By Meochia Thompson
WKTV Community Contributor

Grand Rapids Community College hosted it’s 37^th Annual Giants Awards and Banquet at DeVos Place, over the weekend. Dr. Bill Pink, President of GRCC, opened the ceremony with a message of hope and encouragement. He began by quoting lyrics from the famous civil rights song, Ball of Confusion by the Temptations.

“The band will no longer play on, it will stop and take action,” said Dr. Pink. 

He stressed deficiencies within the community can no longer be ignored and encouraged the audience of over a thousand to become more involved in politics, education and other activities to help enrich and strengthen the lives of others.

Many prominent figures within Grand Rapids filled the banquet hall in support of the prestigious event like Mayor, Rosalyn Bliss; Cle Jackson, President of the NAACP, Greater Grand Rapids Branch; Joe Jones, 2nd Ward City Commissioner and his wife,Jessie Jones of Legacy Homes GR ; Nathaniel Moody, 3rd Ward Commissioner; and R. Emma Johnson, President and CEO of Asher Wealth Strategies Group.
 

Giant Awards were given for leaders in several categories, including Religious, Trailblazer, Justice, Activist, Humanity, Business, Education, Labor, and Medical, Community and Public Service. Recipients were chosen according to several attributes, considered the “Essence of a Giant.” 

The Giant of Giants Award Winner, which was not revealed until the end of the evening, was Mike Johnson, owner of Brown’s Funeral Home. Two recipients received Junior Giant Leadership Scholarship Awards; Jmyrea White from Grand Rapid City High School and Maya Smith from Hope College.

The late Victoria Upton, President and Founder of Women’s Life Magazine, received the William Glenn Trailblazer Award for opening many doors for women and becoming a fierce voice for marginalized communities. Through her work as a publisher and business owner within the community, she was able to give a voice and platform to the up and coming and inspire others to be their best self. Despite much success, Victoria never moved from the neighborhood she grew up in. She hosted and participated in local events like Art Prize, Gilda’s Club, LaughFest, Gazelle Girls and more. Victoria passed away last September of Glioastoma, a year after her diagnosis.

Other honorees included Carrie Jackson, Regional Benefits Representative for UAW-GM. She received the Martha Reynolds Labor Award for being a tireless advocate for retired General Motor employees to ensure they received the full benefits offered to them through contract negotiation and investigating insurance companies for discrepancies and fairness of contracts.

The Giant Awards was created by Dr. Patricia Pulliam and Cedric Ward to recognize African-Americans within the Grand Rapids area for their notable contributions. The first was held in 1983 . Proceeds from the event benefit scholarships within the GRCC Foundation. 

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