Wilkinsburg Black History Month dinner to benefit young entrepreneurs

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Wilkinsburg Black History Month dinner to benefit young entrepreneurs

Chasity Capasso | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 5:00 a.m.

Ralph Watson is planning a Black History Month event in Wilkinsburg to benefit a youth business program. He is a borough planning commission member.____________

A Wilkinsburg public relations and marketing firm plans to honor 17 Pittsburgh area leaders during a Black History Month event.

Classic Events' fourth Black History Celebration dinner and networking event, titled Salute to Legends, will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 in the ballroom at Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg and benefit a youth business training program.

“Our goal is to support the efforts of both business and socioeconomic development, further strengthening the local economy,” said Ralph Watson, owner of the business and a member of the Wilkinsburg Planning Commission.

The program will focus on people, including posthumous honorees K. Leroy Irvis, a past speaker of the state House of Representatives, and Dr. Morris E. Turner Sr., a physician, who made an impact in civic leadership, community and economic development, education and other areas.

Attending the dinner costs $25, and proceeds will go toward Classic Events' Youthpreneur program to teach business skills to youths ages 8 to 21.

Wilkinsburg Council President Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson said Watson is a community activist who believes in the borough's future.

“Wilkinsburg gets a lot of negative attention; no one shines a light on the positives in our community, and the dinners he holds do that by highlighting people who have made a difference here,” she said.

“The Youthpreneur program gives back to the youth in our borough, keeps them active, and is a very excellent program. He is teaching skills to a generation of kids who need as much knowledge and support as they can get.”

Anita Harvey, a production assistant at Classic Events, said 11 youths' businesses, including cupcake making, cosmetology, lawn care and fashion design, were showcased when the program held its recent, third annual business networking event.

Youthpreneur's goals are to develop self confidence, salesmanship, speaking and marketing skills, along with character and integrity. Watson's business hosts a variety of networking events in the Pittsburgh area.

Chasity Capasso is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.

Details

If you go

What: Classic Events' fourth Black History Celebration, Salute to Legends

When: 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28

Where: Hosanna House,
807 Wallace Ave., Wilkinsburg

Details: Cost is $25. Proceeds benefit Youthpreneur. Includes awards ceremony, buffet dinner and networking. Call 412-723-2414 or e-mail yourclassicevent@mail.com.

Honorees

Those to be honored are:

• Former Allegheny County Councilwoman Brenda Frazier

• Renee Frazier of the University of Pittsburgh's Upward Bound program

• Jazz musician Roger Humphries Sr.

• The Rev. Eric McIntosh of St. James Episcopal Church
in Penn Hills

• The Rev. Johnnie Monroe, founding member of Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact network, a group of religious leaders

• Film producer Chris Moore

• William "Bill" Neal, retired executive director of Champion Enterprises youth programs

• Charles M. Powell, with the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh

• Herman Reid, retired executive director of Negro
Education Emergency Drive, which helps students obtain financial aid

• County Councilman William Robinson

• Charles Sanders, CEO of Urban Lending Solutions

• Entrepreneur J.T. Thomas

• Brenda J. Waters of KDKA-TV

• Warren Watson, retired Allegheny County judge

• Francis Ford-Wilson of the Order of the Eastern Star,
a religious service organization

• The late K. Leroy Irvis, a speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and Dr. Morris E. Turner Sr., an obstetrician/gynecologist who advocated for women's health, will be honored posthumously. Several political leaders or their representatives are expected to attend.

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