Greater Scranton MLK Commission Holds Awards Dinner

From left: Morey Myers, Esq., who received the Distinguished Honor Award, and  Scranton High School student Jamary Gil, who received the Commission’s Youth of the Year Award, at the Greater Scranton MLK Commission dinner Sunday at The University of Scranton.

The Greater Scranton MLK Commission hosted their annual awards dinner Sunday at The University of Scranton’s McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. The theme for 2015 dinner was “Infinite Hope,” taken Dr. King’s quote “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” 

Scranton High School student Jamary Gil received the Commission’s Youth of the Year Award at the dinner. Morey Myers, Esq., received the Distinguished Honor Award.

During the civil rights movement, Myers was among the few lawyers who traveled to the South as a volunteer to provide legal services for those engaged in civil disobedience, specifically in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1964 and in Mississippi in 1965.

Author, comedian and motivational speaker Damon Rozier provided the keynote address at the dinner. Featured speakers included Rev. Tawan Bailey, pastor of Bethel AME Church; Alejandra Marroquin, outreach coordinator, Catholic Social Services; Richard Conaboy, Jr.; vice president of clinical affairs, Clearbook Lodge; and Carl Graziano, chief of police, City of Scranton. Sharon Quinn, vice president of the Community Intervention Center, also spoke at the dinner. A drive conducted at the event supported the center.

Jennifer Pennington organized the event. She serves as the secretary for the Greater Scranton MLK Commission and works for the University’s Office of Equity and Diversity.

Other Greater Scranton MLK Commission officers at the event were Charlotte Ledbetter, treasurer; Cathy Hardaway, parliamentarian; and Paul Porter, Ph.D., acting president of the Greater Scranton MLK Commission and director of the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Speakers at Sunday’s Greater Scranton MLK Commission Award Dinner were, seated from left: Carl Graziano, chief of police, City of Scranton; Damon Rozier, author, comedian and motivational speaker; and Alejandra Marroquin, outreach coordinator, Catholic Social Services. Standing are: Paul Porter, Ph.D., acting president of the Greater Scranton MLK Commission and director of the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs; Rev. Tawan Bailey, pastor of Bethel AME Church; Sharon Quinn, vice president of the Community Intervention Center; and Richard Conaboy, Jr.; vice president of clinical affairs, Clearbook Lodge.