More than $5,000 had been raised as of June 23, as more than 35 people gathered for the outdoor fundraiser. And those who could not be there in person sent and continue to send donations. The fundraiser for Journal-isms®, an award winning new column on diversity issues in the new media run by veteran journalist Richard Prince, was the first-ever sponsorship organized by the Mildred and Jube Foundation Inc., an Alexandria, Virginia-based charitable organization.

Fred Sweets, a veteran photographer and contributing editor at the St. Louis American, drove across the country from St. Louis to be there and said he wouldn’t have missed the event for the world.

Others voiced similar sentiments: “Such a fantastic celebration of Richard Prince and Journal-isms!” said Julia A. Wilson, dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University. Wilson added that, “it was my great pleasure to attend with Dorothy Gilliam,” a trailblazing American journalist who, in 1961, was the first African-American female reporter at The Washington Post.“

Others in attendance included MJFI President Jackie West, Vice President Tadasha Culbreath-Shiver and the Grammy nominated acapella group, Sweet Honey in the Rock, whose members sat for an interview with journalist Junette Pinkney on the occasion of the group’s 50th anniversary.

Richard Prince’s Journal-isms® is based in Washington, D.C. It began in print form before transitioning to the internet in 2002. Prince has chronicled diversity issues far and wide in his column, including coverage of MJFI-related events such as the historic recognition of Randall Estates. Any views expressed on the platform column are those of the person or organization quoted and not those of any other entity.