On November 5, 2009, we will have our Annual ScholarshipAwards Banquet at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, MD. Billy R. Martin, Esq. will be our keynote speaker. Mr. Martin is a partner in the firm Howrey, LLP 's global litigation practice, focusing on white collar criminal defense. His diverse practice includes substantial jury trial experience and representation of individuals and corporations in connection with federal and state criminal investigations, as well as in civil disputes, including financial fraud, improper employment practices, professional liability, civil rights violations and complex commercial disputes. Mr. Martin also maintains an active sports and entertainment practice. He is consistently recognized as an established legal authority and is frequently invited to offer commentary and legal analysis on major television networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Court TV and BET. His list of celebrity clients include former and present NBA players Jayson Williams, Allen Iverson, Juwan Howard, and Rod Strickland, former heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe and NFL Quarterback Michael Vick. Mr. Martin HAD also represented White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the parents of slain Capitol Hill intern Chandra Levy, actor Wesley Snipes, and U.S. Senator Larry Craig.
With Master of Ceremonies Sam Ford
of ABC News 7 WJLA Washington, D.C.:
Sam Ford is a general assignment reporter for ABC7/WJLA-TV. He joined
the station's team in 1987.
Previously, Sam spent nine years as a correspondent for CBS News.
During his tenure at the network, Sam was stationed at CBS bureaus in
New York, Atlanta, and Washington.
Prior to CBS, he reported to WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After
earning a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of
Kansas, Sam attended graduate school for journalism at the University
of Minnesota.
He is married to free-lance reporter Gloria Murray, with whom he has a
son and daughter.
The 24th Annual Scholarship
Awards Banquet was a resounding success. Judges, attorneys and other
guests turned out for a night of fellowship and recognition of our
membership's accomplishments. This year
we had the great legal humorist, Sean Carter, Esq., roommate to JFB
member, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, comment on Brown’s absence
and his having to explain to his family why, despite Brown’s
and Obama’s political success, all he does is tell jokes
to lawyers.
The 2008 President’s Award was presented to Holly
D. Reed III, Esq., for Outstanding Service To The Legal Community And To Our Association.
The Legal Excellence Award 2008 was presented to the JFB Judicial Nominating
Committee “In Recognition Of Your Outstanding Contribution To
Promoting The Principle Of Legal Excellence In The Judiciary”: Isaac
Marks, Chair, Tiffany Alston, Vernell Arrington, Debra Davis, M. Andree
Green, Michael Lyles, William Shipp, Gina Smith, William Snoddy, Maurene
Epps Webb & Dennis Whitley.
The 2008 Community Service Awards were presented
to June White Dillard, Esq., President, Prince George’s County Branch, NAACP, in acknowledgment
of many years of service to the causes of freedom, justice & equality. Dr.
George B. Thomas, Sr. Founder & President of the George B. Thomas,
Sr. Learning Academy was presented an award for his outstanding contribution
to the education of the children in our community. Our last community
service award was presented to the Honorable Leo E. Green, Jr., Associate
Judge, Circuit Court For Prince George’s County, in recognition
of his selfless, continuing contributions to fellow citizens of the
Metropolitan Washington, DC Area and to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina
And Rita.
All scholarship recipients
are students at Howard University School of Law: Jasmine Modoor,
Valiesha Brown, Fathia Touray (Sallie Williams Award), and Alan Mitchell
(Sallie Williams Award). The Sallie
Williams Awards are named in honor of past JFB
President Sallie E. Williams, Esq., and is for a student embarking on law as a second career.
Thank you all for helping us to carry on this wonderful tradition.
On November 1, 2007, Bourne hosted
its 30th Anniversary celebration and 23rd Scholarship awards banquet.
Keynote speaker, Harry Belafonte, wowed a packed house and challenged
attendees to do more for the children in our community. Bourne awarded
scholarships to two (2) students: Omar A. Hashmi of Howard University
School of law and Aja P. Saw-Kung of Georgetown University Law Center
and presented the Legal Excellence award to the Hon. Herman C. Dawson,
Circuit Court of Prince George’s County. President’s awards
were presented to Sharon Christmas DeBerry and Elizabeth M. Hewlett
for their continued service to our association. Dr. Marsha Coleman
Adebayo and Dr. Michael A. Freeman were the recipients of the Community
Service Award for their dedicated service and Trailblazer awards
were presented to the Hon. DeLawrence Beard and the Hon. James H.
Taylor for their pioneering spirit. Bourne
Founding Members were also honored at the banquet.
Special thanks to Judge El-Amin and Sharon DeBerry for their extraordinary
leadership on the Banquet Committee. Thanks also to all banquet committee
members: Erek Barron, Sha’Donna Claggett, Nycole L. Grissett,
Elizabeth M. Hewlett, Robbyn R. McIntosh, Hon. Sheila R. Tillerson Adams,
Amirah Salaam and Shannon M. Weaver and the on-site volunteers,
Vanita Taylor, M. Andree Green, Aaronette Carter, Wennesa Snoddy,
Cherita Gonzales, Terrah A. Dews, Redis C. Floyd, and Lade R. Akinbolaji.
