Friday, March 29, 2024

Byron Allen and Other Leaders Honored by LA Urban League (EUR Exclusive/WATCH)

*Last month in April, the Los Angeles Urban League honored some of the greatest leaders and influencers in the Los Angeles community.

 Their contributions to not only their immediate communities, but also, around the world are felt daily. The LAUL serves, educates and empowers African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance and civil rights by providing directed and targeted social programs, advocating on issues that are beneficial to their communities and guidance for the next generation to step into their  “purpose.”

So, it was no surprise that this elite event brought out some of Hollywood’s heavy hitters, including Tina Knowles, Maxine Waters, Kenny Lattimore, Vanessa L. Williams, Jeffery TD Wallace, Fred Ali and Darrell Brown; leaders in entertainment, business, finance and community.

This year marked the 46th year of the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Awards Dinner, which raises funds for the Los Angeles Urban League and their outreach programs.  Whitney Moore Young Jr. (July 31, 1921 – March 11, 1971) was an American civil rights leader. He spent most of his career working to end employment discrimination in the United States and turning the National Urban League from a relatively passive civil rights organization into one that aggressively worked for equitable access to socioeconomic opportunity for the historically disenfranchised.  

Fast forward to 2019 and many of the issues that Whitney championed towards, are still issues, but with the Urban League in place, there is support, change and leaders continuing his legacy.  One of these leaders is Mr. Byron Allen, the 2019 recipient of this prestigious award. Mr. Allen joins an exclusive list of notable prior recipients of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award, which includes sports legends John Wooden and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, entertainment legends, Denzel Washington, Natalie Cole, Sidney Poitier and Stevie Wonder.  

Curren Price Mark Ridley Thomas, Byron Allen, Michael A
LA City Councilperson Curren Price; LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, LAUL Honoree Byron Allen; LAUL President Michael A Lawson (photo: Linda Antwi/EURweb)

Mr. Allen’s legacy is palpable. He is a businessman, former comedian, television producer, philanthropist, and the founder, owner, chairman, and chief executive officer of the television production company, Entertainment Studios.  Entertainment Studios owns eight 24 hour HD television networks, serving over 160 million people, including The Weather Channel, Pets.tv, Comedy.tv and Justice Central.tv. Entertainment Studios also produces, distributes and sells advertising for 43 television programs, making it one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for TV stations.  Byron Allen ”serves as a powerful role model for African Americans, and all Americans by inspiring entrepreneurship, dedication and passion in the tradition of Whitney M. Young, Jr.” Byron Allen…legacy maker!

In addition to the Whitney Award, this year, in honor of their fearless leader, the late, great John W. Mack, President and CEO of the LAUL, the inaugural John Mack Legacy Award was presented to Fred Ali, the president and CEO of the Weingart Foundation.  The League also honored Jeffery TD Wallace, President and CEO of LeadersUp, with the Dr. Winston C. Doby Community Coalition Award and Darrell Brown, Senior Vice President of US Bank with the Corporate Partnership Award for his 44 years of supporting growth, socio-economic knowledge and supporting community in Los Angeles through banking and charity work.

The theme of this year’s dinner was “Empowering Excellence.”  What does that look like? How can we be sure that we are not only inspiring the next generation, but also reminding everyone and anyone with a dream, a vision, a passion and a purpose, that it is NEVER TOO LATE to live your truth!?  

In the words of Will Durant, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” We all can encourage healthy habits. We all can do our part. We all are Excellence. We are born Legends. We are made Legends!

 

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