Perennial Strategy Group CEO and Greenlining Realty USA Founding Principal Lamell McMorris was honored Friday evening at the DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative's (DCPNI) inaugural Equity and All That Jazz Gala at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.
The DCPNI Board of Directors bestowed the Making a Difference Award to McMorris for his endless dedication to improving the conditions of our nation's most disadvantaged communities and for his contributions towards changing the lives of children and families living in the District of Columbia. Also honored was Alma Powell, chair of the Board of Directors for America's Promise Alliance, with the Outstanding Service Award for her longstanding advocacy for children and youth.
DCPNI is a data-driven community development organization that advances human development and economic freedom resulting in equitable, self-determined communities. They are one of 18 Promise Neighborhoods across the United States selected by the Department of Education to develop place-based solutions that promote a cradle-to-career pipeline for children to ensure that they obtain a quality education, graduate from college or a vocational school, and grow up to have successful careers. Based on public data released by the Department of Education, DCPNI ranks easily amongst the higher-performing Promise Neighborhoods in the country.
Designed to celebrate the first five years of the organization's impact, the gala also offered their vision for the future and a preview of new programing including their Racial Equity Anti-Poverty (REAP™) Platform developed to close opportunity and income gaps in high-poverty communities. A three-piece model of community, educational, and indigenous leader capacity-building support, it functions as a constellation of partners aligning their efforts and sharing data to measure the impact of programs and services on its participants by individual, family, and community levels, as well as within schools.
Additionally, DCPNI has developed the Global Promise Institute as their practice and research arm to implement REAP™ Platform projects and services in communities in the United States and beyond. The REAP™ Platform, and the demand for the support it can provide to communities across the globe, will be the catalyst for positioning DCPNI as a thought leader and solution-implementer.
In line with American civil rights icon Benjamin Elijah May's teachings, McMorris stated in his acceptance speech, "When I think about the work of this organization and the people [of DCPNI] who proclaim, 'I am the promise,' we shout loudly tonight, 'not failure, but low aim is sin.'" He praised DCPNI's Executive Director Mary Brown for aiming high, and charged the audience with the duty to give back.
Guests enjoyed a New Orleans themed night including food and drink, live jazz music, and networking for the greater good in the nation's capital. The program commenced with the organization's annual toy drive, a short program of honors, libations, and gratitude; and closed with a special charge to all attendees to maintain the momentum by sustaining their resources. Shawn Yancy from Fox 5 was the master of ceremonies and award-winning jazz artist Nicole Henry ended the evening with a special performance.
For more information on DCPNI and to discover ways to partner and give, visit www.dcpni.org.
ABOUT DCPNI
DCPNI's mission is to build sustainable, just, and prosperous communities where children and parents thrive and healthy and safe places exist. Their vision is to end multigenerational poverty by working with indigenous leaders in high-poverty communities to build a culture of support, form multi-organizational partnerships, and utilize rigorous evaluation practices; thereby improving the outcomes of and/or scaling up programs and services needed by community members. Having established a strong framework for strengthening children and families' ability to move out of poverty, they are prepared to expand partnerships with local government, the private sector, and international leaders willing to discuss the adaptability of their unique, place-conscious approach to solving social dilemmas.
ABOUT LAMELL MCMORRIS
Lamell McMorris is the founder and CEO of the Washington, DC-based company Perennial Strategy Group, and the founder of its sister companies Perennial Sports and Perennial Law Group. In his work, Mr. McMorris offers strategic insight and external affairs services to some of the nation's leading decision-makers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. In 2016, Mr. McMorris founded Greenlining Realty USA, a premier comprehensive urban property redevelopment firm with the mission to reverse the historic discriminatory practice of "redlining." As a lifelong advocate of civil, economic, and social rights, Mr. McMorris serves as a member on numerous nonprofit and college boards, and volunteers his time with several youth-focused and mentoring organizations. He is frequently recognized for his entrepreneurial leadership and pragmatic, high-impact approach to effective advocacy, and he is often invited to speak at a wide range of conferences and events. Mr. McMorris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Society from Morehouse College, a Master of Divinity in Social Ethics and Public Policy from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an honorary doctorate from Saint Augustine's University.
