TOP: Honoree Michelle Hopkins, husband Judge Jeffrey Hopkins and children. “It is a wonderful thing to be associated with Alabama, as Alabama is the belly of the Civil Rights Movement in America and the world,’’ said Dr. Elliott Cuff, senior pastor at Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church in Woodlawn at the fifth annual The Alabama Connection Black and White Ball and Scholarship Dinner at Marriott Kingsgate Hotel.

“It is important to have dreams that are bigger than yourself, for you dream because you want to become something and someone better. In Alabama dreams were born in the spirit of our Creator, dreams given to us by our Creator to pursue. Our success started as a dream,’’ Cuff said to the group’s Cincinnati members who have ties to Alabama.

But Cuff noted that when he looks around America and Cincinnati today he wonders where all of those dreamers are now. “What happened to the legacy off those dreamers? What happened to the quality and yearning of those dreams? Have we now found ourselves a people of great intentions, rather than a people of dreamers?’’ he asks, adding that “our young people have not been taught to dream.’’

ABOVE MIDDLE: Saxophonist Ed Thomas leads the opening march at The Alabama Connection Black and White Ball into the Kingsgate Marriott ballroom. Following Thomas are Louise Edwards, Dorothy Rice and Lauren Pointer, a Wilberforce University graduate and first recipient of the organization’s scholarship. Photos by Greg Colson Cuff said the dreams of the people of Alabama for many years were only dreams, never becoming realities as they struggled for their freedom and rights. “But those Alabama dreamers loved life in a manner that is needed in our northern city today. Apparently we have fulfilled our dreams here, because we live in a most uncaring, insensitive generation, where people often do not even speak to one another.

ABOVE: The Princesses Cure Ballet Dancers entertained at The Alabama Connection Black and White Ball. “But back in Alabama, the dream of Jesus ignited people there, who reached over into Georgia and took hold of a man who said, ‘I have a dream,’’ and that dream lives on. We have to pass on that great dream of Martin Luther King Jr. and of Alabamans to our children in the seven hills of Cincinnati. For that dream must live on,’’ he concluded.

The annual night provides opportunities to recognize native Alabamans and present scholarships to deserving students. The honorees were Michelle Hopkins, who was born in Huntsville, and Michael Langford, who is a native of Birmingham.

Hopkins is a two-time Emmy Award winning journalist. She joined WLTW-TV in February of 2000, were she served as the morning anchor, Taking Action reporter, and recently the general assignment reporter.. Before that, she had also worked for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati and WBNS-TV Columbus. After graduating from Purdue University, she started out with the radio in West Lafayette, Ind. After more than 25 years in television and radio, Hopkins is assisting private and public sector organizations in their communication and training challenges. She has served on boards for the YWCA, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati May Festival, The Salvation Army, Playhouse in the Park, and Mount Notre Dame High School.

RIGHT: Dr. Elliott Cuff, senior pastor of Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church was keynote speaker at The Alabama Connection Black and White Ball and Scholarship Dance. Minister Michael Langford is assistant pastor of Helps and Minister of Deliverance and Restoration at Zion Global Ministries. He has been involved in human services organizations for more than 25 years and is an executive directer and CEO of the Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program of Cincinnati. He is a member of the Ohio African American Coalition for Optimal Health, People of Color Wellness Alliance, National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, and The Alabama Connection. He is also the founder and operational manager of the 3P Consulting Group. He says his many volunteer efforts are part of his way of giving back to others. Langford has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Arts in Practical Ministries from the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. He and his wife Vanessa have two grown sons.

BELOW RIGHT: 2010 Scholarship recipient Queshandra Boiling, with presenter State Senator Eric Kearney at right and DJ Willie C. Jackson, at left. Scholarship presentations were made by CPS Superintendent Mary Ronan, State Senator Eric Kearney and Lauren Pointer to Kenya Latoya Scott, Queshanda Juanika Boiling and Willie King.

WLWT-TV anchor Courtis Fuller served as master of ceremonies.