The New Orleans Tribunes’ Publishers Orleans Parish Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna and Beverly McKenna Among Honorees
The Urban League of Louisiana joined the National Urban League today (Friday, July 1) to host the Gumbo Coalition Community Awards Luncheon. The event honored a selection of political, business, community, faith-based, and other leaders who have contributed to the economic growth of New Orleans.
President and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana along with National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial hosted the luncheon, which was held at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport.
Orleans Parish Coroner and Executive Publisher of The New Orleans Tribune Dr. Dwight McKenna was honored as a Civic Legend, along with former mayor, Sydney Barthelemy and Eddie Sapir, who served as as state representative, a district and at-large city councilman and a municipal court during his 40-year career in public service. The New Orleans Tribune‘s Publisher and Executive Editor Beverly S. McKenna was also honored in the Communications and Journalists category, along with Louisiana Weekly Publisher Renette Dejoie Hall and Data News Weekly Publisher Terry Jones.
In all, some 120 New Orleanians across more than a dozen categories that included Judicial Excellence, Cultural Champions, Business Pacesetters, Justice Advocates, Healthcare Heroes, Communications and Journalists, Role Models of Leadership, Fighters for the People, Guardians of Public Safety, Municipal Trailblazers, From New Orleans to the Beltway, Civic Legends, and Spiritual Guides were recognized.
Other honorees included senior advisor to President Joe Biden, Cedric L. Richmond; U. S. Rep.Troy A. Carter, Jr.; New Orleans City Councilmen Eugene J. Green and Oliver M. Thomas, Jr.; Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge, Edwin A. Lombard, former Orleans Parish Sheriff, Marlin N. Gusman; former WWL-TV News Anchor, Sally-Ann Roberts, Grammy award-winning artist, PJ Morton, public advocate, Jacques Morial; civil rights activist, Don Hubbard; owner and general manager of National Holistic Healing Center Medical Marijuana Dispensary, Dr. Chanda Macias; serial entrepreneur, Sevetri Wilson; civil rights legend, Jerome Smith; WWL-TV news anchor, Sheba Turk; and international preacher and gospel recording artist, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr.
“The contributions of these individuals align and are consistent with the philosophy of the Gumbo Coalition, which was the hallmark of my mayoral administration and is also the name of my leadership book,” Morial says. “Their hard work is too often unrecognized, which is why we are choosing to celebrate their contributions to the community.”
