2024 Men of Valor Christmas Sneaker Ball Recap

The 2024 Men of Valor Christmas Sneaker Ball, held on Sunday, December 1st at the Edward C Smith Civic Center in Lexington, NC, was an intimate yet impactful event that embodied our mission at JLD Community Solutions.

CONGRATULATIONS to Coccaro (Cocoa) Smith who was crowned as our 2024 Men of Valor Christmas Sneaker Ball winner! Cocoa was crowned by our 2023 Men of Valor Christmas Ball winner, Garrett Holloway (City Council Ward 5 - Lexington, NC). Cocoa then turned around and crowned Dale Rashard Jr, the youngest contestant, because... he is our future! Congratulations to you both and to all of our 2024 contestants. You are all Men of Valor!

Though small in scale, the event's impact was mighty. The highlight of the afternoon came during the "Most Creative Sneaker" contest, where members of the audience showcased their sneakers for a chance to win cash prizes. One young winner, overwhelmed by his prize, was filled with gratitude stating, "A kid like me shouldn't have all this money." This gave our Co-Founder & Executive Director, Dia Nyarko, the opportunity to encourage this young man stating, "Yes you do, because you deserve it!". This poignant moment encapsulated why our work matters.

The joy on this young man's face, sparked by a simple act of kindness, reinforced our commitment to focusing on 'an audience of one.' This approach creates a ripple effect - impacting one life can lead to transforming many more.

Our Sneaker Ball not only celebrated creativity but also emphasized our ongoing mission to empower young men of color, promote community safety, and cultivate future leaders. It served as a powerful reminder that small gestures can have profound impacts, inspiring us to continue our work one life at a time.

A special thank you goes out to:

• Edward C Smith Civic Center and all their support staff

• Lexington Barbecue Inc.

• Sam's Club

• All of our participants: Coccaro Smith, Dale Rashard, Jr, and Terence McDuffie

• Our host: Damien Hammie

• Our speakers: Elder Albert Armstrong and Michael Clinton, Jr

• Our performer: Montese McDuffie

• Our DJ: Antoine Jackson

• Our photographer: Antonio Lattimore

• Mr. Donnie Holt and Males Only Service Club

• All of our volunteers

• Our team that helped bring this together - Kasey, Miranda, Angela, & Dia

• To everyone in the community who attended, donated, prayed, and helped us spread the word!

Special recognition to:

• Mayor Jason Hayes and City Council 

• Chief Robby Rummage

• Faith Kie (360 booth) - for helping to make our event special!