 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
Thank you for participating in the movement to advance the next generation of ethically grounded leaders in Pittsburgh.
At the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards celebration, held at the New Hazlett Theater on January 24, Coro brought forward individuals who are leading by their values to make a difference in the world and in our community. The event was inspired by the example of Dr. King, who did his very best to achieve the higher purpose of building a genuinely inclusive democracy in our country. The value of inclusion permeates everything we do at Coro. It is both an end, as well as a means to an end.
As an end, inclusion is about building a community in which all of us, not just some, have opportunities to build a high quality of life for ourselves and our family, to pursue education, to keep ourselves safe and healthy. As a means to an end, inclusion is about building communities in which all of us, not just some, take responsibility for the conditions of our community, contribute our gifts, and participate in solving our collective challenges.
Dr. King said that “Everybody can be great, because anyone can serve.” He emphasized that you don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve…you only need a heart full of grace; a soul generated by love. At Coro we call this passion.
Since 1999, Coro Pittsburgh has worked with nearly 2000 passionate young adults of all sectors, all educational backgrounds, all races and religions, prepare them to become leaders in service to their community. About half of alumni follow careers in the nonprofit and education sectors, a third in the private sector, and one fifth in government. While they work in various sectors, alumni share a commitment to engaging in their communities. Most volunteer their time, serve on nonprofit boards, or work together with others to solve a problem or realize a vision for a better community.
Throughout this legacy site you will find event photos as well as reflections and impact from a number guests who attended the MLK Jr. Awards. Please share your own experience and impact in the comment form provided.
Thank your for your continued partnership in the mission of Coro Pittsburgh!
Sincerely,
Greg Crowley
President and CEO
Media Coverage
Pop City: Coro’s MLK winners exemplify ‘values-based leadership’
Pittsburgh Courier: Coro presents MLK Leadership Awards
Pittsburgh Business Times: Martin Luther King Jr. Awards honor local business, nonprofit leaders
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: The Next Page: Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream lives on
Carnegie Mellon News Brief: Coro Honors Carnegie Mellon’s Jim Daniels for Values-Based Leadership
Attendee Reflection
“The MLK Awards was an incredible sampling of what makes our region so special. I was honored to be included among an extremely diverse set of honorees and nominees. It was great to learn about the terrific work that all of these community leaders are doing in the region.” -County Councilman Tom Baker, 2014 MLK Jr. Leadership Award Recipient, Coro Running for Public Office Alumni
“I loved the range of awardees and nominees. I am continually inspired at the hard work that goes on here in Pittsburgh and appreciate Coro for shedding light on these fine individuals.” -Chloe Velasquez, Coro Pittsburgh Board Member
“I am an alumna of Coro’s Civic Leadership Institute of Greater Washington, Washington, PA. I always enjoy coming out in support of Coro. This year’s event was especially inspirational. I felt proud to be part of an organization that creates the necessary space for honoring diversity and inclusion by recognizing the work of courageous servant leadership. Coro, Awardees, and nominees alike, through service, have truly reflected the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - “Everybody can be great because anyone can serve.” -Monda R. Williams, Leadership Institute of Greater Washington Alumna
“I attended the MLK Leadership Awards Celebration for the second year in a row, and I plan to attend many more in the subsequent years. I admire people who are dedicated to building better communities where each person is treated kindly and with dignity. It interests me to know what inspires them. After attending the MLK Leadership Awards Celebration, I was reminded of why I’m passionate about service and social justice, and left feeling motivated and ready to get back to work.” -Kayla Bower, Public Allies Pittsburgh Alumna
“The MLK Awards were truly inspiring. It was wonderful to hear from and network with leaders in this region who are living Dr. King’s dream through the work they do every day. I left feeling energized and motivated. Kudos to Coro on a great event!”-Allyce Pinchback, Leaders in Learning ’10, Women in Leaderhip ’12, Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council President
“I loved the fact that all the award nominees presented their ideas and individual projects. There were a lot of connections I could see forming even among the nominees. Perhaps Coro could bring the nominees together on a separate occasion to facilitate collaboration. Many more amazing things could come out of this effort. Additionally, events like the Martin Luther Kings Leaders Awards celebration helps to capture Pittsburgh’s story. A story that is underscored by grass-roots leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and action. Pittsburgh is a place where leadership is cultivated and celebrated.”-Chrystal Alexander, Fourth Economy
“The MLK Awards event was such a fun event! I connected with colleagues I had not seen in a while and enjoyed the tasty, elegant food selections. The most inspirational part was networking with new people who bubbled with contagious energy and passion. Thank you CORO for a stunning evening!” -Barabara Johnson, Carlow University, 2014 MLK Jr. Leadership Award Nominee
“Thank you for organizing an engaging and inspiring MLK Awards! I attended with a good friend and, as we were walking to the car, we agreed that the next logical step for us was to find a coffee shop and stay up all night dreaming about how to live out our values for the purpose of changing the world. I’ve been back in Pittsburgh for about 18 months. The Peduto inauguration party and the MLK Awards have been, by far, the most diverse events I’ve attended in Pittsburgh since being back. It was encouraging and inspiring to see a counter-example to the (true) narrative that Pittsburgh remains a city divided by race and class. The room was also one of the nicest rooms I’ve experienced. Everyone I met was, well, nice. Interesting and interested. Positive about what they do and encouraging about what I (am planning to) do. If only all networking events were this pleasant and easy!”-Peter Brewton, Fellow in Public Affairs ‘09 Alumni
“For me, what I got out of the event was a sense of connection to a larger community of people who care and are doing the important, often not recognized work to improve our community. Sometimes I feel alone out there, and I’m sure some of the others feel this at times too—we get tired, discouraged, unsure of ourselves and what we’re doing. In the future, at moments like those, I will think of the Coro event and all those great, wonderful people I met.” -Jim Daniels, Thomas Stockham Baker Professor of English, Carnegie Mellon University, 2014 MLK Jr. Leadership Awards Nominee
“I was honored to be a nominee among such a dynamic and diverse group of leaders. The evening was filled with so many highlights-from making new connections and reuniting with colleagues to the delicious cuisine and setting, it was truly a spirited event. I left feeling inspired.” -Wadria Taylor, Coro Community Problem Solving Fellowship Aluma, 2014 MLK Jr. Leadership Awards Nominee
