also anchored the launch of the Partnership for Working Families, a national coalition to bring the principles of good jobs and community benefits to local economic development.

Ms. Ellis-Lamkins is a Senior Fellow of American Leadership Forum and serves on the board on the New World Foundation, the Progressive Technology Project, the Women's Fund of Silicon Valley and the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Advisory Committee.

Spiritual

Reverend Dr. Charley Hames, Jr
Pastor
Beebe Memorial CME Cathedral
Oakland

Under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., Beebe Memorial has received over 210 souls for Christ and has doubled its income helping the church become a healthy and viable part of the community. He has also brought to share in ministry, three gospel recording artists and Christian Comedy shows to the Bay Area.

In 2005, Beebe Memorial hosted sold-out concerts for Gospel Grammy Award winners Smokie Norful and Vickie Winans. The church hosted special programs featuring Min. Steve Lawrence of TD Jakes’ Potter’s House in Dallas TX; Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson; Dr. Frederick Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church, Dallas, TX.; and hosted the comical Bay Area Christian Comedy Tour.

In addition to revitalizing its witness, Beebe Memorial Cathedral has opened its doors to Destiny Arts Center that serves over 200 youth and children from the Bay Area, as well as pioneering and leading the Jordan Empowerment Network which purpose is to provide resources to families ages 0-5, promoting healthy education, kindergarten readiness and empowered learning skills that will sustain a quality education.

Dr. Hames received his Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies in 1997 from Chicago State University in Chicago, Illinois. In 2000, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and in 2004 he received his Doctor of Ministry Degree in Evangelism from the Perkins School of Theology- Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Reverend Dr. Charley Hames, Jr. is married to Felicia S. Brooks-Hames and is the father of Charles Jonathon, Elijah Immanuel, and Jael Deon Hames. He is also a life-subscribing member of the NAACP, and life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Sports

Bryant Young
Defensive End
San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco Forty-Niner defensive end #97 Bryant Young has been described as one of the most disruptive and dominant defensive players in the NFL. The senior member on the 49ers roster, Young’s resume includes four Pro Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl title, 499 career tackles and nine forced fumbles.

In 2005, Young’s teammates selected him to receive the coveted Len Eshmont Award for the second consecutive season and sixth time overall. This award is presented to the player best exemplifying courage and team leadership. No other 49er has received the honor, emblematic of a player's courage on the field, more than twice in its 49-year history. The 49er defensive coaching staff also voted the Matt Hazeltine Award to Young in recognition of his inspirational play.

Also in 2005, Young was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following the 49ers opening day win vs. St. Louis Rams with his three-sack performance; he tied for NFL lead with eight quarterback sacks; had three multiple sack games to date for the 2005 season; and the 20th multiple sack game of his career. He holds third place in the 49ers all-time sack list with 77.5 sacks.

Young is equally effective off the field. He is actively involved in his community and devotes time to his foundation, the Young Dreams Foundation, which seeks to strengthen the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay and Chicago-land areas.

The Foundation started a scholarship program for middle-school-aged kids, considered to be at risk and who attend the 49ers Academy in East Palo Alto. The participants will receive college scholarships if they keep up their grades, complete high school and keep in regular touch with Bryant to report on their progress.

Putting action to his vision in serving God, Reverend Charley Hames, Jr. is a gifted pulpiteer with 15 glorious years in the Gospel ministry and than 10 years in pastoral excellence, Dr. Hames continues to spread the Good News using the tools bestowed upon him by God.

Youth

Tristan Hicks
Senior
Valley Christian High School
San Jose

For Tristan Hicks, the year 2005 has been like none other. He received an award for academic excellence from the National Society of High School Scholars for the AP and honors classes he took during the school year. The Who’s Who among American High School Students organization recognized him for being a high achieving scholar. Tristan also received the organization’s sister award, who’s who among American High School Students- Sports Edition. His poem, “Fake,” was selected for publication by Creative Communication as an addition to their Young Poet’s section after he entered it in his schools’ poetry contest.

A member of Jack and Jill’s San Jose chapter, this year he was elected Vice President. Tristan’s academic achievements were recognized by 100 Black Men of Silicon Valley, Inc. Out of 24 students, he was selected to receive their scholarship award.

Throughout the school year, Tristan has been involved with mentoring at his school. Teachers and counselors selected about 30 juniors and seniors mentor incoming freshman and ease their transition to high school. Tristan’s school administration selected him for a major role for the biennial Every 15 Minutes drunk driving education program because they view him as an influential person on campus. His student class, supporting the administration view, voted him in as Senior Class Vice President.

A large part of Tristan’s school life is football. During the season, he and a fellow teammate were selected to represent the school at an all day conference focused on improving the league. By season’s end, Tristan and his team, the Valley Christian Warriors, had won the Open Division championship. The team also became WCAL Champions. Tristan was presented with the scholar athlete award for the fourth year. His coaches also named him MVP.

© 2005-2006 CityFlight Media Network. All Rights Reserved.
Site Design and Development by the Tager Group