St. Louis -- Loretta Moore Dotson's effort to honor great African Americans has made the entrepreneur an honoree herself.
Moore is founder of the Museum of Black Inventors at 7 South Newstead, and her dedication to the project and her family has led to her being named Gitana Productions Extraordinary Ordinary Person of the Year. She and other nominees will be honored during "Faces of Love - The Show" on June 13 at Powell Symphony Hall, featuring singer/actress Melba Moore.
The Museum focuses on black scientists and businessmen and women who created or invented products that changed not only the U.S., but the world. In addition, Moore can now take the exhibit to ear schools, community groups, organizations and corporations. She has taken the museum to Wisconsin, Indiana, Memphis and other cities.
"We didn't anticipate that kind of reaction from outside the state [of Missouri], so we've been traveling a lot more than we though, but that's just fine,", Dotson said. "We've been going on the road since March and it's keeping us busy."
The museum opened in February 1996, and she [Ms. Dotson] has been featured in local publications and USA Today, however, there is more to the museum than the recognition for inventors and als the proprietor. The museum also holds an annual reading and math program of inner city youth to help build their academic skills or to prepare them for the enxt grade level. In addition, a scholarship fund is provided for an African-American graduating senior, to assist with college expenses.
"My ultimate goal is to have the math and reading program extended to after school, sort of like Slyvan Learning Center, but free to inner-city youth," she explained.
Family means everything to Moore and she said, "the real thrill in winning this award is that I was nominated by my husband."
Said Walter Dotson in his nomination letter: "She has the energy to make a change and a difference and she is, and will continue."...