The Cleveland Orchestra and the GCP, in cooperation with the City of Cleveland, announce winners of 2009 Dr. M.L. King Jr. Community Service Award

Friday, January 16, 2009

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Orchestra and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, in cooperation with the City of Cleveland, today announced the recipients of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, which recognizes an individual and a business or organization that have positively impacted Cleveland in the spirit of the teachings and example of Dr. King. Danny Williams will receive the award for an individual, Howard Johnson will receive the award honoring a youth, and Esperanza Inc. will receive the award honoring a business or organization. The recipients will be honored at the Orchestra's 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert on Sunday, January 18, 2009, at 7 p.m. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson will present the awards.

For over 25 years, former County Administrator Danny Williams has served as a leader in the Cleveland area, working to lead the Cleveland area in understanding and valuing diversity, from serving on the boards of many local nonprofit organizations, to volunteering in many community-building capacities. Mr. Williams currently serves as Executive Director of the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland, a position through which he continues to contribute to the realization of Dr. King's dream for inclusion of all people. He has held leadership positions within the American Cancer Society, the Greater Cleveland Roundtable, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. In addition, Mr. Williams has advocated for the arts, serving on the Community Relations Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra.

Howard Johnson, a senior at Cleveland Heights High School, is currently serving a second term as President of the Cleveland NAACP Youth Council. He has a great passion for helping others, and in summer 2007, traveled to Guanajuato, Mexico, to help build a school library. He also speaks fluent Spanish and has become involved with Amigos de las Americas, a program that provides service to third-world countries. In summer 2008 Mr. Johnson volunteered in San Miquel Centro in Cocle, Panama, helping to construct improvements of a local school. Following graduation from high school in June, Mr. Johnson plans to study International Studies at Alliant International University in Mexico City, and hopes to pursue a career working for the Peace Corps or Amigos de las Americas.

Over the past 25 years, Esperanza (meaning "hope" in Spanish) has delivered successful educational and workforce development programs that inspire trust and confidence in students, parents and educators. Located on the near west side of Cleveland, Esperanza's mission is to enhance the educational and economic opportunities for Hispanic Americans and serve as a model of academic and community excellence for the community it serves. From in-class bilingual support to students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, to after-school tutoring, mentoring and leadership programs and academic scholarships for college-bound Hispanic students, Esperanza also provides opportunities for Hispanic youth to celebrate and discover both their own culture as well as the other cultures and ethnicities found in Cleveland.

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