On Sunday night (December 21) Nick attended fellow Real Husbands of Hollywood co-star Nelly’s 9th Annual Black and White Ball at the Four Seasons in St. Louis. The yearly fete raises funds to provide an opportunity for young people to receive a full scholarship to Lindenwood University.
This years event also addressed what has become a defining moment – and subsequent international movement– for the area since immediately after Michael Brown was gunned down by former Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.In a special live interview before a couple hundred of St. Louis’ most influential citizens, master of ceremonies Mike Claiborne managed to mix in some of the tough questions facing the community in the wake of the Ferguson unrest – including how Nelly sees his role in making a difference – during the celebratory evening Sunday night at The Four Seasons.
“That’s what happens sometimes when tragedy strikes your community – it’s a wakeup call,” Nelly said. “Sometimes it takes a situation to wake people up. Not for the worse, but for the better so the generations and the community can come together.”
Dr. Shane Williamson, Lindenwood University’s dean of first year student programs who helped present the full scholarships for 2014 proudly announced that one of this year’s recipients, Savoy Smith, is actually from Ferguson. “Kaylon and I are a beaming light in Ferguson,” Smith said of himself and his co-recipient Kaylon Michael Grant said when accepting his scholarship.
“Every single day I keep realizing the full impact of this full ride,” Grant said during his brief remarks.
The fact that they understood how the award will change their lives touched Nelly as well.
“I want to thank the young brothers for even taking advantage of the option,” Nelly said. “That’s what we need more of – we need more kids to understand that there are options and situations that can help them out and change their lives so that they can change the lives of their loved ones and their community – it’s called a domino effect. The best place to start is with education.”
The scholarship is in conjunction with Lindenwood University Black Student Union, Plaza Motors and Nelly. According to Williamson, the award is worth about $22,000 annually. “I’m hoping that these kids – whatever they learn from this opportunity – that they take it back to their communities to help bring a positive light to help create change,” Nelly said. Williamson said over the past nine years, 12 students have been awarded funds to completely cover tuition and housing for up to five years. Four recipients have graduated college – and one from nursing school – while the remaining scholars maintain a 3.0 GPA.
“What we have to do is we have to grab the kids that are from those communities – to help them get an education so they can go on and run the communities, because they know the communities,” Nelly said. “It shouldn’t have been ‘hey you get out of the street.’ It should be ‘hey Michael, come on, move out of the way. Don’t do that. I know your mama and I’m gonna call her as soon as I get back to the station.’” Michael’s mother Lesley McSpadden and her husband Louis Head were among the notable guests in the Four Seasons Ballroom for the invite only affair.
“I want to send my personal strength to you and the whole family,” Nelly said. “I appreciate having you in our presence tonight. I don’t want you to ever think that the city of St. Louis doesn’t understand that you lost a son at the end of the day. I want to let everybody know that we will be starting the Michael Brown Scholarship Foundation with Vatterott.” Vatterott Technical College – which partners with Nelly for his E.I. exTreme Institute – was where Michael Brown was scheduled to attend before his life ended tragically on August 9.
“We have commitments from everybody from myself, TI, Nick Cannon, Kevin Hart, Al Sharpton and Rosie O’Donnell, Dwight Howard and I know I’m forgetting some people,” Nelly told the crowd.
Also among the esteemed guests was Jon Jay of the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues legend Brett Hull.
“Get ready it’s a lot of work,” Nelly said to McSpadden, implying that she will have a hands-on role in the Michael Brown Scholarship at Vatterott.“We want to send kids to school in the name of Mike to make sure no one ever forgets this situation – we’re talking about bringing to light the positive of Mike’s situation and him wanting to go to college.”
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