Tidewater Chapter Awards | Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities

The 61st annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards Celebration took place on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Under the leadership of Tony Brothers, the following individuals were honored:

Steven E. Kocen
J. Thaler McCormick
Vivian M. Oden
Cynthia C. Romero
Robert Shoup

The Humanitarian Award of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities is presented to those individuals who have demonstrated a personal commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. On occasion, the organization may bestow the Jeffrey B. Spence Award for Interfaith Understanding to individuals who have conducted exceptional work in the area of interfaith understanding. The Distinguished Merit Award recognizes corporations or community organizations for their humanitarian work.

2025 Honorees

Humanitarian Award Honoree

Steven E. Kocen

Learn More About Steve

Steve Kocen serves as Senior Vice President at Southern Bank He is a dedicated banker and community leader with a passion for building a stronger, more inclusive community. His extensive community service includes long-term involvement with the United Way of South Hampton Roads, where he has served in various capacities since 1996. Steve has also been deeply involved with The Up Center, serving on the Board and on various committees. His commitment to his faith is evident through his extensive Board service at Ohef Sholom Temple, and as a Board Member of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation. Additionally, Steve has contributed to the Norfolk Visitors & Tourism Foundation and the Central Business District Association. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Richmond and is a graduate of The Graduate School of Bank Management.

Humanitarian Award Honoree

J. Thaler McCormick

Learn More About Thaler

Thaler McCormick is the Chief Executive Officer of ForKids. She has dedicated 29 years to the organization, leading its growth to serve over 70,000 individuals annually in Southeastern Virginia. Under Thaler’s leadership, ForKids has created regional service centers and formed partnerships to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives. In the community, Thaler serves as Chair of the Affordable Housing Task Team for the Chesapeake Alliance and is a member of the Chesapeake Alliance Leadership Circle, Virginia Housing Alliance, Southeastern Virginia Homeless Consortium, and the Regional Transit Advisory Panel. Her past involvement included the Hampton Roads Housing Consortium, Minus 9 to 5, Project Hope Virginia, the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, Norfolk Homeless Consortium, and Suffolk Homeless Consortium. Thaler holds degrees from Miami University and the University of Virginia.

Humanitarian Award Honoree

Vivian M. Oden

Learn More About Vivian

Vivian Oden is Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, leading the foundation’s racial equity work. Vivian organized Hampton Roads’ first celebration of Black Philanthropy Month and founded Visionaries for Change, a giving circle that has raised nearly $1 million for charitable causes in the Black community. In 2019, Vivian was the co-creator of Unmasking Hampton Roads, a three-part learning series designed to examine the historic and contemporary impact of racism in Hampton Roads. She serves on the State Board of Directors for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, the Board of the Hampton Roads Diversity & Inclusion Consortium, and the advisory board for Norfolk State University’s Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work. Vivian also tutors with the Life Enrichment Center. She holds degrees from Old Dominion University and Cornell University.

Humanitarian Award Honoree

Cynthia C. Romero

Learn More About Cynthia

Dr. Cynthia Romero is the Director of the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health at the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. She has served as Virginia State Health Commissioner and has been a strong advocate for her patients and the medical profession. Cynthia served as President of the Philippine Medical Association of Southeastern Virginia, Inc., Tidewater Academy of Family Physicians, Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, Norfolk Academy of Medicine, and the Medical Society of Virginia. She is on the Boards of Directors of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Virginia Beach Vision, and Physicians for Peace, and she also serves on the steering committee for Minus 9 to 5. Cynthia holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed her training in family medicine at the Riverside Family Medicine Residency.

Humanitarian Award Honoree

Robert Shoup

Learn More About Bob

Bob Shoup has dedicated his career to community service through music. He currently serves as the Chorus Master & Staff Conductor with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Music Director at Second Presbyterian Church, and Founding Artistic Director at the Norfolk Street Choir Project. Bob is also a Founding Board Member of The National Alliance for Music in Vulnerable Communities. He has led numerous arts-related initiatives, including the “American Voices” Festival and international concert tours. The Norfolk Street Choir Project, which began as a church program that offered breakfast and a chance to sing together in community, has grown into an independent nonprofit providing a joyful, affirming environment where participants can express their creativity and receive essential services including medical care, mental health support, and addiction support. Bob holds degrees from Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University.