The 2009 Trumpet Awards promises to be among the best of the best in the exceptional Trumpet Awards tradition. The 17th Annual Trumpet Awards black-tie ceremony, sponsored by the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. with hosts Sherri Shepherd, co-host of “The View” and Anthony Anderson, star of “Law and Order,” will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m.

The Denver Foundation announced that it has mobilized its Critical Needs Fund to support food pantries in early 2009. As the economic crisis continues, metro area food pantries are seeing sharply increased need coupled with “flat” or declining donations. The Colorado Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Donnell Initiative Fund and numerous Denver Foundation donor-advised fundholders have contributed to the Critical Needs Fund to address hunger this winter.

In recent times President-elect Barak Obama has worked towards establishing his administrative cabinet and making arrangements for his upcoming inauguration. In working towards these ends Obama has made some decisions that have caused controversy and have unsettled portions of his base. Obama’s selection of former political rival Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State along with his request to have evangelist Rick Warren perform the invocation during his installation exercise have provoked ruminations in relation to the charismatic leader’s reasoning.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Celebration “Remember! Celebrate! Act”! “TIL’ VICTORY IS WON” 2009 Schedule of Events (All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.)

The village green has grown to include the village screen. The 21st century dynamics of free press and free speech are an intriguing blend of traditional news media, new technology, personal messages and even entertainment programming. And, considering the success of President-elect Barack Obama’s use of e-mail, text messages and social-networking sites like facebook.com in his campaign, First Amendment scholars may be revising contemporary definitions of assembly and petition as well. Consider these post-Election Day observations, based on reports from colleagues at the Newseum in Washington, D.C, and news reports elsewhere:

This winter, the South Gallery in the Lakewood Civic Center will host a unique exhibit that illustrates how traditional elements of African art are reflected in the contemporary quilts of local African-American quilters. Quilters of diverse backgrounds were invited to submit their interpretations of “Fabric as Story: African Influences on Contemporary Quilts,” an exhibit conceived by returning curator and artist Helen Littlejohn. The show will pair traditional African fabrics and textiles with contemporary quilts, as well as traditional statuary from the collection of Dr. Paul Hamilton. Vintage and contemporary textiles from Denver’s Africa Direct will also be featured.

Nearly $600 Million Meant For Affordable Housing Diverted To Port Expansion Project The Mississippi State Conference NAACP, Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center and several individual residents have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Washington, D.C. against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The suit challenges HUDs approval of a plan submitted by the State to divert $600 million of federal hurricane recovery funds designated for affordable housing to finance the expansion of the Port of Gulfport.

On December 6, 2008, we lost a special person from our community and our world. Ms. Kathy Hill-Young was struck by a vehicle in a hit and run accident after she had just finished performing one of her acts of kindness by hosting a fundraiser to benefit families in need of Christmas gifts in northeast Denver. Kathy was the founder and executive director of the Lowry Family Center, with offices in Montbello and North Aurora. The Lowry Family Center provides support to a large community that would otherwise go without such services as financial crisis support, a summer camp, courtroom advocacy, foster and kinship recruitment and classes, parenting classes, counseling, fatherhood support and much more. She worked night and day to treat each client with excellent service and preferential treatment. Her staff revered her as a compassionate, selfless, determined and profound leader. Now she is gone and I for one will do what I can to ensure that she is not forgotten!

In this first of a two-part series, the Denver Urban Spectrum explores what many see as taboo subjects in faith communities--domestic violence and sexual assault. In this article, we explore the challenges faced by victims of domestic violence and sexual assault when seeking help and support from leaders in faith communities. Next month, in part two of the series, the Urban Spectrum reaches out to 13 local pastors and other spiritual leaders to speak on spiritual solutions to violence and what they see as effective responses to a dangerous and growing problem within religious organizations.