Two Saturdays ago, for the seventh year, a room full of men prepared home-cooked specialties for “Black Men Cooking,” a scholarship program of the Epsilon Eta Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.

The 21 men cooked and served favorite dishes for which they are well known, and ticket holders enjoyed the food and a program put on at the Thomas C. Walker Education Center in Gloucester.

Many familiar faces were in place at this year’s celebration. John L. Perrin perhaps demonstrates the loyalty these men have displayed. His good cooking (he’s known for his award-winning chili and sweet potato pie) has been present at all seven events. “When I couldn’t make it, my dish was there,” said Perrin.

Ronald A. Williams Jr., Justin Waters, Christopher Tucker, Terry Dixon, Duke Simmons, Pastor Vincent Pryor, Deshaun Marshall, Ronald Foster, Nelson Foster, the Rev. Willie Dixon, the Rev. Randolph Graham, Cameron Banks and Nicholas Ali are the other men...