Showcase has a special treat.
Loni Gamble to Play for CAPPA Showcase 2010
If you live in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, you've probably heard of Loni Gamble, the community activist. A long-time resident of the city Loni has contributed greatly to the community's social well being. In July 2002, Loni founded the Kennedy King Youth Intervention and Development Project and Basketball League, a structured program that eventually became the Community Alliance for Positive Progressive Action (CAPPA). As Executive Director of CAPPA, Loni's leadership has provided scholastic mentorship, gang prevention tips and computer technology instruction to at-risk youth. Perhaps his crowning achievement is the annual CAPPA Showcase program. By forming alliances with other organizations in the community - such as the Williamsport Area School District, Giant Food Stores and the Lycoming Housing Authority - CAPPA created a comprehensive youth talent show in 2005. The program fosters high self-esteem in youth that are often marginalized and disrespected. Young dancers, poets, musicians and actors have presented their skills to a live audience in the prestigious Community Arts Center and a Comcast Cable TV viewership.
In years past, a professional band has played groovy “intro-music” between each act of the Showcase. This has caused many members of the community to reminisce about Loni Gamble's previous life. He was a popular musician, recording artist and band leader before becoming a noted youth advocate.
Loni Gamble began his music career as a guitar player touring with The Stylistics. In 1984, in Montreal, Canada, Loni recorded his hit single “Could It Be Love”. Upon its release, the single made the top 40 on the dance music charts in eight countries. In Williamsport, Loni formed the group “Loni Gamble and Sound Cheque”. The group was best known locally for their contributions to non-profit organizations through benefit concert fundraisers. The band performed with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and The Bloomsburg Community Orchestra. One of their performance highlights was opening for “The Temptations” at the Community Arts Center.
In this year's 2010 CAPPA Showcase, Loni has brought the band together for a special guest performance. Admission is $8.00. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the victims of the Haiti Earthquake disaster. Doors open at 5pm. Call the CAC box office at 570-326-2424 or call CAPPA at 570-326-7700 for tickets.
Over the years, Loni has received numerous awards. In 1998, The YWCA awarded Loni the “Racial Justice Award” for his commitment to the planning and implementation of The Unity Concert. In September of 2005, CAPPA received the 2005 Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redevelopment Agencies (PAHRA) Best Practice Award. In May 2006, CAPPA received the 2006 MARC/NAHRO (Mid-Atlantic Region Conference/National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) Award of Excellence. In July 2006, CAPPA received the NAHRO National Award of Merit. In August 2006, Loni Gamble was selected from thousands of entrants across the country in the Dr. Pepper “Pepper Your Community” contest. Loni was ranked # 3 in the country and CAPPA was one of five non-profits in the country selected for a professional video shoot from Yahoo Inc. In October 2006, CAPPA received the NAHRO National Award of Excellence.
On April 13, 2010, Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed Loni Gamble to the Governor's Advisory Commission on African American Affairs.
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