For Immediate Release
June 2, 2008
MSHALE NEWSPAPER COMMUNITY AWARDS PRESENTED BY M & I BANK
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – Mshale Newspaper | Mshale opened nominations today for the First Annual Mshale Newspaper Community Awards Presented by M & I Bank which will be held on Friday August 15, 2008 at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott by the Mall of America.
The First Annual Mshale Newspaper Community Awards will recognize African individuals, groups and businesses that have made an impact in the African immigrant community and the community at large.
Tom Gitaa, Founder and President of Mshale Newspaper states, “its something I have always envisioned Mshale doing since we are an important institution in the community.”
Mshale Newspaper is especially pleased to announce Lola Ogunnaike, Entertainment and Pop Culture Correspondent for CNN’s American Morning, as the keynote speaker. Prior to CNN, Ms. Ogunnaike’s work could be seen in The New York Times, The New York Daily News, Vibe Magazine and Rolling Stone.
On air, Ogunnaike has also made regular guest appearances on NBC’s Today Show, MTV and VH1. And in August she will parlay her talents and insights live at the Mshale Newspaper Community Awards Presented by M & I Bank.
Four award categories have been created: Community Leadership, African Business of the Year, Friend of the Community, and Student of the Year. Registered Mshale online users may submit nominations for the awards on strong>Mshale.com now through June 30, 2008.
Once the public submits nominations, a panel of judges chaired by former Hennepin County Judge Harry Crump will go through the submissions and pare down the list for each category and then submit them for a vote by the public starting July 1st and ending July 21st, 2008. There will be one winner for each category with each winner receiving a US$1,000 prize.
M & I Bank, the title sponsor for the Mshale Newspaper Community Awards, is eager to support the African community in its academic and business ventures. Senior Vice President David Lindstrom states, “M & I Bank is very committed to supporting diversity and community outreach efforts within the markets we serve. Sponsoring the Mshale Community Awards is an excellent opportunity for M & I to recognize those that have made a significant impact in the African community.”
For more information on Mshale Newspaper’s Community Awards Presented by M & I Bank, please visit www.mshale.com
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Mshale is a leading national newspaper that covers the African immigrant community in the United States. It is widely circulated and is available in major cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Washington DC at grocery stores, community centers, libraries and churches.
Media Contacts:
Tom Gitaa, President & Publisher • 612-871-9518 ext 221 • tgitaa@mshale.com
Anna Otieno, Media Relations & Special Correspondent • 612-871-9518 ext 220 • aotieno@mshale.com
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Filed under: Around the US | Tagged: awards, community, mshale, newspaper
