South Bend Black History Month honorees focus on lifting others, as they have been lifted

SOUTH BEND — It was their turn in the spotlight before a full crowd Thursday night at the Charles Black Center, but when they took the mic, they cast the light on others in gratitude.

Gratitude for noticing. For caring. For mentoring. For support.

The city of South Bend held its 8th Annual Black History Month Awards ceremony, drawing more than 200 people to the center’s gym. Like the other eight honorees, the gratitude in Redgina Hill’s voice was unmistakable.

“There is a quote that says, ‘I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams,” Hill said, addressing her mother, Jacqueline Ingraham-Norris. “I don’t have to look to my ancestors because I know I’m your wildest dream. Thank you for all the sacrifices that you made so that I can be who I am today, and thank you for always pushing me toward greatness, and helping me see the potential that I have within me.”

Honoree Darryl Buchanan thanked legendary Motown saxophonist Junior Walker, who died in 1995, for noticing him as an 18-year-old musical prodigy from South Bend, and allowing him to see the world as they toured.

Honoree Steven Reynolds Jr., Washington High School girls basketball coach, couldn’t seem to thank people fast enough as he looked around the room and saw all the people that have lifted him up over the years. He included his team, who was there to receive their own recognition.

“The joy of my life is coaching and being a part of the development of these young women over here,” he said. “All of the coaches come up to me and there’s one thing they say, besides all the winning and the state championships and the national rankings, they say the one thing about your team is they leave it out on the floor every single game. I don’t even have to coach that. They just give that to us and to our community.”

This year’s honorees, displayed on billboards this week at three main city intersections, are:

Solomon Anderson

Anderson, assistant vice president at 1st Source Bank, has worked there 25 years. A lifelong resident of South Bend and a graduate of John Adams High School, Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Public Relations at the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

During the pandemic, Anderson assisted more than 100 businesses, customers and non-customers apply for the Payment Protection Program grant through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

He serves on the board of the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization, Northeast Neighborhood Council, South Bend Heritage Foundation, and is a past advisory board member for the Robinson Community Learning Center, where he was awarded the Renalda Robinson Award for outstanding commitment as a community volunteer.

The South Bend Human Rights Commission recognized him for his contributions in the field of housing, and most recently, he was the 2022 recipient of the Spirit Award by the NNRO in recognition for exemplary service to the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization.

Darryl Buchanan

Buchanan toured the globe for over 25 years as a musician. He has toured with many legendary groups, including The Temptations, Grammy Award winning vocalist Richard Street, former legendary James Brown band director and trombonist Fred Wesley, and the Motown Revue.

In 1993 while a member of the Junior Walker All-Stars, he performed at President Bill Clinton’s inaugural ball. He also played on numerous TV shows, including NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and has performed at the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY.

Buchanan is still producing R&B, pop and gospel music with various artists, as his own music publishing company, “Planet Love Music Publishing BMI.” He is a member of South Bend’s Abundant Faith Family Ministries, where he displays his musical gifts and teaches guitar lessons to the youth.

Redgina Hill

Hill, Vice President for Inclusion and Equity at Saint Mary’s College, also is a consultant for diversity and inclusion for corporations, foundations, non-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions

Hill received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Indiana University Bloomington, an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, and earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University, where she was the recipient of the 2015 Social Justice Fellowship. She has keynoted and presented at numerous national and international conferences, co-authored articles as a member of the Race & Justice in Higher Education research team, and her dissertation research was featured in Forbes Magazine in 2020.

Hill serves on boards such as the History Museum and South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership Diversity & Inclusion board. She is Vice President of the Southold Dance Theatre board and President of Transformation Ministries.

Steven Reynolds Jr.

Reynolds, coach of the Washington High School girls basketball team, is a career guidance specialist at the school. He and Marcy Reynolds are parents to seven children: Mila, 19, Amiyah 18, Kira, 16, Steven III, 15, Jordan 12, Aubrey 11, and Tristan, 7.

Reynolds, in his ninth year as coach, has compiled a record of 146-81. In the 2020-21 season, Washington made their first appearance in an Indiana girls basketball state final since 2009. The Panthers would lose to Silver Creek, 54-48, but avenge the loss last year with a 58-point win in the Class 3A state championship game, beating Silver Creek 93-35.

He became the first African American head coach to win an Indiana 3A State Championship in Indiana girls basketball history. Reynolds' team is currently on a 33-game regular season win streak dating back to the 2021-22 season. He has coached two ESPN Top 20 nationally ranked teams and has won the Northern Indiana Conference championship three times.

Under Reynolds' tenure, 13 girls have gone on to play basketball in college under scholarship.

Charan Richards

Richards is director of Riley High School’s guidance department. She graduated from LaSalle High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Ball State University, and a Master's of Science in Education in Counseling and Human Services at Indiana University. Charan is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc./South Bend Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.

“I want to thank this community for allowing me to serve your children,” Richards told the crowd. “My husband has been my greatest cheerleader and has allowed me to do the work that I do. I absolutely love pushing children to their highest potential.”

Jordan Richardson

Richardson, who manages the real estate investment and development arm of Property Bros LLC, received the Leaders Under 40 Award. He previously worked as business development manager at Inovateus Solar, where he was responsible for more than $50 million in development of utility and municipal-scale solar assets in the Midwest.

Richardson also has a clothing brand, Jungle Rose Cartel, whose fashions have been worn by Hollywood celebrities.

“I woke up this morning, I built a deck, I made service calls, put up drywall, painted,” Richardson told the crowd. “I’m really proud to say that we’re actually doing this work in the community.”

Trina Robinson

Robinson is president of NAACP South Bend, having been the youngest president elected in the chapter’s history in 2001. She moved to New Orleans in 2011 but returned to South Bend in 2016 and resumed presidency of the chapter.

Robinson rallied the community against restructuring the South Bend Community School Corp. district and Plan Z. She has spoken at churches, schools and community forums. She was a member of South Bend’s Ceasefire and a facilitator for the Human Rights Commission’s study circles on racism.

For 30 years, she has worked at Crowe LLP, where she is Administrative Compliance Manager.

Shane Williams

Williams, this year’s recipient of the Obama Award for Outstanding Volunteer Contributions in Community Service, is broadcast producer at WUBS, a South Bend radio station. In addition to his love of music and songwriting, he has been active in violence prevention efforts in the city as director of the Violent Free Campaign, established in 1993.

Williams also serves as Director of Fine Arts with the Gentlemen & Scholars Master Mentoring Group.

“To my WUBS family, family members, friends, and community builders that’s in here today, just remember there’s greatness in all of you, so stay positive and be sure to help someone out along the way,” Williams told the audience. “Because in the end, regardless of how it looks, love will always win.”

Washington High School girls basketball team

Receiving the Special Tribute this year was the Washington High School girls basketball team, which has a combined record of 77-9 over the past three seasons. They’re currently ranked 7th nationally by ESPN and 1st in Indiana Class 3A, as their season just ended with a loss in the semistate. The team has a 3.1 grade point average and has volunteered at numerous events, including free basketball camps for young girls, food programs for the needy, grounds clean-up and sneaker giveaways.

Mayor James Mueller gave them a key to the city in February 2022 after they won the state championship, noting their community work off the court.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Black History Month honorees focus on lifting others