(UPDATED) Cascade Publisher Receives Highest AABJ Honor

Atlanta Voice Publisher Janice Ware received the Pioneer Black Journalist of the Year Award Sunday afternoon from the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ). 

Ware is publisher of The Atlanta Voice, 633 Pryor St., a southwest Atlanta newspaper her father helped found and develop into a notable Atlanta publication. AABJ said Ware will receive the organization's highest honor for using her business acumen to improve Atlanta and giving a voice to those who need it most.

Ware serves on several civic boards, including the recent Beltway Steering Committee, the Atlanta Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity, the Empire Real Estate Board, and the Atlanta Business League. Additionally, she is the Executive Director of SUMMECH Development Corporation, a community development organization aimed at improving the Mechanicsville neighborhood, and the President/CEO of Essence Unlimited, her real estate development corporation.

A long-time resident of Cascade Heights until moving to the Centennial Park area recently, Ware graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and was one of the first African-American women to graduate from the University of Georgia's Business School. 

Civil Rights icon and top print and broadcast executives will speak at the ceremony, which will take place at the Park Tavern restaurant overlooking Piedmont Park. Award-winning journalist Anare Holmes will also receive the Volunteer of the Year award.

AABJ established the awards banquet over 30 years ago to recognize excellence in various media fields provide scholarships to deserving journalism students.

Tickets for today's banquet are available at the door. For more information about AABJ or for ticket information, go to: www.aabj.org.