Sistas Inspiring Sistas Salutes Influential Men in Atlanta

By Dione M. Davis

 

In a world that is full of negative images and stereotypes, black men are often overlooked for their range of achievements. Sherry Reed, founder of Sistas Inspiring Sistas, an organization which seeks to promote the positive image of women of color, stepped out on faith and decided to honor renaissance men for their contributions in the community. Held at Future Visions,  The First Annual A Salute 2 U Awards hosted by radio personality Big Ray of V-103.

 

From the opening by keynote speaker Brandon Frame of The Black Man Can and acceptance speeches by honorees, the event was filled with powerful words of encouragement, the importance of fulfilling dreams and making an impact in the community. The audience was full of supportive women of all shades, shapes, sizes and intellect who proudly applauded their greatness. Contrary to what the news shows, black men aren’t all absentee fathers, criminals or lost causes. The truth is there are black men around the world making the world a better place and many of them are passed by in everyday life.   

 

Reed who said she isn’t much of a public speaker engaged listeners with words from her heart preceded by a moment of silence for Michael Brown, the Ferguson, Missouri teen whose life was viciously taken at the hands of a police officer. While her prayers are with the nation, she is an activist who has set out to leave a legacy for her son and lead through example. Attentively focused on her own backyard, she isn’t in awe by the celebrity glitterati of Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta or even Jay Z & Beyonce’ while they were on the run. Instead, she plants seeds. She honors those who she considers heroes; the real celebrities in her eyes.

 

Honoree Mawuli Mel Davis, attorney and co-founder of Davis Bozeman Law Firm P.C. took the time to provide some of his background and perspective. As a native of Chicago’s South Side he beat the odds growing up in a community plagued by gang activity. By the eighth grade, his father left, but that was no excuse for him to become a statistic. With focus, Davis went into the Naval Academy where a black history program exposed him to community activism.  As a self-proclaimed activist attorney, he has been connected to Civil Rights cases and is uses what some may see as unorthodox methods to bring his point across.  

 

As a facilitator in a recent community discussion titled “Consequences of Thug Life,” Davis used the dialogue to empower the youth through the late Tupac Shakur. “We take Tupac, his music, his political ideology and try to boil it down and remind the young people of transforming the power of Hip-Hop and music and not just leave it in the hands of folks who are materialistic. So, I still think Tupac is a viable solution to helping capture the minds and spirits and the energy of our young people and move them in a more positive direction,” said Davis.       

He also referenced Operation Ghetto Storm, a 2012 Annual Report on the killing of 313 black people at the hands of police officers, security guards or vigilantes by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGRM). When asked about how to address these atrocities, he provided a multi-layered plan. “American politics remain fundamentally racist, classist and sexist. Until we address that at its core all we will be able to do is react.” His solution calls for a de-militarization of the police system, for the people to get involved and not stand on the sidelines and to join an organization that challenges the status quo. 

 

Honoree Gary Davis, founder/CEO of Next Level Boys Academy, LLC has a story of his own. After graduating from Troy State University, he began teaching kindergarten. In search of something more, he went to mortuary school and then became a forensic interviewer with the State of Georgia where he investigated child fatalities. With two sons of his own, he took a leap of faith in 2009 and quit his job to answer his calling to do something greater. “I wanted to create that innovative organization to give a young man whose not into sports, a young man who may not academically inclined-just give him an opportunity to be apart of something,” he said. 

 

He then cultivated what is an after school, summer camp, six day a week program that teaches and mentors young men ages 5-14. “The Next Level Boys Academy works with the family as a whole. Obviously the majority of the families are single moms who are raising boys,” he said.  The program which sees more than 300 boys a year teaches anger management, character building, cooking and how to be a man.

In the aftermath of recent events and history repeating itself, Davis understands the importance of responsibility that starts at home. “We really have to protest more about black on black crime in our community than we do about a police officer, because that typically happens maybe once or twice a month, but everyday we are killing one another. I think that if they saw us address that, I think it will change the image and the tune and they will approach us different. Not a lot of white boys are being killed by police officers. White people have taught cops how to treat people. We haven’t taught people how to treat us. In my organization, that’s my motto everyday. You gotta teach people how to treat you,” he said.  

 

Honoree Robert Gayle, chef extraordinaire took his passion for cooking and turned it into a successful business that has been thriving for more than eight years. Affectionately known as “Chef Rob,” the humble Jamaica West Indies native began to see his dream unfold in Brooklyn, New York and then made Chef Rob’s Upscale Restaurant & Lounge a home in Sandy Springs, Georgia.  The restaurant which offers a plethora of Caribbean and fusion Italian/Asian food caters to the grown and sexy.

 

In a growing city like Atlanta, location is everything. Chef Rob strategically placed his restaurant where the city can have the greatness of his beloved Jamaica and his exotic creative dishes at their leisure. “I’m in Sandy Springs, which is one of the richest communities per capita in the world. So, there’s definitely a lot of residual income in that particular area. I purposely put my restaurant there because I want people to recognize that Chef Rob is here to stay,” he said.

 

As a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, the well-rounded chef never forgets his roots and those around him who gave him the push and foundation which with his hard work and dedication has helped him to become the man he is today. These include his sister who had him tasting the dumplings when she cooked, his mother who had him out catching the chicken for stew chicken on Sunday, camaraderie with childhood friend Gary who was a year ahead of him in culinary school and mogul Sean Combs, who opened the doors for an experience in a restaurant so memorable that its revered with one name.

 

“I worked for Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs in New York for two years in Justin’s restaurant. When the opportunity came for him to open another restaurant in Atlanta, I was chosen to come down here and be his executive chef to open up Justin’s in Buckhead.” Taking a moment to look back, he ties it all up perfectly. “Twenty-two years later I’m still in the same field doing what I want to do and that’s putting Caribbean food out there where people will respect it and honor it,” he said.

 

Honorees included Anthony Delgado (Humanitarian), Frederick “FreddyO” Anderson (Entrepreneur), Derrick Boazman (Social Innovator), Mawuli Mel Davis (Social Innovator), Stevie Baggs, (Philanthropist), William Stewart (Supporter), Reginald Crossley (Youth Advocate), Daniel Dickey (Brand Architect), Andrew Snorton (Community Leader), Michael Keith (Lupus Advocate), Robert “Chef Rob” Gayle (Chef) and Gary Davis (Mentor).