Oneida County History Center’s Induction of Kevin Byrd’s Work Shines A Light On His Global Advocacy
International News — Kevin Byrd’s journey as an International Prostate Cancer Awareness Advocate begin at the age of 23 when his grandfather was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Kevin Byrd established the Brown Byrd Foundation Inc in 2008 with Co-Founder and Vice President Blossom Brown.
In addition to his recent induction of his life’s body of work in the Oneida County History Center his work has been acknowledged by prominent leaders around the world.
Artifacts include aspects of his early years, citations, proclamations, acting career, family life, media chronicling his journey and global advocacy promoting prostrate cancer awareness, early detection, and screening, etc.
“Rebecca Mclain, Executive Director Oneida County History Center and the entire museum staff at Oneida County History Center has done a superb job of displaying Kevin Byrd’s work to the work; and serves as an important reminder and marker of what one can achieve through hard work, perseverance, dedication, and commitment to worthwhile causes which advance humanity.” Phil Andrews, President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Kevin Byrd’s work has inspired men around the world to take action and he has worked besides medical professionals to present prostate cancer screenings on many occasions through the Brown Byrd’s Foundation work.
Here are a few accolades honoring his work around the world he’s been honored with proclamations from a number of government leaders, including former President George Bush, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In total, he has been honored by over 100 mayors and government officials across the country and has received over 100 proclamation awards.
In his hometown of Utica, October 1 is designated as
Kevin Byrd Day in honor of his tireless work. During Black History Month, February 2 has also been designated as Prostate Cancer Awareness Day.
His immense body of work is important to future generations as its display his commitment to humanity through the lenses of an young African American male to make his mark on the world.
Milestones: 1989 Started acting as a child star in Rhythm Lights age 8, 2000 BrownByrd Foundation founded by Blossom Brown and Kevin Byrd, 2003 Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz awards citation to 27 Year Old Actor/Prostate Cancer Advocate, 2004 Kevin Byrd Promotes ‘The Last Days” Tour making headlines around the Upstate New York area, 2004 Observer Dispatch Newspaper article titled “Hitting It Big”.
2004 Utica Phoenix Newspaper features Kevin Byrd in Cover Story — “Kevin Byrd Has Wings To Fly”, 2005 Kevin Byrd Graces Cover of Urban Buzz Magazine, 2006 Byrd is nationally known for his portrayal as Lt. John R. Fox in the 2006 History/HBO Movie “Honor Deferred” Produced by Al Roker, starring Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, 2007 International Headline — The Epoch Times — City Watch: BrooklynByrd Flies High, 2007 Kevin Byrd celebrates year-end review with his 100th headliner in Caribbean Newspaper — story titled “2007 Great Year for Actor Kevin Byrd”. 2011 Kevin Byrd appointed Health Chairman of a local chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., Utica Native award winning Actor/Prostate Cancer Advocate Kevin Byrd receives Designated Honorary Street Naming for foundation’s advocacy — The Common Council in the City of Utica, New York designated an honorary street “ Brown Byrd Lane” sign to be placed on both ends of the street below the Pond Lane Signs — Legislation sponsored by Councilmembers Meola, Giruzzi, Vescera, Testa, Marino, McKinsey, Colosimo-Testa and Zecca Bucciero, 2012 for Black History Month Kevin Byrd’s work entered into Congressional Record by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Bklyn, N.Y., 2013 Long Island Business News Health Care Heroes Award for work at local chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc.., 2013 Kevin Byrd Profiled on Verizon FiOS1 Show “Heroes on Long Island, 2016 Actor/Prostate Cancer Advocate/Founder Brownbyrdfoundation featured on WABC Here and Now,2019 Kevin Byrd Appointed Chairman of Health NY State’s largest African American Chamber LIAACC, February 2nd, 2019 Niagara Falls Lit Blue for 6th consecutive year for Prostate Awareness Day in honor of foundation’s work, 2019 Kevin Byrd, Actor, President/Founder Brownbyrdfoundation honored at Young Gifted & Black Awards — for Professional Services, Innovation & Business Leadership Award, and a 2019 New York State Senate Resolution by New York State Senator Kevin Parker in conjunction with the Young Gifted and Black Awards. On February 2nd,2021 Kevin Byrd graced the front cover of the World Journal Chinese Newspaper to help honor the Brown Byrd Foundation’s 13th Annual International Prostate Cancer Awareness Observance Day.
History Makers: A Salute to Contemporary African Americans
Open April 24- July 30, 2021 at Oneida County History Center
History is happening now in our community and across the world. History Makers salutes just a few of Utica’s African American citizens who belong in our history books. This exhibit features memorabilia from the first African American female Oneida County legislator Evon Ervin, Utica’s youngest council person Delvin Moody, and actor and internationally recognized prostate cancer awareness advocate Kevin Byrd. Visit https://www.oneidacountyhistory.org/exhibits.html for more information and complete details to visit exhibit.
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