Black Men Rock Awards honor community mentors

The third annual ceremony celebrated seven winners.

Columbia College and local nonprofit Youth Empowerment Zone hosted the third annual Black Men Rock Awards Ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of seven African-American men in Columbia. YEZ organized the event, held Feb. 6 at Columbia College, to show at-risk youth in Columbia role models from their own community.

Kavita Moss, operations director at YEZ, says people with mentors are more likely to succeed because they can learn practical information about reaching their goals. Young people don’t usually have access to popular role models, like athletes or politicians, Moss says.

“This event showcases there are male role models in the community that they can touch, that they can really learn from and glean from, right in their own backyard,” she says.

YEZ collected nominations from the community in December. Clyde Ruffin, first ward city council member and senior pastor at Second Baptist Church, received the Man of Faith Award, and Lloyd Henry, State Farm insurance agent, won the Entrepreneur Award.

The Youth on the Move award is given to a student on the path to becoming a mentor himself. This year’s recipient, Keondre Harrison, is a student at Battle High School. See below for the full list of award winners.

• Entrepreneur Award — Lloyd Henry, agent at State Farm Insurance

• Man of Faith Award — Clyde Ruffin, senior pastor at Second Baptist Church and city councilman

• Educator Award — Joe Collier, home school coordinator at Rock Bridge High School

• Empowerment Award — Bill Thompson, recreation specialist at Columbia Parks and Recreation

• Humanitarian Award — Kentrell Minton, coordinator at Everybody Eats

• Youth on the Move — Keondre Harrison, student at Battle High School

• Lifetime Achievement Award — Sherman Brown, owner of Lindseys Rentals