Profile directory and ICABA World.com unveiled

DAVIE – ICABA Honors, a Premier Recognition & Networking Reception was held on Nov. 13 at Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. The lavish gala, unveiling ICABA’s inaugural edition profile directory, a publication recognizing and celebrating South Florida’s 100 most accomplished blacks in healthcare and law, was emceed by Calvin Hughes, the weekday morning and noon news anchor at WPLG-TV Local 10 News in Miami.

The recognition ceremony, held in Nova’s Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, was a standing-room only celebration.
ICABA stands for Identify, Connect and Activate the Black Accomplished.

Jerome Hutchinson Jr., ICABA’s president and CEO, said that ICABA Honors has brought the company’s mission full circle. ICABA began as the brainstorm of Hutchinson and his late wife, Pamela, while they were working on the inaugural edition of Who’s Who in Black South Florida. The couple realized that more than a traditional publication identifying accomplished blacks in South Florida was necessary. Black professionals consistently expressed the need to connect. At the recognition program, ICABA unveiled its social network ICABA World.com designed to connect black professionals and entrepreneurs worldwide. Hutchinson is quick to point out: “Recognizing black accomplishment is important; however, connecting accomplished blacks and activating relationships among them is productive.” ICABA uses its multi-media platform of publishing, interactive and events to Identify, Connect and Activate the Black Accomplished!

The inaugural directory honors the legends of pioneers and other luminaries include Raleigh R. Rawls, the first black attorney in Broward County to pass the Florida Bar (1957); Dr. Calvin Shirley, Broward County’s first black ob-gyn; Honorable Ed Rodgers, the first black prosecutor in Palm Beach County, a county judge, a circuit judge and the first black chief judge of the Circuit Court; Dr. George A. Simpson, the first black to perform major general surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, among others in Dade County, and his wife, noted trailblazer Dr. Dazelle Dean Simpson, the first black board-certified pediatrician in Florida.

Early pioneers, including Dr. Von D. Mizell, Dr. James Wilson Bridges, Attorney Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry, Dr. Samuel McKenzie Frazier and Judge Lawson E. Thomas are also honored.

Kesha Davis, who said she attended the event “just to network,” admitted staying for the recognition ceremony because she was “so impressed with not only the turnout, but the caliper of people present.”

A National Urban Fellow, Kesha Davis described the attendees as “South Florida heavy hitters.”

Honoree Jaret Davis agrees. “This is a great turnout,” he commented, “and I am honored to be a part of and recognized by this event. It’s a great opportunity.”

Jaret Davis, a shareholder with international law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., is profiled in the directory as a Rising Star.

After reviewing the directory, South Florida educator Akilah Laster said she wants to take the directory into her classroom. “The kids need to see that there are many options for success, not just music and sports.”

Laster, also one of the directory’s contributing writers, commented that she would like to invite some of those profiled into her classroom to speak with her students. “They can then have a visual,” she said, “and see that everyone looks like them.”

During the event, University of Miami student Sheila Collins was awarded a $2,000 scholarship by the Pam Hutchinson Bridge Builder Foundation, an organization created in the late Hutchinson’s memory.

The foundation awards students, individuals and organizations in the black community who are dedicated to enhancing further socio-economic empowerment through collaborative initiatives and activities.

Sam Hines, the board’s vice president, described Collins as having “embodied the true legacy of Pam.”

Collins said that she was “so inspired by those profiled” that she would “hurry up and do all of my homework so I can be like you all.”

The event’s program included a musical tribute by students from the Dillard Center for Performing Arts and a tribute to the late Pamela Hutchinson.