Three members of the Detroit PBS team (shown here with Neil Barclay, President & CEO of The Wright Museum) were honored by the Commonwealth of Faith Church in Redford Township as representatives of the station and its weekly news show, “American Black Journal.”

On Feb. 21, Rev. Torion Bridges, presented Daphne Hughes, producer of “American Black Journal”; Rich Homberg, president and CEO of Detroit PBS; and Marty Fischhoff, director of community engagement, the inaugural Roosevelt Hollins Jr. Truth & Integrity Award. It was named in honor of Rev. Bridges’ grandfather, the eldest living relative of Matilda McCrear, the last known survivor of slave ship Clotilda, which was the last known U.S. slave ship to transport enslaved Africans to this country. It did so illegally in 1860.

“She was his grandmother and their lives existed for five years until she passed in 1940,” Rev. Bridges said of Hollins. “Two of the greatest influences on my life have been my grandpa and Detroit PBS.”

Mr. Hollins passed away earlier this year.

“We are deeply honored to recognize the impact and legacy of “American Black Journal.” For decades this show and PBS have exemplified the spirit of excellence and service that this moment was designed to celebrate,” Rev. Bridges wrote in an email to Detroit PBS.

The award was presented at the church’s annual Black History Month Prayer Brunch celebration, which recognized other local community leaders from many walks of life for their public contributions.

Rev. Bridges is an active member of the Detroit PBS Black Church in Detroit Advisory Committee, which is composed of a broad cross-section of ministers who meet monthly with the station’s journalism team to provide guidance on the issues that matter most to their congregations and communities.