Living Legend Award and Outstanding Black Male Leaders of Tomorrow to be Honored at 13th Annual Black History Month Gala

Bloomington, Ind. – The City of Bloomington’s 13th Annual Black History Month Gala will take place on Saturday, February 24, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 245 N. College Avenue. A reception and silent auction will begin at 6:00 p.m. with program to follow at 7:00 p.m.

This year the Black History Month planning committee will recognize Frank Motley and Valeri Haughton-Motley as the recipients of the Living Legend Award. The award was created to publicly acknowledge, honor, and celebrate the accomplishments of African-Americans in Bloomington who have devoted their time, talents, and resources to make a difference in the Bloomington community and beyond.

Frank Motley served as Dean of Admissions for the Indiana University Michael Maurer School of Law for more than twenty-five years and as a senior administrator in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs. He admitted more than 5,000 students during his nearly four-decade career at the Law School. Although retired, Frank remains active with the Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus and the Monroe County Branch NAACP. The Honorable Valeri Haughton-Motley has served as presiding judge of Monroe Circuit Court VIII for the past nine years. In 2015 she was named Bloomington’s Woman of the Year. Valeri has had an extensive career dedicated to public service, which has included the Bloomington Human Rights Commission, the Monroe County Branch NAACP, Benevolent Order of Elks and the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as actively supporting Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Also during the gala, the City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Black Males (CSBM) will honor the 2018 Outstanding Black Male Leaders of Tomorrow recipients. The 2018 adult recipient is Marvin Q. Jones Jr., a graduate student at Indiana University studying Astrophysics. Jones has a deep love of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics work, as well as being socially and politically engaged. The Virginia native was selected as the 2018 recipient because of his commitment to academic excellence and his work in the community fostering community engagement activities, including the Bethel A.M.E. Church Homework Help Program.

The 2018 high school recipient is David Anthony Johnson. David is a junior at Bloomington High School North with a 3.4 grade point average. David’s record of community service includes Counselor in Training for Bloomington Parks and Recreation and dedication to the March of Dimes, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, and Community Kitchen. David currently serves as an intern for the City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Black Males assisting with various projects. 

Tickets for the Gala are available at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., or online at bctboxoffice.org. For more information about 2018 Black History Month celebration in Bloomington, visit bloomington.in.gov/bhm.

The City of Bloomington Black History Month~ Bloomington Style activities are sponsored by the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department, City of Bloomington Office of the Mayor, Indiana Civil Rights Commission, Indiana University Office of the Vice President of  Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs, Lumina Foundation, Ivy Tech Community College, Monroe County Branch NAACP, Dr. K. Luke Eades, DDS, Old National Bank, Indiana University Credit Union, Griffin Realty, Order of the Eastern Star, South Star #50, Jurisdiction of Indiana and the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons, Stone City Lodge #54, Jurisdiction of Indiana, Maqube Reese and I. James Torry.

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