Ramona Robinson - Power Lunch Video

Power Lunch: Celebrating the Power of Participation

By Alexis Lindway

The Power Lunch, Community Shares’ annual meeting and celebration of social justice on June 19, 2009, buzzed with over 400 people in attendance. Every turn brought about a face of social justice and a voice of change. Member organizations and friends came together to honor the past year and all of the accomplishments with it. A raffle was held with 21 baskets of Cleveland goodies, including a $150 value dinner at Table 45 in the Intercontinental Hotel, free rounds of golf at the Metroparks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indians gear, gift certificates to neighborhood shops and much more.

Mike Brickner received the Volunteer of the Year award for his extraordinary dedication to Community Shares in several capacities. The Reverend George Hrbek was named Distinguished Activist for his lifetime achievements, including co-founding Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. Councilman Anthony Brancatelli was awarded the 11th Annual Eleanor R. Gerson Leadership in Social Justice Award. As a representative of Cleveland’s 12th Ward, Brancatelli has worked diligently on the revitalization of his community, with a focus on the foreclosure epidemic. Policy Matters Ohio received recognition as Member Organization of the Year for outstanding research, policy and advocacy work. The Social Justice Reporting Award went to Dan Harkins of Cleveland Scene for his article Disparate Times.

A new award, The Power of Participation: Making History, was given to both the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and the NAACP. The award signified the two organizations’ equal rights collaboration in support of the Domestic Partner Registry. Sue Doerfer, Executive Director of the Center, and George Forbes, President of the NAACP, accepted warmly and delivered thanks to the audience, with emphasis on the many years of struggles and successes they have both experienced.

Following the Power Lunch, three new board members were elected: Gary Benjamin of UHCAN Ohio, Darlene English of Housing Research & Advocacy Center and Linda Johanek of the Domestic Violence Center. Also recognized were outgoing board members Mark Robinson, Angel Rucker, and Mark Seifert. By bringing together all 36 Community Shares members and many community supporters, the power of real people making real change is truly felt and duly acknowledged.