As the president and co-founder of the eta Creative Arts Foundation, Abena Joan Brown says that, as a visionary, she understands the importance of the arts to the African American community.

Lawrence (Larry) Kennon, premier civil rights attorney who retired Dec. 31 from Power & Dixon Law Firm after practicing his craft for 55-plus years, receives a special tribute at the Cook County Bar Association’s 11th annual Barristers & Scholarship Ball on Saturday at the Oak Lawn Hilton.

As chief education officer, Barbara Eason-Watkins, Ed. D., is the highest-ranking Black person in the city’s public school system. Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the country with 417,000 students and over 675 schools, which includes charter, magnet, neighborhood and selective enrollment schools.

This file photo shows commentator Jada Collins relaxing backstage before the show with a magazine at the 48th Annual Ebony Fashion Fair in Flint, Mich. AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Megan Spelman,File

From left, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, president Tuskegee University; Jack F. Stahl chair of The Board of Directors, UNCF; Dr. Michael Lomax president & CEO, UNCF; Linda Johnson Rice, chairman & CEO, Johnson Publishing Company; and Dr. Billy C. Hawkins, president of Talledega College are pictured as Johson Rice picked up the UNCF Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of her parents the late John H. and Eunice W. Johnson and the Johnson Publishing Company. Photo/Margot Jordan

A free day of film screenings, panel discussions with top photographers and scholars and a reception highlights Bobby Sengstacke Appreciation Day on Saturday at Woodson Regional Library, 95th and Halsted Streets.

Fred Peavy shows an Amercian Staffordshire Terrier at a recent IKC Dog Show at McCormick Place.

Pictured below, front row, from left, are Michael House, President, Chicago Defender; Carl W. Latimer, President, Coalition for United Community Action-ORTC, Inc.; Rena A. Livingston, VP Programs & Administration, Coalition for United Community Action-ORTC, Inc.; Lewis A. Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Housing Authority; Peter Kurpiewski, Regional Manager, AMERESCO; and Laura Wharton, Senior Project Management Engineer, AMERESCO. On the second row, from left, are the graduates: Kevin Dunn, Branson Wellington, Jacob Cummings, Ja'Ron McFee, Mia Beal, Jonathan Belmont, Rene Brown, Tristan Stanley, Eddie Walters, and Kinlawyed Hendrix; 3rd row: Ashley Linzy, Genisha Smith, Sharon Jones, Tungee Garrett, Teri Payton, Sylvia Mack, Sabian Ellis, Nicole Harris, Ja'De French, Isaiah Mack, Larry Basemore, and Kendra Bell; 4th row: Jamel Wiley, Ronnie Pete, Tiffany Conway, and Amailia Conway. Photo/Special to Defender

Award-winning Windy City designer – our own Barbara Bates – will not only provide fashions but is one of several women to be saluted “for continuous service to your community” when the Skyline Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. stages its Annual Fashion Show & Crown Awards Program on Saturday at the Lexington House.

The celebrity spotlight focuses on Sherri Shepherd, comic, actress (Precious), author, co-host of the ABC’s The View and executive producer and star of Lifetime’s Sherri Show, when she comes “home” Saturday to receive a “Superstar” award from DuSable Museum at its annual Night of 100 Stars. Also honored at the glittering evening of entertainment and dancing: