FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2008

URBAN LEAGUE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AND HONORS THOSE WHO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT ANNUAL AWARDS GALA

The Knoxville Area Urban League’s 40th Anniversary brought additional excitement to its annual awards gala honoring businesses and individuals for efforts toward equal opportunity for all in East Tennessee.

Special guest entertainers Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Revue performed at the recent Equal Opportunity Awards Gala. “Forty years ago Dennis Edwards joined the legendary group, The Temptations,” said Phyllis Nichols, Knoxville Area Urban League president and CEO. “It is fitting that, in honor of our common years of dedication, he is here to entertain us tonight.”

The Temptations Revue, featuring Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dennis Edwards, brought back 40 years of memories at the Knoxville Area Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Awards Gala on Oct. 26, 2008. The event honors businesses and individuals promoting equality and civil rights in our community. U.S. Cellular received the Corporate Leadership award, Premiere Building Maintenance Corp. received the Minority Business award, Tammy Strader received the Volunteer of the Year award, and Robert J. Booker received the Lifetime Achievement award.

The Urban League annually honors work that exemplifies their mission enabling African Americans and other disadvantaged groups to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. This year awards were presented for corporate leadership, minority business, volunteer of the year and lifetime achievement.

U.S. Cellular received the Corporate Leadership Award for being a model of corporate citizenship. U.S. Cellular provides volunteers and financial support for the Urban League’s community programs such as the Digital Academy.

“This after-school program opens up new career paths for minority kids by exposing them to the world of technology,” explained Nichols. U.S. Cellular Regional Vice President Tom Catani accepted the award, giving credit to the U.S. Cellular team for the many volunteer hours they contribute to this program.

The Minority Business Award recipient has been making an impact in Knoxville since 1996. Mark Isom has grown his company, Premiere Building Maintenance Corporation, to 11 offices in six states by focusing on hard work, relationships and integrity. “Mark Isom and Premiere represent a successful small business model whose principles of service can be replicated by anyone,” said Nichols.

A long-term commitment to the Urban League and its mission earned the Volunteer of the Year award for Tammy Strader of Denark Construction. “Tammy has been a volunteer at the Urban League for the past five years,” said Nichols. “Her work on logistics and mechanical systems for our Shoes for School program has been invaluable.” Receiving her award, Tammy said, “I love to do it. Volunteering is an honor.”

The most prestigious of all Urban League awards is named to honor the fourth executive director of the National Area Urban League, Whitney M. Young Jr. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Robert J. Booker, former legislator, author and historian. “The first African American to be elected to the Tennessee state legislature, Robert Booker has always been a trail blazer,” recalled Nichols. From his days at Knoxville College through his work at the Knoxville News Sentinel, Booker has documented the many events that have shaped minority progress in our society. “He is a true advocate of social justice,” said Nichols. “He points out the past so we can learn and grow from it.”

Money raised from the Equal Opportunity Awards Gala will benefit the Knoxville Area Urban League’s initiatives in education, technology, economic self-sufficiency and racial inclusion.

The Knoxville Area Urban League, a civil rights and social service organization was founded in 1968, at the height of the Civil Rights movement, to promote equal opportunities for African-Americans in Knoxville. Today, the Knoxville Area Urban League is a non-profit, non-partisan, interracial community-based organization.

The Knoxville Area Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League. Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are more than 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.

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