Your collective efforts insured a historic 30th Anniversary celebration.
208 Photos can been seen and purchased at www.DMarks.com
or http://www.yardy.smugmug.com/gallery/3765643#217682497
Breakfast
with Belafonte
On Friday, November 2, 2007, Mr. Belafonte and other
community leaders vested in children issues held a breakfast meeting
at the Hilton in Greenbelt, MD. At the meeting, stakeholders exchanged
ideas about issues affecting children and learned more about a grassroots
organization called “the Gathering for Justice.” This organization
is the brainchild of Mr. Belafonte and its mission is to coordinate
and engage organizations in a common covenant for justice and ending
child incarceration. In keeping with JFBs Boycott Prison Initiative,
we are looking to collaborate with similar minded organizations to stop
this trend of continued imprisonment of African-Americans. Anyone interested
in finding out more about this organization can visit the website: www.thegatheringforjustice.org.
On
November 2, 2006, Bourne had another successful Scholarship Awards
Banquet. The keynote speaker, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, gave
a rousing speech to over four hundred fifty guests. Bourne awarded
scholarships to three law students: Tiffany D. Johnson, Avia M. Trower
and Christina J. Weaver, and presented the Legal Excellence Award
to the Honorable Hassan El-Amin, District Court of Prince George's
County.
President's
Awards were presented to Joel Braithwaite and Shondriette D. Kelley
for their consistent service to Bourne over the past year. Yvonne
Hefley took home the Community Service Award for her dedicated service
to Prince George's County. Thanks to Banquet Committee Co-Chairs Abigale
Bruce-Watson and Vanita Taylor, the Committee, and to all who supported
the banquet and who helped to make the evening a success.
Keynote
Speaker Delegate Anthony G. Brown adeptly tied the theme of Bourne’s
21st Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet “Serving Our Communities
and Our Country” with his speech, which focused on what it means
to each individual to be of service. Quoting President John F. Kennedy,
Delegate Brown noted that “it is within each of us where the
answer lies. It is incumbent upon each of us to serve.” He noted
that the government has not served all of its people equally and specifically
referred to the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina,
the high number of African American males imprisoned, and the lack
of health care by many African Americans.
Leading
up to Delegate Brown’s inspiring speech was the presentation
of awards for Legal Excellence, the President’s Award, Community
Service, Scholarships, and a special presentation by County Attorney
Charles W. Thompson, who acknowledged the contributions made by the
outgoing and the incoming Bourne presidents with certificates of appreciation.
Judge
William Missouri of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County,
Maryland received the Legal Excellence Award for his outstanding career.
The President’s Award was presented to Garland Stillwell, whom
President Snoddy referred to as his “Go-To Guy.” Dr. Yvette
Butler of Montgomery County’s “Gap Busters” and
Mary Kucharski of Prince George’s County’s Christmas in
April took home the Community Service Awards for their dedicated service.
The scholarship recipients were Michelle D. Thomas, of Howard University,
Reuben S. Canada, of Howard Univ. and Kelley M. Lane from the Univ.
of Pittsburgh. Thanks to all who supported the Banquet and especially
the Banquet Committee, who helped to make the evening a success. I
think it can truly be said that “a good time was had by all.”
Sharon V. Burrell, Chair, Banquet Committee
“[I]s
it the twilight of nightfall or the flush of some faint dawning day?”
Quoting from W.E.B. DuBois’s Souls of Black Folk, United States
Circuit Court Judge Roger L. Gregory posed that question to the more
than 300 attendees at our 20th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet held
November 4, 2004 at Martin’s Crosswinds. Judge Gregory’s
query came during a stirring and thought-provoking keynote address
in which he called us to action to make better the lives of our young
people. Judge Gregory, the first African-American appointed the to
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, made clear that our efforts will
determine whether what lies ahead for them “is the twilight
of nightfall or the flush of some faint-dawning day.”
In addition to Judge Gregory’s keynote address, the banquet
featured the presentation of awards for Legal Excellence, the President’s
Award, the Community Service and the Scholarship Awards. Judge Arrie
Davis of the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland received the Legal
ExcellenceAward for his outstanding career as an attorney and jurist.
The President’s Award was garnered by Joseph and Shawn Wright,
who opened their home to the Bar Association for both our Holiday
party and New Admittees Reception. Charles Davis of the L.U.K.E. Foundation
took home the Community Service Award for his “Stretch the Vote”
campaign, which offered voters limousine rides to the polls. The scholarship
recipients were Joel Braithwaite, a third-year student at the Howard
University School of Law, Andrea Clarke of the American University
Washington College of Law, and Krystin Richardson, a first-year student
at the University of Maryland School of Law.
Thank you to all of those who attended the Banquet or otherwise purchased
seats. The Banquet’s continued success is due largely to your
participation, especially our sponsors, patrons, advertisers and table
purchasers.
William A. Snoddy, Chair, JFB Banquet Committee
Executive Board Members: Hon. Sharon V. Burrell and William Snoddy
