Penn State Greater Allegheny’s Professor Johnathan White, standing, will accept an award for his work with the Langston Hughes Poetry Society, at the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation's 31st annual Robert L. Vann Media Awards Dinner on May 2, 2019, in the University of Pittsburgh’s O’Hara Student Center ballroom.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation will be hosting its 31st annual Robert L. Vann Media Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the University of Pittsburgh’s O’Hara Student Center ballroom.
This event honors professional and college journalists for their outstanding work. This year Johnathan White, instructor of history at Penn State Greater Allegheny, will accept the Literacy Champion Award along with his colleagues in the Langston Hughes Poetry Society.
The Langston Hughes Poetry Society is a project that focuses on outreach in local schools and communities. The society uses the poetry of Hughes to educate and raise consciousness on black culture and society.
“We feel honored because it seemed like such a long journey to get recognition,” said White. “It is very gratifying.”
Vanessa German, a local performance artist; and 1Hood Media (Jasiri X), an activist in the local community; will also accept awards for their involvement in the community.
These key community leaders have participated in Greater Allegheny's signature program, The Crossing Bridges Summit. The program, in its second year, considers ways in which the McKeesport-based campus can serve as a catalyst for social change and bridge racial divides in the community, through four pillars: speaker series, unity talks, summit talks and the visiting scholar series.
White is currently an acting committee member for the summit and will facilitate for German when she serves as the summit's next keynote speaker on April 5.
To learn more about the event and the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, visit: http://pbmf.org
