Faith Hope and Love Unlimited of Los Angeles hosted its 3rd Annual Faith Awards ceremony on October 24 to honor six people for their extraordinary faith and accomplishments in communities across the globe. The dynamic event, held at the Marriot in Marina Del Rey, featured breakfast and entertainment by singer Charlene Moore.
Famed actress Margaret “Shug” Avery and actor Ro Brooks served as hosts. The honorees were Phill Wilson, Gabrielle Bullock, Kenneth Chancey, Judyann Elder, Bonita Pilgrim Perkins, and Logan Westbrooks.
Wilson accepted his Faith Award via videoconference. As the president and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, Wilson advocates for HIV/AIDS awareness, policy reform and training through global health and business sectors. He has founded a number of national and community-based organizations including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, National Minority AIDS Council, and the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum.
Bullock made her stamp on the world as one of only 326 licensed, black and female architects in the United States. She was integral in working on such projects as the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University of for Health Sciences. She also serves as a board member for the Center for Architecture and Urban Design Los Angeles as well as the National Organization of Minority Architects, where she seeks to inspire and mentor the next generation of architects of color.
Chancey, now a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, was once homeless and formerly in the foster care system. To illustrate his struggles, Chancey wrote the short story, “Homeless to Hopeful: Stories from Skid Row.” He now serves in the Los Angeles community as a lobbyist and social justice activist. Chancey was also instrumental in developing the Guardian Scholars Program at Loyola, designed specifically to “assist former homeless, fostered and emancipated youth with resources, support and mentors.”
Long-time actress Elder was honored for her work in performing arts. Known for portraying Coretta Scott King in the Broadway debut of “I Have a Dream” and her role in August Wilson’s “Fences,” Elder has continued to make a mark on the film and television industry, inspiring a host of men and women of color along the way. And Elder’s faith walk doesn’t stop there; she also directs and produces shows.
Honoree Pilgram-Perkins, says, “Don’t go through life with catchers mitts on both hands.” Now the Enterprise Account Sales Manager for the Southern California District managing millions of dollars in annual revenues, Perkins transformed her passion for business development into charitable acts benefitting non-profit organizations and students in Los Angeles. Serving on the Board of Directors for the Judge Mablean Ephriam Foundation, Perkins empowers young women and assists high school students in entering the White House Leadership Program.
Westbrooks was Capitol Records’ first Black territory salesman in 1967. He broke the grounds of racial divides by creating avenues for African Americans to become business professionals in the music and entertainment industry. Westbrook now owns a real estate investment firm, Westbrooks Management, where he “leveraged his business and marketing prowess” to help his community. Westbrook is the author of “The Anatomy of the Music Industry: How the Game Was & How the Game Has Changed.”
Hope Williams, executive director and founder of the Faith Awards and Faith, Hope and Love Unlimited, said, “These extraordinary honorees truly exemplify the principles of the Faith Awards, which are simply to inspire and inform.
Williams went on to say that as a people, “We must continue to uplift our own. We don’t have to look to movies for Super Heroes and Sheroes; we just need to turn to our own community, our family.”
In closing, Williams encouraged the audience and advised, “Remember to keep the faith, have hope, and most of all share some love, and the joys of life will be unlimited to you.”
