Urban Leaguers bask in golden glow of victory
GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP | Obama adviser is among Chicago luminaries at Urban League dinner where there's much to celebrate
Timing is everything, as guests of the Chicago Urban League's annual Golden Fellowship Dinner discovered as they gathered Saturday to celebrate the group's annual achievements. But the evening quickly morphed into a thrilling celebration of Barack Obama.
Ecstatic talk of the president-elect dominated the night; many of Obama's big-time supporters were among the 1,500 guests.
(Victor Powell/For the Sun-Times)
(Victor Powell/For the Sun-Times)
Longtime mentor, campaign adviser and supporter Valerie Jarrett (who was recently named a leader in his White House transition team) attended the VIP champagne reception and gave a quick speech but would not speculate on her role in the administration. She simply thanked all who contributed to the Urban League, and to Obama's "extraordinary" campaign, pausing to take in the sound of the phrase, "President-elect Obama," before quickly adding, "Of course, I can still call him Barack."
Dinner co-chair Jim Reynolds (CEO of Loop Capital Managements) continued having fun, joking that he and co-chair Bill M. Daley (of JP Morgan Chase) were a "Jordan and Pippen team," before acknowledging, "We [Chicago Urban League] have had a great achievement this week, but our work is not done."
"Positive role models are essential to the Urban League's goal of economic empowerment of Chicago's African Americans," CEO and President Cheryle R. Jackson explained. WFLD-Channel 32 anchor Robin Robinson presented the first Bill Berry Civil Rights Award to Linda Johnson Rice, CEO of Johnson Publishing Co., for her work in perpetrating positive African-American images.
Guests supped on chicken florentine and decadent flourless chocolate cake in the Hilton's International Ballroom while being entertained by host Anthony Anderson, the newest detective on NBC's "Law & Order," and comedian Damon Williams.
The crowd -- which stayed remarkably long after dinner -- grooved to the soulful sounds of six-time Grammy-nominated artist Anthony Hamilton before heading to the after-party in the neighboring ballroom to dance and drink till 2 a.m.
The evening was a huge success, raising $1.9 million, which will go toward the Urban League's programs.
Elizabeth Hamel is a local free-lance reporter.