The Wright Gala 2023

Please join The Charles H. Wright Museum for The Wright Gala 2023, Masks of the Diaspora Masquerade Ball.

This event will help support The Charles H. Wright Museum, our mission, vision, and programming. It promises to be a magical night with divine food and libations, along with dancing, and an exclusive sneak peek at a special exhibit that opens October 10th.

Please stay tuned for more information or grab your ticket now.

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2023 Gala Honorees

Philanthropists - Tyrone Davenport and Linda Forte 

Tyrone Davenport

For more than 20 years, Tyrone Davenport and Linda Forte have been in instrumental to the success and sustainability of The Wright. Together, they have raised millions in funding, and have made a tremendous difference to youth, and have made arts and culture accessible to all in our community.

Tyrone Davenport retired from Bank One Corporation as Senior Vice President of Technology Risk Management in June 2001 after 35 years of service. Prior to retirement, Davenport held numerous senior management positions in the technology field for NBD Bank, First Chicago NBD and Bank One. He serves on the boards of the Detroit Omega Foundation and the Board of Visitors of the School of Pharmacy at Wayne State University. Previously he has served as Chairman of the Michigan Automated Clearinghouse, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Detroit Urban League, Executive Board of the Metropolitan Detroit Boy Scouts of America and Executive Board of the Metropolitan Detroit YMCA.

Mr. Davenport, as a member of the Wright Museum’s Board of Trustees, has also served as interim COO to lead the museum while it searched for a President and CEO.

 Linda Forte 

After 42 years, Linda D. Forte retired in 2016 from Comerica where she served as Senior vice president of Business Affairs for Comerica Incorporated and Comerica's Chief Diversity Officer.

Forte served as Board Chair of the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit and a Director of the Local Development Finance Authority, Neighborhood Development Corporation of the City of Detroit; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and New Detroit. In addition, she was a trustee for the board of directors of Bowling Green State University. Also, she was appointed by the Mayor as a Commissioner for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Forte serves on the boards of the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone (BIZ), the Executive Leadership Council, and the United Negro College Fund, Michigan Leadership Team.

Ms. Forte has received numerous awards, the 2014 Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Annual Humanitarian Award, the 2014 Michigan Women’s Foundation Woman of Achievement and Courage recognition, and was a 2013 Inductee into the “Academy of Distinguished Alumni” for Bowling Green State University. She was recognized in 2014 by The Network Journal as one of 25 Influential Black Women. In 2012, Forte was honored as a Woman of Achievement and Courage by the Michigan Women’s Foundation and as a PHD Awardee by the Mercy Education Project. She was also honored as a 2012 Detroit Catalyst by Uptown Magazine and one of Savoy Magazine’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America. In 2011, Black Enterprise recognized Forte as one of the “Top Executives in Diversity.” In 2007, Forte was recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of southeast Michigan’s Most Influential Women

Educator - Dr. Glenda Price 

Dr. Glenda Price has been a dedicated donor and volunteer for The Wright. She’s provided invaluable support to the museum’s internal assessment, organizational development, and succession planning.  

Dr. Price is an educator and former president of Marygrove College; she was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. Price also served as the president of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation and the American Society for Medical Technology. She also served as the Provost for Spelman College.

Price grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor's degree in medical technology from Temple University in 1961. She later earned her Master of Science in educational media in 1969 and her PhD in educational psychology in 1979, both also from Temple.

Price's early career was as a cytotechnologist, looking for evidence of disease at the cellular level. She served as both a professor and assistant dean at Temple University before accepting a position as dean at the School of Allied Health Professions at the University of Connecticut. From 1979 to 1980, Price served as the national president of the American Society for Medical Technology (later renamed to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science), which was considered the largest professional organization for laboratory practitioners at the time. Price has been the only African American to serve as president of the organization.

Dr. Price has also been honored with many awards. In 2002, Price was named as one of Crain's Detroit Business most influential women. In 2015, Price received the Theresa Maxis Award from the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for her personification of Theresa Maxis’ work.In 2020, Price was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science created the Glenda Price Diversity in Leadership Award to "promote diversity and inclusion within the Leadership Academy, and ultimately the Society" in her honor. 
 

Artist - James Charles Morris 

James Charles Morris has most recently proven to be a dedicated supporter of The Wright with key contributions as an artist and supporter. In 2022 he contributed to the exhibition by Malika Pryor, To Whom Much is Given, and was a featured artist at The Wright Gala with a live painting project. He also contributed to The Wright’s 40th Anniversary by securing sponsorship, and designed the African World Festival 40 year retrospective, through in-depth research and curation.

As the grandson of famed Detroit gallerist Dell Pryor, art is unquestionably in Morris's genes. A self-taught multidisciplinary artist, the Detroit native's work includes painting, printmaking, illustration, collage and photography for more than 20 years. His digital illustrations and collages of everyone from Malcolm X and Billie Holiday to Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone are bold and graphic with an almost spiritual vibe given to each subject. Morris likes to use his work to engage in various social conversations, delving into race, spirituality, history, mental balance and community.

Morris created the artwork for Eastern Market's Flower Day poster. Colorful and bold, flowers in various shapes and hues make up his subject's hair and clothes.

Advocate - State Rep. Tyrone Carter

State Rep. Tyrone Carter has been both a personal donor, and a dedicated advocate for public funding for The Wright Museum’s short and long-term sustainability.   
Representative Carter is serving his third term representing the 1st House District, which covers a portion of the city of Detroit and River Rouge.
Carter was born, raised and educated in the district, and has continued that legacy by raising his own family in the area. He graduated from Southwestern High School and Central Michigan University and has dedicated his life and career to public service.  Carter graduated from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Police Academy and spent 25 years with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, attaining the rank of Executive Lieutenant before retiring in 2008.
Carter also graduated from the FBI National Academy and the Michigan Political Leadership Program. He has also served as Assistant Director of Campus Police at Wayne County Community College District and as a Community Involvement Specialist at Southwestern High School, his alma mater. Carter is also a small business owner.

For the past ten years, Carter has dedicated his spare his time to community service. He has served on several non-profit organizational boards dedicated to improving the quality of life for their targeted populations. He has served as president of his neighborhood organization and has mentored high school students through monthly presentations and an annual college tours. The annual college tours provides many of the students with their first opportunity to visit a college campus. Since 2015, Carter has worked with the AmeriCorps Urban Safety Summer Youth Program at Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies, ensuring that the youth in the City of Detroit have positive experiences while providing community service to Detroit communities.
Carter is married to Lisa Carter, Police Commissioner for District 6. They have two sons, Tyrone II (deceased), and Tyler. 

Advocate - Senator Sylvia Santana 

Senator Sylvia Santana has been a recent advocate and current supporter in securing The Wright Museum’s long-term sustainability.
Senator Sylvia Santana is a dedicated wife, mother and public servant who has successfully helped reform the state’s justice system for adults and juveniles alike. She has also championed improvements to local government funding, increased funding to Michigan’s public schools so students are well-prepared for their future and continues to work on policies that reduce racial disparities in health outcomes. She is serving her second term in the Michigan Senate.

Santana is very involved in her community, where she supports uplifting local organizations and individuals who are working hard to make the area the best place to live, work, and play. She is proud of the many cultures across the district and is deeply invested in efforts toward equity for women of color as it relates to businesses, health care, and more.

Santana majored in finance at Eastern Michigan University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. She and her husband, Harvey, reside in Warrendale with their three children.