2019 Closing the Gap Award Dinner Honorees
John Rakolta, Jr. Leadership in Race Relations Award
Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony | President of the Detroit Branch NAACP
Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony is president of the Detroit Branch NAACP,
the largest unit in the nation, and Pastor of Fellowship Chapel. He is
a lifelong activist for social justice, freedom, and equality overseeing
numerous outreach ministry programs. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, he
was educated in the Detroit Public School system, graduating from Wayne
State University with a B.A. in Political Science, and Marygrove College
with an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry.
Business Award
Jim Ketai | Chairman and Co-Founder, Bedrock Detroit
Jim Ketai co-founded Bedrock in 2011, and currently serves as the
company’s chairman. He has led Bedrock and its affiliates to their
investment and commitment of more than $5.6 billion to acquire and
develop more than 100 properties, totaling more than 18 million square
feet in Detroit and Cleveland, and is under construction with ground up
developments in excess of 2 million square feet in Detroit. Jim and his
team have brought more than 330 new businesses to Detroit’s Central
Business District providing thousands of jobs.
Social Impact Award
Khali Sweeney | Founder and CEO Downtown Boxing Gym
Khali Sweeney created a safe haven for Detroit students when he opened
the doors to the Downtown Boxing Gym in 2007. He empowers young
people to change their lives through academics, athletics, enrichment
opportunities, mentorship, and community service, and by creating an
environment where students can be themselves, support one another, and
have the courage to stand up against the pressures they face every day.
Social Impact Award
Amy Good | CEO, Alternatives For Girls (AFG)
Under Amy Good’s leadership, AFG has grown from a volunteer-led
project to a full-service agency providing critical services to the girls
and young women it serves, including safe shelter, street outreach,
educational support, vocational guidance, mentoring, prevention activities,
and counseling. AFG provides shelter and support for homeless young
women, including those who are victims of sex trafficking; and after-school
programs, homework help, college preparation workshops, and much
more to at-risk girls in Detroit.
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