Anthony McMorries
“Locally, I nominate Ald. Ike Carothers because of the things he has done for the Austin community?”the beautification of Madison Street for one?”and he’s just a stand-up kind of guy. And nationally it would be Danny K. Davis because of the back-to-school things he does for the kids, the prison outreach and the different things he does for the community. He’s very involved in the community, and I’d vote for him anytime.”

Donald Wright
“Locally, it would be Earley Windham because I think he’s an upstanding moral individual who tries to live his life in a crucial way. He’s an example for young people to follow, and he has a lot of creative ideas about the future, not only for the world but the future of America. Nationally, that would be a hard question for me at this time, mainly because at this time it reminds me when God told the prophets, ‘Go into the town and find me one righteous man,’ and he had to destroy the city ’cause he could not find a righteous man.”

Johnny White (social worker)
“Locally, I would say my administrative assistant secretary, Adrienne Stewart, because she’s consistant, and she allows me to get out of the office and do all the things I need to do. She’s faithful and a real good person. Nationally, I would nominate the football player that plays for the Atlanta Falcons, Warrick Dunn. He’s a running back. He’s built over 50 homes for single mothers, even before the Katrina event. He’s done this for the last 8-9 years.”

Jesse Miller (former alderman, 24th Ward)
“Locally, I would name a brother by the name of Ronald Cantrell. The reason is he’s in his 40s now, but he was a black male person who grew up in the city of Chicago, who came from a solid foundation of a family?”mother, father, sister and brother. And like so many of our young men, he got caught up in the times, with the drug activity and things of that nature. He kinda lost where he had came from and what his foundation was built on. He went off to Florida and during that time away from his family and the way he had grown up, he rediscovered himself. So he’s come back here to Chicago and is now the head of a community organization called The Progressive Inner City Coalition. He is addressing all the issues and concerns that affect our community in a negative way, and he’s organizing our people to participate in the process toward local people to make decisions on their lives as they should or should have been doing all the time. He is here on the West Side. So I would name him as the local person of the year. Nationally, there are three people who come to mind: Minister Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, and that’s because I think these three gentlemen represent the concerns of African Americans or Americans of African descent and their posture in terms of addressing the issues and conditions that affect our lives. I think on a national level they are doing an excellent job in interpreting the needs of the black community.”

Jeffery Treadwell
“Locally, I would nominate Pastor K.B. McGee of Messiah Temple Missionary Baptist Church, because of the work he had done. He’s a young pastor. He’s been a pastor for about two years, and he’s doing outstanding work in the church and community. His church is at 10400 S. Halsted, and he is really doing great things for the community. Nationally, I probably say Pastor James Meeks. He’s not dividing himself between his church and the legal work that he does as State Senator. He’s keeping true to the church as a leader of his church. He’s also bringing the church inside of the state.”

Leotis William
“Locally, I nominate Mac MacArthur, proprietor of MacArthur’s Restaurant, because he does a lot for the area and his restaurant here, you can’t beat it. The food is delicious. Nationally, I go with Cathy Hughes, who owns several black radio stations and has given opportunities to many upcoming talented individuals.”