PEACE, Inc. announced recently that at the 10th anniversary Champions of Diversity Dinner The Eagle columnist Walt Shepperd and the Media Unit will receive a Lifetime Achievement.
“Author, activist and professor, Walt Shepperd has always put the betterment of his community and others first,” the group’s award committee report noted. “Through his work with the Media Unit, Walt empowers teens to overcome obstacles and focus on future goals in television and stage performance and production.”
Other award winners for this year’s dinner include: Grandma Lula Donald as Volunteer of the Year, PEACE, Inc. Department of Energy and Housing Services & Ray Yehle for Community Service, and a Corporate Commitment Award to Rural/Metro Medical Services.
Since Shepperd founded The Media Unit in 1976, almost 80 percent of Media Unit alums have achieved careers in stage, television and related industries. The national award winning teen troupe now produces an average of 60 original music theater performances on topics of teen concern in schools, community centers, Syracuse Stage, the Justice Center, the BeVard and Carrier Theaters and the Great New York State Fair. The group also produces Rough Times Live, a weekly television program broadcast on Time Warner cable channel 98, Tuesdays at 8 p.m., as well as cable channels in Binghamton and New York City.
The award dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Oncenter, 800 S. State St.; tickets cost $125 each, tables available at $1,250. For information call 470-3300 or go to peace-caa.org.
