Urban League President and CEO Nominated for Gary Frontiers Award

Urban-League-NWI-LogoDr. Vanessa Allen, President and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, has been selected for a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Marcher’s award for the year 2017. Sponsored for 38 years by the Gary Frontiers Service Club, Inc., the award recognizes people who have “…dedicated a substantial portion of their life trying to improve the human condition of others, principally in the City of Gary.”

According to the 2017 MLK Breakfast Chair Atty. Clorius L. Lay, the Dr. King award is meant to honor those who, in the spirit of Dr. King, champion the cause of the underprivileged by “…speaking to America about social injustice, racial discrimination and serving others.”

Dr. Allen says the Urban League board is a diverse group that is well positioned by race and gender to advocate and implement social justice practices and is therefore prepared for effective outreach to Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. Officers for 2017 include: Angie Nelson Deutich, LaPorte County NIPSCO; Chancellor Thomas L. Keon, Vice-Chair, Purdue University Northwest – Hammond Campus; Kiki Encarnacion, Secretary, Horseshoe Casino and Kristina Bailey, Treasurer, First Midwest Bank.

All board members, including those who serve in an advisory capacity, represent a wide range of individuals whose talents and interests are focused on the Urban League’s commitment to education, job readiness, financial stability, professional development and training in diversity and inclusion.

New board members were sworn in on Wednesday, December 13, 2016 by LaPorte County Judge Richard Stalbrink.

Dr. Allen’s award will be presented on Saturday, January 14, 2017, 8 a.m. at the Gary Genesis Convention Center.