CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 13, 2008
TO: D. Mike Good, City Manager
FROM: Marian McCann-Colliee, Director, Human Services Department
SUBJECT: Presentation of Martin Luther King Jr Humanitarian Award
PURPOSE:
To seek City Commission approval of the nominee selection for the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award recipient.
BACKGROUND:
The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Humanitarian Award was established in November, 2002. As part of the program, the Human Services Advisory Board annually selects nominees for the MLK Humanitarian Award.
DISCUSSION
On Thursday, November 13, 2008, the Human Services Advisory Board met to review nomination applications submitted and selected a recipient for the 2009 MLK Humanitarian Award. This year’s nominees are:
1. Deborah Brown - Resident; Music Instructor; Church Activist
2. Angelean Clark Glass - Retired Teacher, Community Activist;
Member of Community Civic Association;
Heavily involved with MLK Parade &
Scholarship Fundraising
3. Armin Lovenvirth - Resident; Community Activist; Branch
Manager, City National Bank; Chairperson
of various Associations and Friends of the
Hepburn Center, Inc.
4. Tammy Sears Whiteside - Resident; Community Activist; Member of
Weed and Seed Steering Committee;
Business Owner
5. Kennedy Stevens -Resident; Business Owner; Community
Activist
6. Gloria Stoner - Resident; Church Activist; Community
Activist; Community Civic Association
Secretary; MLK Events Organizer;
Hallandale High School PTA and Friends
Association
7. Joshua Williams -City of Miami Beach Resident; Active in His
Foundation; Distributed Food to Hallandale
Beach Residents
Deborah Brown is a resident of the City of Hallandale Beach and Director of the Hallandale Beach Youth Orchestra. For over 24 years, Ms. Brown has provided free music instruction to residents of Hallandale Beach including children and seniors. Ms. Brown feeds the hungry and provides clothing at an Annual Easter Fest held at Foster Park. She also provides free turkeys to the community for Thanksgiving.
Angelean Clark Glass is a resident of the City. Mrs. Glass is a retired teacher and devoted member of the Community Civic Association. She assists with coordination of the MLK Parade and the MLK Scholarship Funding. Mrs. Glass feeds the homeless and needy people throughout the Hallandale Beach Community.
Armin Lovenvirth is a resident of the City. He is chairman of the Three Islands Association, the Hallandale Symphony Association, Friends of the Hepburn Center Inc. and Branch Manager of City National Bank.
Tammy Sears Whiteside is a resident of the City and runs a small business in the City. She is known for helping people in need whether providing a listening ear, giving food or a job to Hallandale Beach residents. Ms. Whiteside is a member of the Weed and Seed Steering Community and Sunday School Teacher at her church.
Kennedy Stevens was born and raised in the Hallandale Beach Community. He owns and operates his family business Stevens Funeral Home located in the City of Hallandale Beach. Outside of his business, Mr. Stevens is well known in the Hallandale Beach community for his willingness to give to those in need. Mr. Stevens is known for being charitable and giving pro bono funerals to people of low income status. He sings at various community events and at different churches in the Hallandale Beach community. Mr. Stevens and his staff sponsored food for this year’s Annual After School Program Mother’s Day event at the Austin Hepburn Center.
Gloria Stoner is a resident of the City and serves as the Financial Secretary for the Community Civic Association. She is one of the organizers of the annual MLK Events. She is a retired Broward County Transportation Driver, and is currently President of the Transportation Retirement Board. She is a parent member of the Hallandale High School Friends Association. She is known as a pillar in the community because she is extremely active throughout the City of Hallandale Beach Community.
Joshua Williams lives in the City of Miami Beach. He is active with his foundation, Joshua’s Heart. His foundation’s focus is to “Stomp out Hunger” in indigent and underprivileged communities, as well as from among those who battle debilitating diseases that affect their ability to earn enough to feed themselves. He hosts food drives and has provided food to residents in Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
It should be noted that the Human Services Department contacted Claudia McLean (person who nominated Joshua Williams), and informed her this is a recognition award for Hallandale Beach Residents only.
Total nominations received for each nominee are as follows:
Nominees Total Nominations
1. Deborah Brown - 18
2. Angelean Clark Glass - 1
3. Armin Lovenvirth - 1
4. Tammy Sears Whiteside - 1
5. Kennedy Stevens - 3
6. Gloria Stoner - 2
7. Joshua Williams (ineligible) - 1
The Human Services Advisory Board recommends Mr. Kennedy Stevens as the recipient of the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. Of the seven (7) nomination applications submitted, Mr. Stevens’ applications ranked the highest based on the following:
• His community support to various organizations (Weed and Seed, Hepburn Center,
etc.)
• Currently he is a dialysis patient, but despite his illness he is always willing to support
the community.
The MLK Humanitarian Award Nomination Applications are attached for review.
The recipient will be presented with a plaque and recognized throughout the year at various special City sponsored events.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Human Services Advisory Board respectfully requests the City Commission approve Mr. Kennedy Stevens as the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award recipient.
Reviewed:
_______________________________ __________
D. Mike Good, City Manager Date
_____Approved _____Disapproved _____Hold for Discussion
Comments: ____________________________________________________________