• ClariceDurhamBrenettaHowellBarrettandCraigDellimore
    Clarice Durham, Brenetta Howell Barrett, and Craig Dellimore. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ClosingspeakerAttorneyLawrenceKennon
    Closing speaker attorney Lawrence Kennon. Photo by Vern Hester
  • StateSenatorJacquelineCollinsandBrenettaHowellBarrett
    State Senator Jacqueline Collins and Brenetta Howell Barrett. Photo by Vern Hester
  • CynthiaT.HendersonM.D.M.P.H.BrenettaHowellBarrettandDr.QuentinYoungM.D
    Cynthia T. Henderson M.D./M.P.H., Brenetta Howell Barrett, and Dr. Quentin Young M.D. Photo by Vern Hester
  • PPEFChairpersonLusterJackson
    PPEF Chairperson Luster Jackson. Photo by Vern Hester
  • Dr.andMrs.LeninPellegrino
    Dr. and Mrs. Lenin Pellegrino. Photo by Vern Hester
  • CliffKelleyandBrenettaHowellBarrett
    Cliff Kelley and Brenetta Howell Barrett. Photo by Vern Hester
  • Dr.TimuelD.BlackJr.BrenettaHowellBarrettandDorothyBrown
    Dr. Timuel D. Black Jr., Brenetta Howell Barrett, and Dorothy Brown. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ClariceDurhamBrenettaHowellBarrettandCraigDellimore
    Clarice Durham, Brenetta Howell Barrett, and Craig Dellimore. Photo by Vern Hester
  • MasterofCeremoniesCraigDellimore
    Master of Ceremonies Craig Dellimore. Photo by Vern Hester
  • BrenettaHowellBarrettandJosephineWyatt
    Brenetta Howell Barrett and Josephine Wyatt. Photo by Vern Hester
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    Photo by Vern Hester
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    Photo by Vern Hester
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    Photo by Vern Hester
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    Photo by Vern Hester
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    Photo by Vern Hester
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    Photo by Vern Hester
It seemed like an odd choice for the Pathfinders Prevention Education Fund (PPEF) to hold its annual awards program Oct. 6 at the blues club Kingston Mines, but that choice only revealed how little I knew about either organization.

PPEF is a non-profit, volunteer-community based organization that provides HIV/AIDS prevention education, counseling and training principally for African-Americans from Chicago’s West Side and near-western suburbs. The group promotes self-empowerment, self worth and advocacy through services and events aimed at youths and adults to understand, resist and fight racism, sexism, homophobia, substance/sexual/psychological/gender abuse and low self-esteem.

Kingston Mines, which is owned and was founded by Dr. Lenin Pellegrino M.D. 45 years ago in upscale Lincoln Park, has served the city as a cultural and racial meeting place (a revolutionary idea for a blues club in 1968 when it opened).

The presentation was actually a union of unheralded civil-rights leaders under the tagline “Looking Back to Move Forward.” Chicago blues mainstay Joanna Connor and her band provided a flow of simmering blues while guests dined on pasta, fried chicken and cheesecake while participating in a silent auction.

The evening got under way when emcee Craig Dellimore, political editor on WBBM Radio, began the awards ceremony. State Sen. Jacqueline Collins made a surprise introduction for PPEF founder and CEO Brenetta Howell Barrett. The awards presentation honored Betty Benson, Tim D. Black jr., Charles Durham, Cliff Kelly, Josephine Wyatt, Dr. Quentin Young M.D. and Pellegrino for their behind-the-scenes work. Cook County Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown also made a brief appearance, and brought the night and the honorees’ work into the present and future.

That all of the recipients were well over the age of 65—Black cracked that he was 95—pointed out that these leaders have been supporting communities for a life time. The awards ceremony also pointed out that there are many many impassioned and talented individuals working behind the scenes without fanfare or celebration to make discrimination of all varieties and HIV/AIDs things of the past.