Throughout history, a defining human attribute has been a sense of communitas — a Latin term, meaning "people coming together for the good of a community". Communitas is inspired by the vision of a better world, and it is an attempt to do something about it through volunteerism, philanthropy, and ethical, sustainable business practices. Today, communitas is thriving in businesses, organizations, and individuals dedicated to community service and social responsibility.
Communitas Awards is an international effort to recognize the spirit of "communitas". Winners of Communitas Awards unselfishly give of themselves and their resources, and are changing the way they do business to benefit their communities. Media personality and technology maven Shefik (http://shefik.info) has been honored with a Communitas Award, under the category "Community Service and Corporate Social Responsibility: Leadership in Community Service and Corporate Social Responsibility". Some businesses, organizations, and individuals that complete for an award are also recognized as Leadership winners, because of their excellence in multiple programs. As such, Shefik has been named a Leadership winner in 2018, alongside his brand "Shefik presents Invocation" (http://invocation.co).
Nominees of Communitas Awards are evaluated, based on the extent and effectiveness of their program(s). The size and potential scope of the nominee is also taken into consideration. Winners range from a one-person design firm donating $35,000 in services to help improve the diets of inner-city students, to an online retailer enlisting help from vendor-partners to design and create teddy bears that have helped cheer-up 20,000 recovery room patients at a children's hospital, to a Fortune 500 business that sponsors community work days for all its employees. Winners are located throughout the world and include such recognizable companies as MasterCard, Honeywell, Dow Chemical, Toyota, and Vonage.
Communitas Awards was started in 2010, as an outgrowth of the pro bono recognition program of the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), a several-thousand member group that honors creative achievement and fosters partnerships with charities and community organizations. As part of its mission, AMCP gives grants to community organizations and underwrites a large portion of expenses for the Communitas Awards.
"By recognizing individuals, organizations, and companies for their volunteerism and socially responsible business practices, we are hoping to not only bring attention to create programs, but are working with community minded leaders to make the spirit of communitas an essential element of every business," says Ed Dalheim, Executive Director at AMCP.
Throughout 2017, Shefik was very active in the community. He served as a judge for a local Miss America competition (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-official-judge-at-miss-america-organization), aiding in the 2018 crowning of Miss Northern Highlands, Miss Northern Lakes, and Miss North Jersey. The winners will move on to compete for the state title of Miss New Jersey 2018.
"Shefik was an asset to our judge's panel at the Triple Crown Local Pageant within the Miss New Jersey and Miss America Organization," says Heather Lata, Executive Director at Northern Scholarship Program, Miss America Organization. "Shefik was passionate about his responsibilities and conducted himself in a professional manner. Former Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry states, 'Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else's help.' Volunteers, such as Shefik and (his crew), were key elements in running a successful event and growing programs like ours. I appreciate his support very much."
Shefik also served as moderator at a panel discussion on "Equity & Diversity: Community Dialogue" (Washington, D.C.) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-to-moderate-panel-on-equity-and-diversity-in-washington-dc), and he was named Master of Ceremonies for various charitable events to benefit Autism New Jersey (Lakewood, NJ) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-master-of-ceremonies-at-benefit-for-autism-new-jersey), and Eastern Shore Self-Advocacy Project (Chestertown, MD) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-master-of-ceremonies-at-self-advocacy-project), as well as a key participant in industry leading events: Maarkah New York Fashion Week SS18 (New York, NY) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-and-eloisa-diaz-sanz-to-host-maarkah-new-york-fashion-week-ss18), Lehigh Valley Fashion Week (Bethlehem, PA) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-master-of-ceremonies-at-lehigh-valley-fashion-week), and the pageants for Miss Fashion Week Lehigh Valley and Miss Fashion Week Philadelphia (Allentown, PA) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-certified-judge-for-miss-fashion-week-pageant).
Additionally, Shefik appeared as a guest speaker at various uplifting events, such as a holiday fundraiser for YWCA Yonkers (Yonkers, NY) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-guest-speaker-at-ywca-yonkers), the 7th Annual Broadway Sings for Pride (New York, NY) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-named-guest-speaker-at-the-7th-annual-broadway-sings-for-pride), and Global Tech Meets Fashion Affair Fundraiser (Brooklyn, NY) (http://invocation.co/about/press-release/shefik-to-speak-at-global-tech-meets-fashion-affair-fundraiser).
Last Updated: April 3, 2018
