MCCJ spotlights ‘extraordinary humanitarian efforts’ of its Silver Medallion honorees

With so much negative stuff going on in the world today, it is good to know there are still people who are working for the betterment of everyone. They are the folks you meet on an everyday basis, people who don’t go around blowing their own horns, so to speak. They work behind the scenes helping to make our community a better place.

At an event held on Feb. 27, the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews — honored seven such unselfish Miami-Dade Countians with its prestigious Humanitarian Silver Medallion. This is the 76th year that the award has been presented to South Floridians who have “exhibited extraordinary humanitarian efforts that mirror MCCJ’s mission of creating an inclusive community,” according to information from the nonsectarian, nonprofit organization.

“Their involvement and dedication in South Florida against racial and religious discrimination, gender or group bias and intolerance are quite admirable,” said Matthew S. Anderson, MCCJ’s executive director.

The 2022 honorees all have one thing in common: a love and respect for their fellow human beings. One of them is dedicated to special-needs children. Another reaches out to help refugees, while another works with troubled youth. One honoree, who is 90, still works to preserve our history. Still another works to break down barriers between people of different religions, while another was honored for being a bridge-builder between different cultures. And then there is the honoree who is committed to art and community cultural programs.

They are Dr. Enid C. Pinkney, who received The Robert H. Traurig Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a preservationist, historian, and civic activist, and the Rev. Dr. Walter T. Richardson, who received the Interfaith Clergy Medallion for his years of being a preacher, activist, and educator of World Religion.

Silver Medallions were also presented to:

James R. Haj, the president and CEO of The Children’s Trust, who was honored for his years as an educator and advocate for children with special needs;

Benedict P. Kuehne, an attorney, honored for his litigation services on behalf of the Haitian Refugee Center and, Cuban political refugees;

Carlos J. Martinez, a public defender, honored for instituting numerous programs to help troubled youth;

Khalid M. Mirza, an entrepreneur, was honored for being an active interfaith bridge-builder with the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations;

Jonathan Plutzik, owner of the Betsy Hotel, honored for his commitment to art, community and cultural programs of interest to various groups of people.

Since 1946, when the first Humanitarian Silver Medallion was presented, over 250 community and civic leaders have been honored, “… each of them having championed a specific cause for the better of society.”

‘Beacon of light’ for community

Pinkney said, “The honor was significant to me because in high school, I was treasurer of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. I was in the 11th grade at the time, and we used to meet at White Temple Methodist Church. Now the organization is the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews. I have to thank the late Marie Roberts, who was my ninth-grade civics teacher. She was always fighting for integration, and she got her students involved in a lot of integrated activities. This was in the late 1940’s.

“Once, Ms. Roberts got us involved at a meeting at the Miami Woman’s Club. We had to walk from Booker T. Washington High School and back for lunch because we weren’t allowed to eat with the whites at the club house,” Pinkney said. “After lunch, we walked back to the Miami Woman’s Club for the afternoon session. I’m telling you this because I want to dedicate my award to Ms. Roberts, and I want to congratulate MCCJ for continuing its long heritage of social justice. It has been a beacon of light to the entire community.”

Said Richardson, “I am humbled and honored to have been included among such stellar civic leaders and humanitarians. I understand the award I received is not given out every year. So, to have been selected for this award is overwhelming. The late Rabbi Solomon Schiff, who was one of my mentors, was also a recipient of the Clergy Humanitarian Award. This makes the honor even more special to me.”

More than 400 people attended the event, at which Mayor Daniella Levine Cava thanked MCCJ for its mission to keep Miami unified and to congratulate the recipients.

The honorary chairs of the event were Roberta and David Lawrence Jr., and Gerald C. Grant Jr., Penny Shaffer and Alex Villoch, who served as dinner chairs, hosted the ceremony. The theme was “Be a Light in a Changing World.” Calvin Hughes, WPLG’s Local 10’s Emmy Award-winning news anchor, was the emcee.

While the event celebrated Miami’s diversity, it also served as the annual fundraiser. Money raised will be used to fund year-round youth programs, including Camp Metro Town and Student Voices. According to information from the organization, over $30,000 was raised this year to be used toward scholarships for more than 60 students to attend Metro Town during the summer at a local university.

One of the highlights of the evening was when members of MCCJ’s Clergy Dialogue lit a unity candle as Richardson led the audience in a unity prayer for all those suffering in “… this changing world, so that MCCJ could continue to train inclusive leaders through programs like Metro Town, help rebuild law enforcement through the Clergy Dialogue, play a role in creating a safe space for dialogue and conflict resolution, work with LGBTQ youth in lowering the suicide rate, and facilitate those cross-cultural connections to break bread and build bridges.”

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to host Anglican Chorale’s Evensong performance

Oh, happy day!

At 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, the Historic Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will feature the Anglican Chorale of Southeast Florida singing the first Evensong since March 2020.

Christopher Harrell, associate for music and liturgy and director of the chorister program at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and school in Coral Gables, said, “The pandemic was an especially difficult time for group singing and choirs… we are greatly looking forward to the return of choral music.

Harrell is director of the Anglican Chorale, which is an auditioned choir of singers from throughout South Florida who are committed to excellence in choral music in the Anglican tradition. He said Evensong is a centuries-old traditional service sung throughout the world, mostly in cathedrals, as a contemplative evening service that features some of the most beautiful choral music composed.