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by Sherrill Kushner

As part of the nationwide celebration of Black History Month every February, the City of Santa Monica Santa Monica hosted its 2nd Annual Black Excellence Community Awards program on February 25,^, 2021 through a virtual online program. These awards recognize and honor Black professionals who live or work in Santa Monica for their outstanding leadership and service.

Among those who were honored included Carolyne Edwards, Santa Monica Conservancy board member and her husband Bill. Both Carolyne and Bill have contributed greatly to amassing an archive on local Black history, started with Carolyne’s Uncle Alfred T. Quinn, a prominent Black educator, community leader and icon of the Santa Monica Bay area in the mid- to late-20^th century. To honor his legacy, Carolyn and Bill founded the Quinn Research Center as a resource for people who desire accurate historical information about African Americans in the Santa Monica/Venice Bay Area, from the early 1900’s to the present. The Center has sponsored programs and events to increase knowledge about the contributions of Black members of the community, past and present.

Congratulations to Carolyne and Bill Edwards. We look forward to working with you, especially in our efforts to secure landmark designation for historic properties of African American importance in the once thriving neighborhood of Broadway in Santa Monica.

A recording of the event is now available online.

 

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