The Minerva Foundation, Inc., in conjunction with the Nashville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will host the 12th annual Dr. Dorothy L. Brown Humanitarian Awards Brunch, Saturday, November 3, at 10 am at the Hilton Downtown Nashville Hotel in the Volunteer Ballroom, 121 4th Ave. South, Nashville, Tenn. 37201.
“Several years ago it was put on state Rep. Brenda Gilmore’s heart to create a forum to recognize unsung local heroes and those individuals that were impacting the community the way Dr. Brown did,” said Minerva Foundation President Rev. Olivia M. Cloud.
The Minerva Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that utilizes proceeds from this event to fund scholarships to deserving non-traditional students in the Nashville Metropolitan area, and other charitable projects in the community, as well as honor ‘unsung heroes’ for their leadership and commitment to public service in their communities.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Dorothy L. Brown: An Advocate for Children Services, Healthcare, and Social Justice.’ Dr. Brown was the first African American female surgeon in the south; the first single adoptive mother in TN; and the first African American female to be elected to the Tennessee State Legislature and a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
“The Humanitarian Awards Brunch is an opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Dr. Brown while also honoring those that are working hard to make an impact,” said Committee Co-Chair Beverly Walker Bell.
This year’s keynote speaker is the 22nd national past president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, served from 20-2004. Dr. Boyd is an engineer and is described as a dynamic, relevant leader, a prolific motivational speaker, a powerful preacher and a prominent advocate of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
She also served as the president of Alabama State University from 2014-16. Currently, Dr. Boyd serves as the president and chair of the Career Communications Group (CCG) Alumni Committee. CCG is the publisher of U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine; the Women of Color in Science magazine and producer of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Conference as well as the Women of Color in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Conference.
Dr. Brown often said she was proud to be a role model “not because I have done so much, but to say to young people that it can be done.” Dr. Brown’s daughter Lola (Lodie Denise) Brown supports this invaluable tribute to excellence annually. She says that she is happy to see her mother’s legacy kept alive through this first class event.
To purchase tickets for this remarkable charity, visit Eventbrite, the 2018 Dr. Dorothy L. Brown Humanitarian Awards Brunch. Tickets are $75 per seat and sponsorship packages are also available. For additional information, e-mail the Dr. Dorothy L. Brown Committee at dstdrbrown@gmail.com.
