Jefferson County’s annual Cultural Diversity Luncheon will be held in a new location this year – the Corpus Christi Center at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 6020 Old Antonia Road, in Imperial – and organizers hope the change will bring more people to the event.
Formerly called the Black History Luncheon, the event has been held nearly every year since 1995, typically in Festus.
The 2024 version of the luncheon is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Tickets cost $40.
The Cultural Diversity Committee puts on the event, which raises funds to provide college scholarships to local students in need.
“We were looking for a new venue,” said Alvin Riney, the committee’s president. “I heard of the Corpus Christi Center, checked it out and was really impressed.”
In the past, most of those who turned out for the event were from Jefferson County, and Riney encourages those from all around the county to attend this year’s luncheon.
“We’ll get all our regulars, but with moving the event, maybe we’ll be able to draw a bigger crowd,” he said.
The Cultural Diversity Committee works to bring together people from diverse backgrounds so they better understand each other.
“It’s to promote a fellowship among all the people of Jefferson County and surrounding counties,” Riney said.
Other than the location, this year’s luncheon will be similar to those in the past.
“We’ll start off with a catered dinner, this year from Frankie Gianino’s (of Imperial),” Riney said. “We’ll have our music guest, the MOBB (Missouri Big Band). We intend to have other musical entertainers, as well.
“We’ll give out our Drum Major Award winner. It’s basically for being out in the community and leading, whether in business or community development, helping to make things better. We also have the Unsung Hero Award, which we started last year. That’s for someone the public doesn’t see what they do, but they are constantly working behind the scenes.”
The featured speaker for the event is Ayanna Shivers of Mexico, Mo.
“Dr. Ayanna Shivers is a pastor and the former mayor of Mexico, Mo.,” Riney said. “She’s an advocate for social justice.”
Shivers, 52, said the Cultural Diversity Committee learned about her through Joe Pappas, who directs the band that will perform at the luncheon.
“Joe was my band director for middle school and high school when he was in Mexico,” she said.
Shivers said she looks forward to seeing him again.
“As long as he doesn’t get out a trombone and ask me to play, we’ll be all right,” she said.
Pappas said he has followed Shivers’ career and is proud of her accomplishments.
“Having had her as a student in Mexico, Mo., I knew she would make her mark in the world,” he said. “She got along with so many different people. I was very impressed she went on to get her doctorate and what she has done in the community since.
“She’s just a sweetheart. She’s always got time for whoever wants to talk to her. I thought of her mainly because of her work in the area of diversity.”
Shivers said she plans to speak about the various roles she has held throughout her life.
“I’m a pastor (at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbia), an educator and social justice advocate,” she said. “Hopefully, I will leave people with the idea to expand our world more and approach people different from us. We may not agree, but we can respect each other.”
She said she appreciates the opportunity to speak at the luncheon.
“I am honored and excited to be asked to be the keynote speaker at the event, knowing my former band director thought of me to do so,” she said.
Shivers has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, a master’s degree in education in school counseling from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., a doctorate in philosophy of education from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., and a master’s degree in theology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
She worked in counseling and education for more than 20 years. In 2010, she founded the nonprofit Anointed Life Saving Ministries. She served on the Mexico City Council from 2017-2023 and as the Mexico mayor from 2019-2021.
Pappas said the MOBB has performed at previous Cultural Diversity Luncheons, and the band is happy to return.
“I think it allows us to be part of a large community program that all of us feel is important – that’s getting along with each other,” Pappas said. “Plus, it allows us to share our talents and our music.”
For ticket information, contact Denise Brown, 636-937-0575. For more information, visit the Cu Diversity page on Facebook.