A recent gala for the New Dimension Project at Woodwinds in Branford. Contributed Photos.
The following citizen contribution was submitted by Dr. Willie McKay of the New Dimension Project, Inc. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In recognition of his lifelong commitment to community service and humanitarian efforts, Dr. Willie E. McKay was awarded the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious honor given by the 46th President and Vice-President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris. This award recognizes individuals who have devoted their lives to service, leadership, and making a lasting impact in their communities.
McKay, a trailblazing philanthropist and executive director of New Dimension Project Inc., has spent more than two decades enriching communities through the power of music and the arts. Under his leadership, this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has expanded its reach with offices in Connecticut, New York, and Atlanta, directly supporting youth and emerging artists by providing platforms to showcase their talents while reinforcing the transformative role of the arts in society.
In that same spirit of recognition, Dr. Willie E. McKay was honored to present President's Lifetime Achievement awards to Dr. Ann Garret Robinson, Bishop Dozier Shields, the Rev. Sean E. Hardy, Dr. Jonathan Q. Berryman, Dr. Carl Reynolds, Lieutenant Anthony Dawson, Pastor Martha Green, Mother Mary Atkinson Joyner, singer Melba Moore, educator Janet Brown Clayton, Carroll E. Brown, Bishop Wesley J. Wiley, and Soul De Cuba Cafe owner Jesus Puerto. An award was also presented to Mother Lizzie Gatison McKay in memoriam.
This recognition serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication, sacrifice, and community leadership displayed by these individuals in their respective fields.
McKay and the New Dimension Project Inc. would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Rev. Sean W. Hardy for his unwavering commitment to the organization. His dedication and efforts in his role as publicist and historian were instrumental in ensuring that many of our honorees received their awards. His passion for service and ability to amplify the mission of New Dimension Project Inc. have made a profound impact, and we deeply appreciate his contributions.
Since its founding in 2005, the New Dimension Project Inc. has championed diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in the arts, forming groundbreaking collaborations with esteemed institutions such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, The New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Music Haven, The American Cancer Society, and international disaster relief efforts.
Through powerful events like "Style The Soul" with VH1 Save The Music Foundation and "Fashion Mayhem" with The American Cancer Society, the organization has merged philanthropy, fashion, and music to create platforms that inspire and uplift. You can learn more about it at its website