Photo By Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Dobbs | 230228-N-RB168-0006 PITTSBURGH (February 28, 2023) Steve “USS” Cunningham,...... read more read more
PITTSBURGH – More than 30 Sailors from Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Pittsburgh observed Black History Month with a luncheon. This year’s theme for Black History Month was “Inspiring Change.”
During the event Sailors learned about Lt. Cmdr. Wesley A. Brown, the first African American graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Greensboro sit-ins, a series of nonviolent protests that began February 1, 1960 in Greensboro, N.C.
The event was an occasion to reflect on the progress minorities have made, and how our nation and Military Services have progressed by way of diversity and inclusion.
World Champion professional boxer and U.S Navy Veteran Steve “USS” Cunningham was the distinguished guest speaker for the event. Cunningham spoke about his upbringing in Philadelphia, the challenges he faced as a young man in the city, and how joining the Navy and the Navy’s boxing team changed his life forever.
“All of the things that I learned in the Navy, in bootcamp, was so instrumental in who I became as a man, because it pushed me to my limits,” Cunningham said. “It taught me how to grow up, get up and work. I translated that into boxing, because the Navy prepared me for that.”
NTAG Pittsburgh’s commanding officer Cmdr. Christopher McCurry, from Aloha, Oregon, gave closing remarks and thanked the world champion for his attendance.
McCurry said everybody has their reasons for why they join the United States Navy, and he encouraged recruiters to share Cunningham’s example with future Sailors.
“His story is like many people,” McCurry said. “They just don’t know that there is a way for them to make a better life. Show them.”
Since the late 90’s, the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) has created a wide variety of special observance-related materials to help reinforce and support local unit commanders as they generate awareness within their own organizations.
For more guidance on how to plan and execute a special observance, visit the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute website.
NTAG Pittsburgh, part of Navy Recruiting Command, recruits the next generation of Navy Sailors throughout areas in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and Maryland.
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2023 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 439492 |
| Location: | PITTSBURGH, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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