April 7, 2012 - April 13, 2012, The Afro-American B1

Some of the young contestants who participated in the Kiddie Katwalk.

Miss DC Teen USA, Sierra Hadley (center) strolling down the katwalk with two contestants.

Isaiah Lemons, a young guitarist with skills.

Queens with some of the cutest contestants

Under the dynamic leadership of Jerry A. Moore lll, chair, board of directors and Maudine R. Cooper, president and CEO, the Greater Washington Urban League(GWUL) hosted the 40th Annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Gala at the luxurious Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Northwest, Washington, D.C.; Todd Heaver, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Walter Oliver, General Dynamics served as the general co-chairs. After the presentation of the 2012 scholarship recipients, the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Community Service Awards were presented to; Aisha Karimah, NBC4-TV; Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, President Emeritus, George Washington University; Rynthia Rost, GEICO; Robert J. “Bob” Brown and Ray Wilson, freelance photographer. Musical entertainment was provided by Leonard, Coleman and Blunt; emcees were Danella Sealock and Jim Handly of NBC4-TV. GWUL was founded in 1938 and is a major social services and civil rights organization with offices in D.C. and Prince George’s County, Md.

Photos by Rob Roberts

Janice E. Smith, CEO, GWUL and Karen Price-Ward, Southwest Airlines and GWUL board member

Maudine Cooper, center, president/CEO, GWUL with scholarship recipients; Safe’ Lewis, Yamarie Cham, Leandra Peters, Ahalah Shabaz, Derick Brown, Calvin Allen-Crawford and Christopher Brew

Honoree Robert J. Brown and his wife Lavern Chatman-Brown

Terri Copeland, PNC Bank; Amina Gilyard, Miss Black DC USA; Ebony Andrews, Miss Black MD USA and Mitria Wilson, Legislative and Policy Advisor, National Community Reinvestment Coalition

Jay and Whitney Karimah, Jamel Jackson and Alayna Santiago

Honoree Aisha Karimah, director of Community Affairs, NBC4-TV and presenter, Beverly L. Perry, SVP, External Affairs, PEPCO

Michael Golden, president, Wells Fargo, honoree Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, former president, George Washington University and Stephanie R. Jones, Wells Fargo

Maudine Cooper, honoree Ray Wilson, freelance photographer with his wife and Jerry A. Moore III, chair, GWUL board of directors

Ashley Boalch, Miss District of Columbia; co-emcees Danella Sealock, traffic reporter, NBC4-TV and Jim Handly, NBC4-TV News Anchor and Edgar Brookins, Afro American Newspaper

Amina Gilyard, Miss Black DC USA with event organizer, Khadijah Bronson

Photos by A. Lois De Laine, Ed.D.

Barbara Carter Smith

The couple cuts the cake.Dr. Carlessia

Hussein and Sen. Shirley Nathan Pulliam

Dr. Francine Higgs-Shipman

Dr. Oatis and Gwendolyn Thomas

Donald D. and Sally Hogan

Drs. Calvin and Gretta Burnett

Joseph and Catherine Dorsey

Margaret Jenkins and James Jenkins, best man

Mistress of ceremonies Rev. Sandra T. Gray and Dr. Vernon Gray

Sons Wilbert Jr and Garrick Starks with parents

Amid reflections memories, eloquent stories and expressions of family and friends, Wilbert and Doris Starks celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Turf Valley Club with over 150 well wishers in attendance.

The theme that permeated the event was “The Village” and expressions by the Rev. Sandra Gray, the mistress of ceremonies; James Jenkins, best man; Dr. Amy Reynolds, matron of honor, siblings, close friends and the beautiful musical sounds sung by Renee K. Harris, accompanied by Andre Briscoe set the tone for a beautiful experience.

Personal expressions by the bride and groom sealed the atmosphere of “the village” and cohesion. Dr. Starks said, “Each and every one of you is very special to us. Our friends and relatives are a part of our village. We are happy to share this moment with you”, she declared. Further, Mr. Starks concluded by saying, “Every one in this room has touched our lives in some way.”

Other personal expressions by the couple revealed genuine love for each other over the years. Throughout the evening the prevailing “village” theme was evident as attendees mingled, danced, feasted and congratulated the couple.

Hundreds of aspiring child models answered the call to become America’s Next Top Kid Model during the Kiddie Katwalk model search and reality show auditions on March 17. The Kiddie Katwalk was presented by Spoiled and Rotten Kids Spa and hosted by Fox 5 News Anchor Allison Seymour, with on-air correspondence by Marcus A. Williams. At the end of the 8-hour day 35 models became finalists in an enrichment program that will be filmed for a reality show called the Kiddie Katwalk.

Contestants also participated in a workshop about runway modeling led by Child Supermodel Diva Davanna (as seen on America’s Next Top Model), Donne’ Bennet from Up With Purpose Agency and Lyle Sylva, contestant from Donald Trump presents The Ultimate Merger.

Performances included Apollo Champion Reesa Renee, child prodigy, guitarist Isaiah Lemons and Studio DMV Hip-hop Dancers. Music was provided by 7-year-old DJ Lil Amp C, with special guest appearances by Ms. Maryland US 2011-2012 Tiffany Parker, Miss Black DC USA Amina Gilyard and Miss DC Teen USA Sierra Hadley. Photos by Rob Roberts

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Baltimore, MD