News Release
The Cleveland Orchestra and the City of Cleveland,
in cooperation with the Greater Cleveland Partnership,
announce Dr. Julian Earls, Cedric Thorbes, and
Baldwin-Wallace College’s Division of Student Affairs
as recipients of the 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Community Service Award
Release date: January 13, 2011
The Cleveland Orchestra and the City of Cleveland, in cooperation with the Greater Cleveland Partnership, today announced the recipients of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, which recognizes an individual, a youth and a business or organization that have positively impacted Cleveland in the spirit of the teachings and example of Dr. King. Dr. Julian Earls will receive the award for an individual, Cedric Thorbes will receive the award honoring a youth, and Baldwin-Wallace College’s Division of Student Affairs will receive the award honoring a business or organization. The recipients will be honored at the Orchestra’s 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson will present the awards.
In 2010, a feature in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Dr. Julian Earls “a prominent African-American physicist…known around the country as a Renaissance man.” In his advocacy of educational opportunities for our region’s young people, his drive for educational excellence, and his contributions to the economic health of our community, Dr. Earls sets the highest standard of achievement.
Currently the Executive-in-Residence in the Nance College of Business Administration at Cleveland State University, Dr. Earls is also a special assistant and advisor to the university’s President and a lecturer in high demand around the country, speaking on wide range of topics including higher education models of excellence, as well as equality of opportunity and inclusiveness in the corporate workplace. Dr. Earls holds a doctorate in radiation physics from the University of Michigan and numerous honorary degrees. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development. This past fall, he was named to Texas congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s Science and Technology Braintrust, designed to foster positive interaction between African-American youth and influential African-American role models in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
As the Director of NASA/Glenn Research Center in Cleveland from 2003-2005, managing an annual budget of approximately $773 million, Dr. Earls raised the stature, accomplishment and world prestige of space exploration while simultaneously advancing the opportunities allowing gifted, qualified, and committed people of color to rise to new heights of achievement.
Recently Dr. Earls enabled the creation of the Campus International School, a partnership between CSU and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District that will serve students through 12th grade by 2015, incorporating the curriculum of the International Baccalaureate program, internationally recognized for its academic rigor.
As a lover and supporter of the fine arts of our community, as well as one of our most articulate champions for the performing arts, Mr. Earls has devoted his life to enabling others to find their voices and advance the music of their lives, as well as to recognize and encourage others to do the same.
A high school senior, Cedric Thorbes has already distinguished himself as a leader. Currently he serves as president of four organizations: Cleveland NAACP Youth Council, Cleveland Southern Christian Leadership Conference Youth Chapter, the BRICK (Brotherhood, Respect, Intelligence, Conduct, Knowledge) program for young men in Cleveland’s inner city, and the Glenville High School Senior Class of 2011, where he carries a 4.0 average. In addition, Cedric serves as a student leader and ambassador for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Cedric exemplifies the kind of person who will continue the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. He is not afraid to speak out and stand up for issues affecting youth and civil rights in our community.
In addition to his civic involvement, Cedric is a well-rounded young man who is both a member of the Glenville High School Wrestling team and a second-place winner in a local NAACP contest (the Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) for his poetry. Cedric hopes to attend Morehouse College.
At his young age, Cedric has already been featured in Essence and Kaleidoscope magazines as well as The Plain Dealer and Call & Post newspapers. He is truly an advocate for educational excellence and social justice, and his commitment to the betterment of society is admirable.
Through its mission of supporting and accepting differences of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, and sexual preference, the Student Affairs Division of Baldwin-Wallace College advances Dr. King’s belief that leaders of all ages must come together in unity to create a better world.
The varied programs of the Student Affairs Division help promote a climate of greater understanding: The B-W Scholars program helps young African-American men develop the academic skills and goals needed to reach college and to succeed in higher education. The B-W SPROUT (Single Parents Reach Out for Unassisted Tomorrows) program provides students with financial aid, housing, and childcare, as well as visiting speakers.
Culture Night, initiated by International Student Services, as well as the Academic and Cultural Events Series (A.C.E.S.) brings international cultures to the B-W campus. In addition, the Office of Community Outreach promotes community service involvement and connects students with volunteer opportunities at community centers, not-for-profits, and nongovernmental organizations.
