On Saturday, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, will be presented with the “Black History Achievement Award” at the Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Columbus. Previous recipients to this award include Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, according to Beatty’s office.  

On Wednesday , President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will welcome singers to the White House to honor the career and life of Ray Charles. The full event, entitled “Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House,” will broadcast on PBS on Friday.  

The program will include performances from Yolanda Adams, Leon Bridges, Andra Day, Anthony Hamilton, Brittany Howard, Demi Lovato, Sam Moore, Jussie Smollett, The Band Perry and Usher, according to the White House.  

Other “Performance at the White House” honorees during Obama’s tenure have been Stevie Wonder, Carole King and Sir Paul McCartney.  

Prior to the event the first lady will host a workshop for students, “the Musical Legacy of Ray Charles,” which will be attended by 130 middle school, high school and college students from schools nationwide. They will get an overview of Charles’ musical career from Robert Santelli, the executive director of The GRAMMY Museum.  

On Feb. 29, the Congressional Black Associates will honor members and staffers who are trailblazers in diversity in their respective fields on Capitol Hill. This tribute will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Capitol Visitor Center Atrium. Last year, the trailblazer recipients were Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, Sen. Tim Scott’s, R-S.C., Chief of Staff Jennifer DeCasper, among others.  

CBA is a group dedicating to enhancing the lives of black people on Capitol Hill, serving as a network for black staffers.  

Contact Gangitano at AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.com and follow her on Twitter @AlexGangitano.
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