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(Photo Credit: MCCJ)
Since 1946, MCCJ has awarded the Humanitarian Silver Medallion to South Florida residents who have exhibited extraordinary humanitarian efforts that mirror MCCJ’s mission of creating an inclusive community.
This year, seven awardees were honored on Sunday, Feb. 27, in front of over 400 attendees where Mayor Daniella Levine Cava made a special appearance to congratulate the Silver Medallion recipients, but also to thank MCCJ for its mission to keep Miami unified.
To date, over 250 community and civic leaders have been awarded, and the 2022 honorees proved to be an exemplary group, each having championed a specific cause for the better of society.
This year’s honorees included Dr. Enid C. Pinkney, who received The Robert H. Traurig Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a preservationist, historian, and civic activist.
Silver Medallions were given to James R. Haj, president and CEO of The Children’s Trust, for his years as an educator and advocate for children with special needs; attorney Benedict P. Kuehne, for his litigation services on behalf of the Haitian Refugee Center, Cuban political refugees, and voters; public defender Carlos J. Martinez for instituting numerous programs to help troubled youth; entrepreneur Khalid M. Mirza for being an active interfaith bridge-builder with the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations, and Jonathan Plutzik, entrepreneur, and owner of The Betsy Hotel, for his commitment to art, community, and cultural programs of interest to various groups of people.
In addition, MCCJ gave Dr. Walter T. Richardson the Interfaith Clergy Medallion for his years of being a preacher, activist, and educator of World Religion.
“Their involvement and dedication in South Florida against racial and religious discrimination, gender or group bias and intolerance are quite admirable,” said Matthew S. Anderson, MCCJ’s executive director.”
With the Who’s Who of South Florida in attendance, MCCJ also provided a live stream via its YouTube channel.
Honorary chairs, Roberta and David Lawrence Jr., and dsinner chairs Gerald C. Grant Jr., Penny Shaffer and Alex Villoch, hosted the ceremony that was themed “Be the Light in a Changing World.” As in year’s past, MCCJ turned to WPLG’s Local10’s Emmy award-winning news anchor, Calvin Hughes, to serve as the emcee.
“We’re living in an ever-changing world, so to continue to count on Calvin provides us with a certain sense of normalcy. We were truly fortunate to count on his professionalism and wonderful sense of humor,” said Alex Fraser, chair of the board.
This event has celebrated Miami’s diversity, in appreciation of those who have helped to build a more welcoming, inclusive, just, and cooperative society. It also has served as the non-profit’s annual fundraiser, with money going towards year-round youth programs including Camp MetroTown, and Student Voices. This year, they were able to raise over $30,000, which will go towards scholarships for 60-plus students to attend MetroTown during the summer at a local university.
As a special treat, event-goers saw and heard first-hand from Garrin Decembre, a MetroTown alumnus who just a couple of years ago attended the program and is now an AmeriCorps member and Diversity Champion for MCCJ at their Kipp Liberty City site. Upon being introduced by Brian Siegal, also a former MetroTown delegate, Garrin pulled out his trumpet and performed Lift Every Voice and Sing before addressing everyone present.
Shortly before concluding the awards ceremony, members of MCCJ’s Clergy Dialogue lit a Unity Candle, and those present were led by Dr. Walter T. Richardson in a Unity Prayer for all those suffering in this “Changing World” and so that MCCJ could continue to train inclusive leaders through programs like MetroTown, help rebuild law enforcement through the Clergy Dialogue, play a role in creating a safe space for dialog and conflict resolution, work with the LGBTQ youth in lowering the suicide rate and facilitate those cross-cultural connections to break bread and build bridges.
