Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, in celebration of Black History Month, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) honored the work of five Black community leaders and advocates in Pennsylvania—Hettie Simmons Love (Harrisburg), Gary Horton (Erie), Shawn Aleong (Philadelphia), and Deahmi Mobley and Jaia Harrison (Pittsburgh)—at his 17th annual Black History Month event. This year’s theme, “Inspiring a Bold and Bright Future,” featured these five honorees from generations past and present for their work empowering their communities.
“These five honorees represent an inspirational continuity of service from older generations of trailblazers that have shown a lifelong devotion to their communities to a younger generation that aims to continue that progress through advocacy and civic engagement,” Senator Casey said, “These honorees represent the very best of Pennsylvania and I am inspired by their work.”
Watch Senator Casey’s Black History Month celebration here.
More on the Honorees:
Hettie Simmons Love is the first African-American to graduate from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a recipient of 2021 Torch of Global Enlightenment Award from the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Through her church, Hettie has spent her life seeking opportunities to serve others.
Gary Horton is the President of Erie chapter of the NAACP, and founder and CEO of the Urban Erie Economic Development Corporation through which he sought to help young people in his community through educational programs, job training programs, and summer youth programs.
Shawn Aleong is a disability rights advocate and civil and human rights activist from Philadelphia and a sophomore Legal Studies, Real Estate, and Finance major at Temple University. A proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Shawn advocates for the rights of people with disabilities and serves on President Joe Biden’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
Deahmi Mobley is a freshman at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh and one of the city’s two “Do the Write Thing Ambassadors.” Through his advocacy works, Deahmi reflects on how youth and gun violence have impacted his life and how education can overcome the violence facing kids in his generation.
Jaia Harrison is a freshman at Northgate Senior High School in Pittsburgh and one of the city’s “Do the Write Thing Ambassadors.” Through her advocacy, Jaia highlights the importance of youth mental health in preventing violence and believes, “To address what may seem like the bigger problems, you have to address the internal problems first.”
