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Updated March 6, 2007

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2007 MLK Citizenship Award
presented to Mary Blackstone-Ross

Contact: Bobby Clark

Greenville, SC --- The Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., awarded the 2002 Martin Luther King, Jr. Citizenship Award to Mrs. Lillian Brock Flemming of Greenville S.C. The award was one of the highlights of the 2007 MLK Scholarship Gala held on January 15, 2007 at the Greenville Hilton. The Gala featured a terrific performance by the Phillis Wheatley Threatre under the direction of Mr. Dwight Woods.

Mary Blackstone-Ross relocated to Greenville in 1994, assuming the position of Deputy Director for the Greenville Housing Authority and was named Executive Director in 1998. She holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning in Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts from Upsala College.

She has worked in the public sector for 25 years. Her professional background includes college administration, housing development, construction, rehabilitation, management, and administrative operations. She has 15 years experience in positions of executive leadership.

Ms. Blackstone-Ross accepts the MLK Citizenship Award from Bros. Simmons and Weston.

MLK Scholarship was extremely success and raise funds for our Luke Chatman Scholarship

Mary Blackstone-Ross is an active member of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, The United Way Community Impact System: Strengthening Families & Neighborhoods Council, Affordable Housing Task Force, The Greenville Transit Authority Community Advisory Board, Shady Oak Baptist Church, Family Friendly City Task Force and the Carolinas Council of Housing, Redevelopment and Codes Officials serving as Co-chair of the Awards Committee. She is an avid supporter and advocate for programs of self-reliance for women and children.

As the Executive Director of the Greenville Housing Authority, Ms. Blackstone-Ross led the charge for a HOPE VI grant in 1999 for the Woodland and Pearce communities, replacing distressed public housing with new rental apartments and single family homes. This effort resulted in the redevelopment of Arcadia Hills which opened in early 2003. In 2005, under her direction, another HOPE VI grant was submitted and approved which will allow for similar development of a mixed-income community in the Jesse Jackson Town homes area.

Previous winners of the MLK Citizenship Awards include Ralph Anderson, Annie Maw Austin, Lila Brock, Rev. S.C. Cureton, Richard Kerns, Roger Owens, Judge Willie T. Smith, Dr. Rudolph Gordon, Ernest Irby and Fred Bostic.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is the nation's first Greek-letter fraternity established by African-American college students established on December 4, 1906 on the campus of Cornell University. There are more than 700 chapters worldwide with over 100,000 members. Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter is the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in Greenville, SC, established on August 24, 1941.

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Previous winners of the MLK Scholarship Gala Citizenship Award


 
First of All, Servants of All, We shall Transcend All