Clovia Lawrence Recognized by Toastmasters Fall Conference

District 66 of Toastmasters, International has named Richmond, Virginia's Clovia Lawrence as 2009 Communications and Leadership award recipient. Clovia is well known throughout the local community as MS Community Clovia. She is very active in pulling together programs to help the youth, homeless, those who need food in community.

Clovia Lawrence is a seasoned broadcast journalist who is best known in the Richmond Metropolitan area as “Miss Community”.  With more than 20 years experience and a real passion for tackling tough topics and issues that affect the lives of people from every walk of life, Ms. Lawrence is the product of the Richmond Public School system and a graduate of Virginia Union University.  Covering the Central Virginia market, she has a proven track record as a news reporter, announcer and community affairs director working at more than a dozen radio stations and virtually every format, Ms. Lawrence has produced top ratings.

Currently the news director for Radio One Richmond's 4 stations and Executive Director of the Nationally Syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, she is also the Community Affairs Director for three of the networks' stations and she hosts the market's number one public affairs show, “Community Conversations,” which covers a wide range of topics including health, education, crime, politics and wealth. She keeps her listeners in the know by informing them of the “State of the City” with monthly interviews featuring Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

 

Ms. Lawrence, who has a loyal following of more than 100,000 listeners is a diligent community servant who dedicates much of her time making public appearances, hosting events, moderating forums, raising public awareness and participating in community fund-raisers. In her role as Community Affairs Director, she provides voter education and mobilizes citizens to take part in the political process through her “Rolling Rallies”. She staged the first Radio One Richmond Gubernatorial debate also, she joined leaders of Virginia's Democratic Party including Governor Tim Kaine, former Governor Mark Warner, U.S. Senator Jim Webb and Presumptive Presidential Nominee Senator Barack Obama in Richmond for an endorsement campaign bringing  hundreds of Radio One listeners  as part of the voter education and empowerment initiative.  Organizing a Restoration of Rights forum for the past three years, Ms. Lawrence has also made it a priority to educate ex-felons on the process necessary to regain their voting rights via her “Rolling for Freedom” initiative.

Ms. Lawrence's accomplishments have propelled her to the National reporting scene, covering the Michael Vick Federal court case and on site live at the Jena 6 march and trial.  She has made the commitment to not only educate, but to elevate the African-American Community and is probably at her best when there is a need for calling citizens to action.  Ms. Lawrence used her community connections and was the driver in a 12- hour Radio-thon to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims as well as a successful 12-hour Radio-thon benefiting the prevention of domestic violence. She spearheaded the fund-raising of almost 100-thousand dollars to assist residents of a Richmond neighborhood flooded by tropical storm Ernesto.  Ms. Lawrence is also a strong advocate for youth and recently organized a campaign raising money to send more than 220 children to camp for the entire summer of 2008 and 2009.

Ms. Lawrence is everywhere and making a difference in many lives, but her number one career goal is being the very best mother to her two year old daughter Kenya Sarai. Other accomplishments include being a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Board Member of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia and the recipient of numerous  community service and activism awards including the : Legends in the Community Award from the Urban League of Greater Richmond; BET/Southwest Airlines Every Day Local Heroes Award; Community Service Award of the Year from Las Amigas, Inc., Top Media Personality of the Year from Special Olympics Virginia, Community Service of the Year Award from Richmond City Council under Mayor Doug Wilder’s leadership.

Clovia's achievement will be recognized at the 2009 fall conference for Toastmasters, International  District 66 on November 20-22, 2009 Visit the D66 web site for more information.