Four Honored for Promoting Diversity in Entertainment Industry

by James Parks, Jun 29, 2009

George Takei

The Equal Employment Opportunity Committees of Actors’ Equity, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors (SAG) will honor four performing artists who have made important contributions to increasing diversity in their professions. The 2009 Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards will be presented in Los Angeles on June 29.

The awards celebrate individuals and organizations that take an active stand for diversity within the industry. This year’s theme, “Storytellers,” commends individuals who, by sharing their own stories, have encouraged cross-cultural understanding and enabled others to express their dreams and creativity.

 The 2009 honorees are:

• Actor George Takei for his long-standing history of activism for artists of every race and creed, including his work with the Arts in Transit program that creates opportunity for artists within the public sector;
• Victoria Ann Lewis, writer, actor and teacher who established the Other Voices Project, which cultivates and produces writers and performers with disabilities;
• Cheryl Burke, a dancer who encourages children of all ethnicities to express themselves through movement;
• Charlie Hill, a Native American stand-up comedian and storyteller who uses humor to share elements unique to Native American culture and those we all share.

The award is named for Ivy Bethune, a tireless member of all three unions who devoted more than 80 years of her life to civil rights activism and equal opportunity.

Previous Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Award honorees include actors Debbie Allen, Raven-Symoné, Robert Guillaume, Edward James Olmos, Ossie Davis, lyricist E. Y. Harburg and newscasters Beverly White and Belva Davis.

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