CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH

MEMORANDUM

DATE:               October 14, 2009

TO:                    D. Mike Good, City Manager

FROM:              Marian McCann-Colliee, Director, Human Services Department

SUBJECT:       Presentation of Martin Luther King Jr Humanitarian Award (Staff: Director, Human Services)

PURPOSE:

To seek the City Commission ratification 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 Wednesday, October 14, 2009, the Human Services Advisory Board met to review nomination applications submitted and selected a recipient for the 2010 MLK Humanitarian Award.  This year’s nominees are:

1.  Deborah Brown                                 - Resident; Music Instructor with the Broward County

                                                                    School Board; Owner of the Palms of the Arts; Youth Mentor.

2.  Armin Lovenvirth                              - Resident; Community Activist; Branch Manager, City National Bank; Chairperson of various Associations and Friends of the Hepburn Center, Inc.

3.  Paul Snow                                         - Resident; Director, Hallandale Food Pantry; Known for his Dedication and Attention to His Community Work.

4.   Donna Allen                                     -Resident; Environmentalist; Volunteer; Tutor; Community Activist.

5.   Linda’s Kids Garden Pre-School  - Organization; Day Care Facility with a Home-like Environment for Kids; Kind and Dedicated Teachers; Facility is neat and clean.

Deborah Brown is a resident of the City of Hallandale Beach and Director of the Palms Center for the Arts.  Dr. Brown provides free music instruction, and a structured Arts Program to youth in the Hallandale Beach Community.   Dr. Brown was a featured soloist at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Inaugural Ball with the Tallahassee Boys Youth Choir.  Her work with youth extends beyond the community as she seeks to mentor and expose Hallandale Beach children to various musical venues and artistic events.  

Armin Lovenvirth is a resident of the City and is always ready to serve the Hallandale Beach Community.  His affiliations are many:  Hallandale Beach Orchestra, the Friends of the Hepburn Center, Inc.; Three Islands Association, Hallandale Beach Democratic Club and Branch Manager of City National Bank.

Paul Snow is a resident of Hallandale Beach.  He is known for his many years of services at the Hallandale Food Pantry.  Despite his own disability, Mr. Snow works diligently to help the residents of Hallandale Beach.  He is committed to serving the residents through the Hallandale Food Pantry.  Mr. Snow was recipient of the 2005 MLK Humanitarian Award.

Donna Allen is a resident of Hallandale Beach.  She worked as a Literacy Tutor for Broward County, a volunteer at Broward Outreach Center, Events Coordinator for the Women’s Community Fund in Miami-Dade County and countless other civic minded projects.  Her work as a tutor brought her in contact with a 19-year old who could barely read but with her tutoring efforts the student graduated from a Broward County High School.  He now attends Sheridan Tech passing the entrance exams with flying colors.  She works with senior citizens to help improve their quality of life.

Linda’s Kids Garden Pre-School is located in the City of Hallandale Beach, and provides services to both Hallandale Beach children and students from surrounding neighborhoods.  The school is devoted to teaching and caring for children.  The school also provides a clean, “home-like” environment for the children they teach and care for.  The Administrative Policy states that any person or organization may be nominated for this award.

Total nominations received for each nominee are as follows:

Nominees Total Nominations

1.  Deborah Brown                                              - 16

2.  Armin Lovenvirth                                           - 1

3.  Paul Snow                                                       - 1

4.  Donna Allen                                                   - 1

5.  Linda’s Kids Garden Pre-School                - 22

The Human Services Advisory Board recommends Dr. Deborah Brown as the recipient of the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award.  Of the seven (7) nomination applications submitted, 2 applications ranked the highest based on the following:

· Deborah Brown is a very impressive candidate for her work in the community with children through the “Palms Center for the Arts”.

· Armin Lovenvirth based on his 25 years of service to this community in various aspects.

The Board unanimously selected Dr. Deborah Brown for the 2010 MLK Humanitarian Award.

The MLK Humanitarian Award Nomination Applications are attached for review. 

RECOMMENDATION:

The Human Services Advisory Board respectfully requests the City Manager place this item on the October 21, 2009 Commission Agenda for approval.  If approved, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award recipient will be presented with a plaque and recognized throughout the year at various special City sponsored events.  Other nominees will be presented with a Certificate of Recognition.

City Commission to approve and ratify the Human Services Advisory Board’s recommendation to award the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award to Dr. Deborah Brown.

Reviewed:

_______________________________                                                               __________

D. Mike Good, City Manager                                                                       Date

_____Approved                _____Disapproved                _____Hold for Discussion

Comments: