by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The Ritz Chamber Players want to pack the Jacoby Symphony Hall at the Times-Union Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Players also want to recognize someone from Jacksonville for her “outstanding accomplishments and service embracing the ideas and dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
The eighth annual “In Remembrance of the Dream Humanitarian Award” will recognize the life and contributions of Bishop Kenny graduate Carla Harris, who is the New York managing director in Global Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley. She has about 20 years of experience on Wall Street.
Harris has also been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America” and by Essence magazine as one of its “50 Women Who are Shaping the World.”
“We try to look for people who have had great community influence and are involved in civil rights and humanitarian efforts,” said Terrance Patterson, president and founder of the Ritz Chamber Players.
“One of her sayings is, ‘those that have been blessed are there, in turn, to bless others.’ She works with the New York City Food Bank and hunger issues. She works with consumer education through Morgan Stanley and through historic black colleges.”
Last year’s honoree was Dr. David Driskell, who pioneered one of the first anthologies of African-American art.
Harris is a graduate of Bishop Kenny High School and continued her education at Harvard University, earning both undergraduate and master’s degrees in economics and business administration, respectively.
Harris continues her involvement with the schools through funding scholarships in her name at both.
Patterson would like to see the 1,800-seat hall sold out for the performance, which will include works of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s String Quartet No. 1, based on “Calvary,” said to be a favorite of Dr. King’s.
Those attending the performance may be treated if the guest of honor decides to join the Ritz Chamber Players for an off-program performance.
Harris is an accomplished singer as well as a successful business woman. She has performed two sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City to benefit St. Charles Catholic School in Harlem, N.Y., and Bishop Kenny High School.
Harris has also released two albums, “Carla’s First Christmas,” in 2000, and “Joy is Waiting,” in 2005, with proceeds benefiting St. Charles Borromeo School in Harlem, N.Y., and Bishop Kenny High School.
“She has been asked and said she would like to,” said Patterson. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
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