“Urban Tech is a social enterprise committed to changing the game in education.”
[slideshow]The National Urban Technology Center or better known as Urban Tech held its 2016 Gala Awards dinner this past Tuesday night at Guastavino’s in NYC hosted by Alicia Quarles and Kimberley LaMarque Orman.
This year’s theme for the Gala awards dinner was “Invest in the Future.” This unique theme perfectly fit Urban Tech’s mission, to have programs that create solutions for students, parents, educators and school administrators that recognize their value to society, their stories, ideas and dreams. By reimaging literacy, Urban Tech is providing opportunities for digital, financial, social and emotional literacy. By recognizing the literacy is no longer simply about reading and writing, Urban Tech is shepherding students into 21st century careers.
The fabulous event included Grammy Award winning singer Estelle who presented celebrity stylist, June Ambrose with the Youth Empowerment Award.
Urban Tech also took the time to honor Raymond J. McGuire who is the Global Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Citigroup Inc., Crystal McCrary an author and director and PwC Charitable Foundation’s Earn Your Future accepted by Shannon Schuyler.
Guests that evening also enjoyed an intimate performance by a rising R&B group, DMK, from the hit FOX series “Empire” as they sang a cappella cover of Boyz II Men’s “Thank You” as they entered. The group later preformed their latest single “Major.”
Some familiar faces seen attending the gala include star of E!’s EJNYC Elisa Johnson, journalist and T.V. personality Micah Jesse, actress Leslie Lopez, model and actress Veronica Webb, Jennifer Jones Austin, Assemblyman Michael Blake, Sharon Y Bowen, Dr. Thelma Dye-Holmes, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, Andrea Hoffman, Brandon Kelley, Tonya Leslie, Brandee McHale, E Denise Perry, Dr. Eleanor Smalley, Sheena Wright and more.