SECOND ANNUAL YMCA BLACK/HISPANIC ACHIEVERS RECOGNITION AND SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON HONORS 22 FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP

By Rick Haase
Photos By Kevin G. Reeves

“The YMCA of Greater Cleveland is committed to recognizing people of color who have achieved in their community and who continue to place themselves as positive role models in front of others.”

YMCA of Greater Cleveland Director of Community Services Viola Rembert uttered those words before the start of the second annual YMCA Black/Hispanic Achievers Recognition and Scholarship Luncheon, held October 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Carnegie Avenue in downtown Cleveland.

The Black/Hispanic Achievers program is a national YMCA initiative in 125 cities across the country.

Greater Cleveland’s program is only three years old.

The Black/Hispanic Achievers program is open to all children with a focus on African-American and Hispanic students.  The program focuses on developing future leaders through education, career exposure, mentoring and leadership development programs.

Twenty-two individuals were honored at this years’ luncheon.

And they are…

· Eryka Accordion, owner, Machu Picchu Restaurant
· Jenice Contreras, Director of Development, Care Alliance Health Center
· Sandria Dixon, Ph. D., Principal, St. Joseph/Collinwood School
· Manuel Dominguez, Chief of Safety, Health and Environmental Division, NASA Glenn Research Center
· Lynne A. Furman, Student Activities Coordinator, Cleveland Municipal School District
· Ricardo A. Guilfu, Program Coordinator, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Ohio
· Kim Johnson, Program Director/On-Air Radio Personality, Radio One
· Terri Johnson, Operations Training Specialist, Medical Mutual of Ohio
· Todd Kennedy, Program Coordinator, YMCA of Greater Cleveland
· Tia Kline, Operations Training Specialist, Medical Mutual of Ohio
· Carolina Leid, Reporter, WEWS-TV 5
· Rance Mack, Sales Consultant, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation
· Joyce McMickens, Senior Associate, Ernst & Young
· Adabelle Navaez-Legeza, NASA Glenn Research Center
· Ruth Rubio-Pino, Chief Executive Officer, Multicultural Translation Resource Center
· Charlotte McCaulley, Assistant Vice President Private Clients Group, National City Bank
· Adrian Ortega, Adrian Michael Jewelers
· Ilinda Reese, President, IMJ REEsources 
· Richard Williams, Collaboration and Workplace Software Specialist Federal Division, IBM
· Francis Valencheck, Civil Engineer, RTA
· Jessica Vazquez, Student, Bowling Green State University
· Kent Wise, Pastor, Life of Faith Ministries, and Motivational Speaker

Keynote Speaker for the event was Wellesley College Sophomore Racquel Armstrong, a 2006 honors graduate of Hawken School in Gates Mills, one of Northeast Ohio’s most elite independent schools.

“The Black/Hispanic Achievers Program taught me to be the C.E.O. of my own destiny,” she said.

Armstrong is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies with a minor in English and Teacher Education.

She got involved with the YMCA Black/Achievers Program while at Hawken.

“Invest in these future leaders,” she implored the luncheon audience during her remarks.  “Our community needs you to care.  Because if you don’t, who will?  You are their ticket to success.”

Armstrong was honored with a $500 college scholarship, which was doubled by YMCA of Greater Cleveland President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Haley, because he was so impressed with her impassioned speech.

“Did you see that young woman (Armstrong will be 20 next April) stand before a crowd and command their attention?” Haley remarked toward the end of the luncheon.  “That’s what this program is all about.”

Bianca Rivera, a student at Cleveland State University, and a Youth Achiever, was also presented with a $1,000 scholarship during the luncheon.

Simply put, according to Rembert, “the program is about putting young people in front of people who can help them.”

Cleveland Ward 5 Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland congratulated all the honorees in the Class of 2007-2008 Black/Hispanic Achievers.

“They are a positive example for young people to look up to,” she said, then joined Haley in presenting proclamations from Cleveland City Council to each honoree.

“It is all of our responsibility to help our young people succeed,” said Rembert.