“This is a diverse event that honors Black, Latino, Asian, white and all ethnicities,” said LuCretia Dowdy, president of LUE productions, the event’s organizer. “All races and creeds are welcome to this celebration of unity.”
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. On January 14th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gala Awards is hosting a Red-Carpet Event at the San Bernardino International Airport. This year’s honorees are Wallace Allen, Wilmer Amina Carter, Danny Tillman, Hardy and Cheryl Brown, Jimmy Jews, Damon and Felicia Alexander and Darren Goodman.
“We are so happy to be honoring this year’s awardees,” said LuCretia Dowdy, president of LUE productions, the event’s organizer. “These people all have demonstrated diligent service to the communities they serve, helping to fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality for all.”
The black-tie event will open at 5:00 pm with a cocktail hour and live entertainment that will regale attendees during the dinner, followed by the awards presentation. The airport is located at 275 North Leland Way, San Bernardino.
Felicia Alexander
Damon Alexander
Damon Alexander serves on the San Bernardino City Council, representing the 7th Ward since November 2020. He has also been the Chairman of the City of San Bernardino’s Public Safety and Human Relations Commission, the Citizens Advisory Committee on Marijuana, as well as the President of the North End Neighborhood Association (NENA). His wife, Felicia, serves as Member at Large on the San Bernardino County Human Resources Equal Opportunity Commission.
Wallace Allen
Wallace Allen hosts a radio talk-interview show, Empire Talks Back, on NBC affiliate KCAA and is the founder and publisher of the West Side Story online newspaper that covers news and events happening in the west end of San Bernardino County.
Hardy and Cheryl Brown, Cheryl is a former California Assemblymember and current San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member. Hardy and Cheryl and Founded the Black Voice News and the Black Voice Foundation. Hardy was the first Black named to the San Bernardino City and Cunty School Boards. Hardy Brown College Prep, a tuition-free public charter K-12 school in San Bernardino, is named after her husband Hardy.
Wilmer Amina Carter
Wilmer Amina Carter served as California Assemblymember for the 62nd District and today is Director of Rialto-based Creative Business Services, Inc., She was the first Black elected to the Rialto Unified School District and served as district Director for the late Congressman George Brown for 21 years. Carter is the only living African American woman to have had a high school named after her, in her hometown of Rialto, Wilmer Amina Carter High School.
Danny Tillman
Danny Tillman is an information systems administrator for the County of San Bernardino Human Services Dept. and sits on the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education, where he serves as the longest serving member and Board Vice President. He advocates for the success of district students.
San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren J. Goodman is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
The last two honorees both broke color barriers by becoming the first Blacks to be hired by their respective agencies. On June 16, 2022, Darren Goodman became the first Black chief of police in San Bernardino. He also served as the City of Upland’s first Black chief of police. His 31 years of law enforcement experience included 27 with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Dept.
Jimmy Jews
Jimmy Jews broke the color barrier as San Bernardino’s first Black firefighter in 1971 and retired 25 years later, having risen through the ranks to hold the positions of fire investigator and then as spokesperson, achieving the rank of Captain in 1989. Jimmy passed away on November 17, 2022, at the age of 79. He will be honored posthumously.
Event sponsors include the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce and Youthbuild Inland Empire Charter School.
“This is a diverse event that celebrates Black, Latino, Asian, white and all ethnicities,” said Ms. Dowdy, “All races and creeds are welcome to this celebration of unity.”
For tickets and to RSVP for the event, call 888-466-7408 or go to the Black Chamber of Commerce website, info@blackchamberofcommerce.org.
James Ramos, California State Assemblymember is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
San Bernardino Mayor Elect Helen Tran is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren J. Goodman is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. Grand Marshals for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza are James Ramos, California State Assemblymember; Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District; Helen Tran, San Bernardino City Mayor-Elect; and our new African American Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino Darren L Goodman.
The parade celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We are honored to have these illustrious leaders of our community be the Grand Marshalls for the MLK DAY Parade and Extravaganza,” said Rich Wallace, president of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce.
The MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza will be held January 16th on San Bernardino’s Westside along Baseline Street, from Mt Vernon Ave. to California St.
“Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, a First 5 children’s zone, fun, and entertainment at the parade and at the Extravaganza at Ann Shirelles Park, between California Street and North Pennsylvania Ave., between West Baseline Street and West 15th Street,” said Lue Dowdy, Parade Chair.
Dowdy added, “We are still accepting applications for entertainers, vendors, food vendors, classic and custom cars, and motorcycles.”
The event starts at 11:00 am at the Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline, with the Parade starting at 1:00 pm and continuing west on Baseline, ending at Anne Shirelles Park on California Street.
Participating organizations for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story newspaper, Empire Talks Back and the Black Health Coalition.
The WestSide Pacesetters Drill Team in prevues MLK Day Parade
The Parade celebrates Dr. King and the civil rights movements greatest achievements: convincing congress to pass the 1964, Civil Rights Act, eliminating legalized racial segregation and the 1965, Voting Rights Act eliminating legal barriers to voting for African Americans in the United States.
San Bernardino Calif. Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce brings back The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza in celebration of Dr. King’s birthday on Monday January 16th, 2023, at 11:00 AM. The Parade starts at Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline and continues west on Baseline ending at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park.
“Everyone is invited to attend the parade and & Extravaganza in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his legacy of freedom. Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, First 5 children’s zone, custom and classic cars, motorcycles, fun and entertainment at the parade and after at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park,” said event Chair Lou Dowdy.
Dr. King and the civil rights movements greatest achievements were convincing congress to pass the 1964, landmark Civil Rights Act, essentially eliminating legalized racial segregation in the United States. The legislation made it illegal to discriminate against Blacks or other minorities in hiring, public accommodations, education or transportation, areas which at the time were still very segregated in many places in America.
The San Bernardino City Police Department control traffic.
In 1965, they also convinced congress to pass Voting Rights Act, which was an equally important set of laws that eliminated the remaining barriers to voting for African Americans, who in some locales had been almost completely disenfranchised.
The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. To learn more about Dr. King go to: TheKingCenter.org.
Assemblymember Eloise Reyes and her husband Frank Reyes in a previous MLK Day parade
Set up and staging for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza begins at 11:00 am at Graciano Gomez Elementary School in San Bernardino and the parade starts at 1:00 PM. The celebration at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park continues until 8:00 PM.
Collaborators for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include: The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue ProductionsCommunity Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story Newspaper, Empire Talks Back and Black Health Coalition.
About TheSouthern California Black Chamber of Commerce
The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce (SCBCC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) business organization dedicated to improving the economic environment for the minority business community and fostering business development and prosperity. The SCBCC focuses its efforts on four major areas: Economic Development, Community Development, Public Policy, and Membership Services.
