By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
Steve Harvey has had a influence on Salisbury and may not even realize it.
Brian Miller said he looked at how Harveyís awards show connected the black community and wanted to apply it here.
ěSteve Harvey has a thing called the Hoodie Awards ó thatís a national event ó and I kind of got the scheme from him,î Miller said. ěWeíre doing it local.î
Miller is taking the idea another step on Saturday.
Itíll be his third year organizing the event.
ěThis was a dream of mine,î he said. ěIíve had a dream about getting the community together.î
The show is called the Our Community Appreciation Awards.
The event recognizes people and businesses in the black community that deserve it, Miller said.
More than 400 people came to last yearís awards show, which had categories like: Best Barbershop, Best Entrepreneur and Best Church Choir.
Miller hopes to match that attendance number Saturday.
The ědress to impressî event will kick off at 6 p.m. at Livingstone College and plaques will be awarded to the winners, Miller said.
Votes were cast on the showís website, ocaashow.ning.com, for 13 categories.
Voting closed earlier this month with more than 2,000 votes cast.
There will be some differences this year.
Most notably, Miller said, it will feature Danny Clay, who was the opening act for Steve Harveyís comedy tour.
Miller was born and raised in Rowan County. To him, he said, the show is about more than just laughs.
ěItís an award show for the west side community and some of the older black neighborhoods,î Miller said. ěItís something to get the community together and let people know some of the things that black people are doing in the community.î
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
For questions, contact Brian Miller at 704-754-1863.
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246 or nhardin@salisburypost.com.