Shelley Stewart recognized for community service

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has awarded Dr. Shelley Stewart the association’s 2013 Community Service Award. Stewart, a former broadcast journalist, is now president and CEO of o2ideas in Homewood and founder of The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation.

Stewart spent the early part of his career as a broadcast journalist, using the profession to become an agent of change.  As a radio personality during the 1960s, he used his media voice to broadcast coded messages to Birmingham’s black listeners  to provide information about human rights protests, meetings and other events.

Eventually, Stewart was able to purchase a radio station and co-found a marketing and advertising firm, now called o2ideas, one of the largest minority-owned marketing and advertising firms in the country.

Losing a brother to serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole was the impetus for the creation of the documentary InsideOut, which was launched simultaneously in 2007 with The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation. The documentary came about as a result of Stewart’s prison visits with his late brother.

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation offers a suite of educational tools aimed at keeping kids in school and explaining the economic benefits of getting an education.

“He sees his life story as a testament to the power of an education,” his daughter Corlette Stewart said. “He has committed himself to saving as many children as possible from ruining their lives. He stresses the importance of education, so that young people who cross his path won’t fall into a life of drugs and crime. If we just save one child, we’re making progress.”

Stewart has spoken to more than 52,000 people across the U.S. since 2008 at school rallies and business and civic events to spread his message. He also remains steadfast in his commitment to his public affairs roots.

Currently, Stewart is the co-host with Samford University president Andrew Westmoreland of quarterly “Birmingham Kitchen Table” town hall meetings. These public meetings are designed to bridge gaps and improve cultural and race relations in Birmingham.