Promoting principles of nonviolence, the student organization known as POWRE (Promoting Our Women’s Resources and Experiences) focuses on women’s rights, including the right to be free from domestic violence.
Through its many programs, the Student Affairs Division does an exemplary job of modeling diversity in cultures, ethnicity, and visions, in accordance with Baldwin-Wallace’s mission of developing students who are contributing, compassionate citizens.
Award recipients will receive an engraved award commemorating the recognition, as well as special subscription packages to Cleveland Orchestra concerts at Severance Hall.
Nomination Process
Members of the Greater Cleveland community submitted nominations through The Cleveland Orchestra and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. A committee of seven community leaders reviewed the nominations and selected the award recipients. Committee members are: Robert P. Madison, chairman and CEO, Robert P. Madison International, Inc., also a trustee of the Musical Arts Association and chair of The Cleveland Orchestra’s Community Relations Committee; Yvonne Conwell, Cuyahoga County Councilwoman; Andrew Jackson, senior vice president, Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), and executive director, Commission on Economic Inclusion; Valarie J. McCall, Chief of Government Affairs, City of Cleveland; Stanley Miller, Executive Director, Cleveland Branch NAACP; Marsha Mockabee, interim president and CEO, The Urban League of Greater Cleveland; and Duane Thornton, president and executive director, The Presidents’ Council.
MLK Celebration Concert
The Cleveland Orchestra’s 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert will take place on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at Severance Hall at 7:00 p.m., under the direction of Willie Anthony Waters. Performing as violin soloist in this year’s celebration concert is Sphinx Competition junior division prizewinner Randall Goosby. The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus and the Central State University Chorus, prepared by William Henry Caldwell, also will participate. The program will feature selections by composers including Giuseppe Verdi, Felix Mendelssohn, and John Rutter, as well as spirituals and gospel songs by Roland Carter, Lee Hoiby, William Steffe, Moses Hogan, William Dawson, Adolphus C. Hailstork, and Uzee Brown, Jr. A pre-concert talk, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall, will be given by James Rose.
Admission to the pre-concert talk and concert are free, but all tickets have been distributed. For those unable to attend the performance at Severance Hall, the concert will be broadcast live beginning at 7:00 p.m. by radio stations WCLV (104.9 FM) and WCPN (90.3 FM).
The concert is sponsored by KeyBank, a Cleveland Orchestra Partner in Excellence, with additional support from the Cleveland Foundation. The musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra donate their services for this concert as a benefit to the Musical Arts Association Sustaining Fund.
MLK Day Community Open House
The Cleveland Orchestra continues the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration by welcoming the Cleveland community to the 12th annual free Community Open House at Severance Hall on Monday, January 17, 2011, from 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m. Ensembles performing at the Community Open House include the Euclid High School Drum Line; Passport Project – Global Dance and Music Collective; Duffy Liturgical Dance Ensemble; “Unchained: From Slavery to Civil Rights” performed by Roots of American Music; and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. The day will culminate with a performance by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
Activities throughout the afternoon include the “I Have a Dream” wall where children can “color their dreams,” the “Picture Yourself At Severance Hall” photo activity, and popular DJ Terry Macklin’s Sounds of Entertainment.
The 2011 MLK Day Community Open House is sponsored by Medical Mutual of Ohio, the exclusive health insurer of The Cleveland Orchestra and a Cleveland Orchestra Partner in Excellence. Additional support is provided by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Ohio Arts Council.
Photographers are invited to photograph the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award presentation and the first 15 minutes of the Orchestra concert on Sunday, January 16. Please contact The Cleveland Orchestra’s Communications Department in advance at (216) 231-7518 to confirm your attendance, to make parking arrangements, or to receive more information about the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert.
Press Contacts
Jennifer Schlosser, 216-231-7518; Email: jschlosser@clevelandorchestra.com
Ana Papakhian, Office: 216-231-7476; Cell phone: 216-370-2595; Email: anap@clevelandorchestra.com
