Queries and Announcements

American Visions, April, 1999

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Children's Book Press of San Francisco is this year's recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for i see the rhythm, illustrated by Michele Wood, with text by Toyomi Igus. i see the rhythm is a sweeping visual and poetic history of African-American music, incorporating colorful paintings of musicians with words from songs of the various eras, definitions of musical styles, and time lines showing important dates in African-American history. Wood is an internationally acclaimed painter, media artist and printmaker. Igus is the author and editor of several books for children and a former editor and publications director for the Center for African-American Studies, University of California at Los Angeles.

Marsha Hook Haygood has been promoted to executive vice president of administration of New Line Cinema. Haygood, who oversees a stag of 28, is based in New York City. She is responsible for the company's day-to-day administrative operations, as well as the implementation of travel policies, and for interacting with Time Warner Inc. to offer new human resources initiatives that benefit the employees of New Line Cinema, Fine Line Features, New Line Home Video, New Line Television, New Line International, and New Line Productions. Haygood joined the company in 1993.

Marsha Reed has been promoted to vice president and will continue as corporate secretary of the Walt Disney Company. Reed is responsible for coordinating the meetings of the board of directors, including its committee meetings, and for handling all corporate records. She also provides advice on corporate governance issues, plans the annual meeting of shareholders, and serves as a registered agent for the company. She was named director and corporate secretary in 1993 and was previously a litigation paralegal. Before joining Disney, Reed held positions with NBC and the Bekins Company.

Walter J. Turnbull, the founder of the acclaimed Boys Choir of Harlem, was the recipient of a $250,000 Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities for his work in helping provide direction and purpose in the lives of hundreds of New York City's inner-city youths through music. Celebrating its 30th season in 1998, the Boys Choir of Harlem has grown under Turnbull's direction from a small church choir to a performing-arts institution of international renown, performing about 120 concerts a year throughout the world. The choir also records for its own imprint, 127th Street Records, and has performed for the soundtracks of Glory and Malcolm X.

Turnbull also has scored impressive victories on the education front. In 1993, on the strength of the academic results of choir alumni, he arranged through the New York City Board of Education to open the Choir Academy of Harlem. A college preparatory school of more than 550 students, ages 8 to 18, the Choir Academy accepts about 100 boys and girls each year, out of about 1,500 who audition. Turnbull is the author of Lift Every Voice--Expecting the Most and Getting the Best From All of God's Children.

The John Coltrane House in Philadelphia was among 15 sites recently designated National Historic Landmarks. Coltrane lived in this house from 1952 until his death in 1967--a period that included the critical years during which he developed his characteristic musical language. National Historic Landmark designation is the federal government's official recognition of the national importance of a historic property.

The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, located in the Broward County (Florida) Library, was the recipient of a $10,000 gift from the Zeta Rho Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. The donation was presented to the library's director, Samuel F. Morrison, by the chapter president, Pearl Maloney. In addition, the sorority presented items for the research library's collection, including a book on the history of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The Zeta Rho Omega Chapter is located in Fort Lauderdale.

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

Pat Neblett, the author of Circles of Sisterhood: A Book Discussion Group Guide for Women of Color, wants to identify black women's book discussion groups for the purpose of inclusion in an upcoming book. Please send groups' names, the names of contact people, and mailing addresses to: Pat Neblett, 28 Hart Circle, Randolph, MA 02368, or e-mail to pneblett@mediaone.net.

REUNION

Lee R. Loche is planning a reunion of flights 976 and 977, Squadron BR-1, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, June through September 1947, and of Squadron F and the Base Service Squadron, Greenville Air Force Base, S.C., 1947 through 1950. The reunion is scheduled for September 23 to 27 in Charleston, S.C. For further details, write to: Lee R. Loche, 542 Ridgewood Drive, Vacaville, CA 95688-2516 or call (707) 446-0812.

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS

Applications are now being accepted for the Malcolm Pirnie/United Negro College Fund Scholars Program. The scholarship is for students interested in the fields of environmental engineering and science. Six students will each receive a $3,000 tuition scholarship, a paid summer internship, and assignment to a dedicated mentor. Candidates must be students in their junior year majoring in civil, chemical or environmental engineering. For further information, write to: Malcolm Pirnie/UNCF Scholars Program, Sylvia A. Bailey, 8260 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22301.