DETROIT – It’s a big night for some men across Detroit.
Every year, the Michigan Chronicle selects a group of African American men to recognize for their commitment to community service and helping others.
This celebration is part of the publication’s annual Men of Excellence awards.
This year, Local 4’s own Demond Fernandez is among the honorees.
Fernandez said, “I’m so honored to be among this year’s group of honorees.”
These men are making it their mission to motivate, inspire, and serve the Metro Detroit community.
Dion Williams, director of community relations for DMC, said, “Every single day, to me, it’s resources to the people and people to the resources.”
Williams and Alphonso Wallace are among the 50 men being honored this year.
Wallace, president of Vestco Management and Midwest Resource Development Agency, said, “There’s a responsibility for all of us as men, not only as men of excellence. So, the responsibility to me is to make my community better than what I received. To do more for the community, to do more for our youth, or for our seniors in our community.”
Wallace’s organizations focus on investment and youth mentoring. Williams, a lifelong Detroiter, is passionate about ensuring neighbors have convenient access to quality health care.
Wallace said, “What I consider to be my job is making sure that they have actual access, being able to gain those resources that are actually there for them.”
For 18 years, the Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media have celebrated the achievements of African American leaders—community champions and change-makers honored with the Men of Excellence distinction.
Many honorees quietly do the work behind the scenes.
Cathy Nedd, president of Real Times Media News Group, said, “It’s significant because, like the saying goes, if we don’t celebrate ourselves, who will? And there are just so many people in our community who have contributed so greatly.”
Hundreds of men are nominated each year, and so far, 900 have received the Men of Excellence award.
Conrad L. Mallett, corporation counsel for the city of Detroit and a member of the Men of Distinction’s inaugural class, is receiving this year’s esteemed Legacy Award.
Mallett said, “These are people whose contributions could not be denied. The idea that they would be recognized by one of the oldest Black newspapers in the country, really, really, at the time, then and now, seemed terrifically important.”
Mallett said, “You want to make a difference. You want to make it better. You want to leave a mark. You want to make people know that you were present.”
The Michigan Chronicle is hosting an induction ceremony for the Men of Excellence class of 2025.
On a personal note, Fernandez thanked those who nominated him, his colleagues at Local 4, and the teams at Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media for the recognition.