7th Annual Black History Heroes Awards
THE CORDISH COMPANIES, LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL
AND THE MARYLAND WASHINGTON MINORITY COMPANIES ASSOCIATION (MWMCA) CELEBRATE THE 7TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY HEROES AWARDS
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones Among Regional Business
and Community Leaders Honored for their Contributions and Accomplishments During Black History Month Celebration
HANOVER, MD (February 21, 2020) – In celebration of Black History Month, The Cordish Companies, Live! Casino & Hotel and the Md. Washington Minority Companies Association (MWMCA) celebrated the 7th annual Black History Heroes Awards. The ceremony held at Live! Center Stage recognized 10 Maryland and DC business and community leaders who have contributed to their communities and citizens in a positive way.
Several of the honorees gave remarks during the ceremony, including Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones, who discussed the importance of educating future generations about influential African-American leaders in our nation’s history. She urged the crowd to take time to visit the two newly unveiled statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass in the Old House of Delegates Chamber at the Maryland State House.
David Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water spoke about the sacrifices made by so many trailblazers, like the honorees being recognized at the celebration, to continue to ensure that our communities prioritize diversity and inclusivity.
Former Negro league Baseball Star Luther “Luke” Atkinson delivered the evening’s keynote speech highlighting his incredible career and discussed the racism that his teammates faced on a daily basis. Atkinson remarked, “Although my teammates knew what we were up against, we persevered. We all played for tomorrow and for the love of the game.” Atkinson also highlighted 2020 as the 100th anniversary of Negro Leagues Baseball.
The 2020 Black History Heroes honorees included:
- Luther “Luke” Atkinson, Former Negro league Baseball Star, Satchel Paige All Stars
- Adrienne A. Jones - House Speaker/Member, District 10, Maryland House of Delegates
- David L. Gadis - CEO and General Manager, DC Water
- Joseph T. Jones, Jr. - President and CEO, Center for Urban Families
- Roz Hamlett - Director of Multimedia Communications, Anne Arundel County, MD
- Le Gretta Ross-Rawlins - Baltimore Postmaster, United States Post Office
- Bert J. Hash, Jr. - Former President and CEO, Municipal Employees Credit Union (MECU)
- Warner H. Session, Esq. - Principal and Board Member, Session Law Firm, P.C./Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
- Janice Hayes-Williams - Coordinator, Cultural Resources – Department of Planning and Zoning, Anne Arundel County, MD
- David Wilson - President, Morgan State University
“We are incredibly honored to host the seventh installment of the Black History Heroes Awards at Live! Casino & Hotel, honoring African-American community leaders across Baltimore and DC,” said Zed Smith, COO, The Cordish Companies. “Commitment to diversity and inclusion is core to our company culture, so this event is very special for our team. The honorees being recognized are influencers that are impacting change for future generations and creating lasting legacy as we enter into a new decade. This celebration is just a small token of our appreciation for all of their efforts to positively impact the lives of others.”
“We value the strong partnership we have forged with The Cordish Companies and Live! Casino & Hotel and thank them for continuing to host such an inspiring evening that helps us celebrate our community heroes,” said Wayne Frazier, President, Md. Washington Minority Companies Association. “We are pleased to recognize these talented business and community professionals and show our appreciation for their significant contributions and accomplishments that make such a difference.”
