2003 MLK Community Service Awards - Honored Organizations and Individuials

Honored Organizations and Individuals

Service and Advocacy Awards

Mfon Ufot
Founding President of Coalition of Concerned Africans, Inc.
Founder of the Nigerian Youth Alliance, an advocate for youth services. The founding member of the Nigerian Women's Association, an organization that empowers, enriches and educates women. Volunteer producer and host of 'African Experience Worldwide' on WRFG 89.3 FM.

Odessa Wheeler
Is a living example of someone who fights to make a difference in the lives of others. As a senior citizen she continues her role as a community activist, which she has done for the last 37 years. Her work focuses on improving health services, conducting food drives, and securing shelter for the homeless. She is considered an Unsung Heroine by the community for whom she so diligently serves.

Rosbert Phillips, M.D.
First African American woman to complete a surgical residency at Emory. She has been in practice for 20 years. Nationally recognized for her work on Breast Cancer Awareness, she provides breast exams, mammography and follow-up for women residing in homeless shelters. She often uses her own personal resources to advance efforts to eliminate health disparities and annually convenes major fundraising conferences bringing together experts on breast health.

Programs for Children

Love Freely Community Outreach
A non-profit organization committed to 'feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and comforting the trouble'. Under the leadership of founder and director Ms. Nonnie Hawkins, Love Freely solicits volunteers for their annual campaigns and projects focusing on children and youths, and encourages people to give back to the community, helping those less fortunate then themselves.

Edna Moffett
Executive Director of Operation PEACE, Inc, (Positive Education Always Creates Elevation), a non-profit, multi-service, neighborhood development organization, which started in 1995 as an innovation made of college students whose mission was to empower families to be self sufficient by developing literacy, vocational and technical skills in adults and entrepreneurial and leadership skills in youth. Operation PEACE encourage seniors to be active as a vital part of the community. One way to do this was to create 'Swinging Seniors'.

Ms. Woody Neal Pearsons For more than 30 years, Woody Neal Pearsons has served as an educator in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. After teaching gifted and talented students in North Fulton, Ms. Pearsons established the Gate City Heritage School 22 years ago. A recipient of the 11 Alive Community Service Award, Ms. Pearson received scholarship support to participate in an intensive week long training with the famed Marva Collins at the Westville Preparatory School in Chicago. Highly regarded as an incredible educator and artist, Woody Pearsons instills within her students a vision of endless possibilities, despite apparent barriers to success.

Innovation for Change

Atlanta Childcare Guide, is a quarterly magazine founded and published by Christy M. Priester that addresses child care issues, highlighting and rating child care agencies and giving recognition for those that excel. The guide is used to educate and train readers, keeping parents and other caregivers informed of new innovations, and resources available. The guide also lists emergency and hot-line numbers, as well as a complete listing of Metro Atlanta family childcare facilities and 24-hour family childcare services. ACG also conducts workshops on starting up childcare businesses, licensing and accreditations.

IBM Corporate Community Relations, directed by Ann W. Cramer and her unyielding work in the community, has been making a difference in the lives of children and adults, through their corporate contributors of cash, equipment and people to non-fit organizations and educational institutions. IBM believes that information and technological innovations can also provide breakthroughs for public and non-profit organizations to deliver better service, manage cost and maximize effectiveness. Some of their innovations include 'KidSMART Early Learning' and 'SeniorNet' web sites, which make it easier for children and seniors to navigate the worldwide web.
http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/

Other Nominees

Bishop Earl Paulk
Atlanta 4-H and Youth Development

Special Olympics of Georgia
http://www.specialolympicsga.org/

Elizabeth M. Chadwick, JD

Blood and Fire Ministries
http://www.bloodnfire.com/

Depressive Bipolar Support Alliance
http://www.ndmda.org/

Focus Intensive Day Treatment Program

Ms. Larraine Ayers