Local news- Press Release
Greenlight Community Broadband North Carolina - Bill Myers chosen for 2024 Humanitarian Award 27 February 2024 ( news )
Greenlight Community Broadband , state North Carolina ( By Press Release office)
Feb 27,2024
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Bill Myers , well - known musician and civic leader , was named Friday as the winner of the Paul Lee Stevens Humanitarian of the Year Award .
The award was one of four made during the 53rd Human Relations Awards Ceremony , held Friday , Feb . 23 , at the Darden Alumni Center . Several hundred people attended the sellout event , presented by the Wilson Human Relations Commission .
Commissioner Paully Adams called Myers a worthy choice for the top award , citing his “long history of community service , ” including service on 19 different community organizations including the Men’s Civic Club , United Way , Vollis Simpson Park Board and Wilson Mental Health Association .
Myers is also known for more than 60 years of musical performances , many with the jazz band The Monitors . He helped form the NC African American Music Trail , which was commemorated with a downtown mural in 2023 .
He had been recognized with the North Carolina Heritage Award of Recognition , in 2014 , for his contributions to education and the arts and with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine , in 2022 .
Adams shared statements from Myers’ nomination letters: “Bill is one of the finest human beings I’ve ever met , with all the charm and charisma the divine can bestow” and “Mr . Myers is a pillar in the community . He is well respected and renowned . He has given of his time , money and talents for the uplifting of others through a lifetime of community service . ”
Other nominees for the award were Ruby Freeman , the founder of the “Love One Another Sisterhood , Inc . , ” a non - profit founded in 2012 to help young women achieve , and Laura McNair , the volunteer coordinator of the Tabernacle of God Community Church Outreach’s Food Pantry program , which provided more than 6 , 000 meals to local households in 2023 .
The Humanitarian of the Year Award is the Wilson Human Relations Commission’s highest honor and goes to an individual who has given unselfishly above and beyond the call of duty . It is named for Paul Lee Stevens , a well - known humanitarian in the Wilson community for nearly a quarter of a century .
Other awards presented during the Feb . 23 ceremony were:
Community Service Award , Youth , was given to Janesha Isom , a senior at Wilson Early College Academy . Her accomplishments include participating in the gospel choir at Jackson Chapel Church and volunteering more than 200 hours with Wilson Youth Council , including Special Olympics , the Train of Lights and the Whirligig Festival . o She has served as a Squad Leader and the Service Project Chair . Other nominees were Adaa Aggarwal; Kalia Jones; Mabel Moreno; Christina Pappas; Claire Proctor; Emma - Townsend Satterfield; Logan Stroud; and Amarachi Uwakwe .
Community Service Award , Adult , was given to James and Joyce Haney , the co - leaders of the Washington Carver Heights Neighborhood Association since 1994 . They were chosen for their participation in community meetings , city planning and zoning research , as well as providing leadership for annual community events , holiday celebrations , food drives , fish fries and support for local shut - ins . Other nominees were Verna Boyd; Charlie Bedgood; Joan Bowman; Kolly Burritt - Dinan; Ronald L . Langley , Jr; Michael Mitchell; and Trey Pittman .
Community Service Award , Group , was given to WAYMAKERS of North Carolina , which began in 2021 distributing meals to the hungry and served approximately 28 , 000 meals in 2023 and donated more than 3 , 000 items for Blessing Boxes throughout the community . Other nominees were Imagination Station Science and History Museum; Our Wilson Mentoring; Queens of Chrome Motorcycle Club; Total Impact Outreach Ministries; and Vision Community Theatre .
In addition to handing out awards , the Human Relations Office recognized three active Neighborhood Associations: Washington Carver Heights , Daniel Hill and the Valleydale and Glenwood Hills . These groups bring neighbors together for common goals such as safety , support and beautification projects . Anyone interest in starting a neighborhood association can contact the Human Relations Office .
During the evening , the Commission also took time to celebrate the 20
thAnniversary of the Wilson Youth Council . The council started in the 1990’s and has expanded to include all Wilson high schools . Student members focus on community volunteerism , averaging about 50 community projects per year .
The Human Relations Office announce the sponsorship of three new college scholarships for students with strong community volunteerism , students with disabilities and active members for the youth council .
“We want to create a path into the future , ” said Billy “BJ” Woodard” , director of Human Relations . “Our theme for this year’s banquet was building the bridge that uplifts the future . What better way to help today’s students than to support their next level of education – be it college or technical training . We want to uplift those students that have given back to the community . ”
Each scholarship will award a deserving student $500 .
Applications are available on the City of Wilson website and due by April 30 .
Nominations for the 2025 awards will begin in January 2025 .
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