2024 Salute to Hollywood & Excellence Awards Gala
Time: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Dress: Semi-formal / Cocktail
Venue:
Historic Smashbox Studios,
8549 Higuera St.
Culver City, CA 90232
Parking:
Complimentary
8511 Warner Dr.
Culver City, CA
The Evening:
5:00-6:15: Blue Carpet Arrivals/Cocktail Reception
6:15-9:15: Dinner & Awards Program
9:15-10:00: Dancing
Must be on the guest list or show ticket purchased to park AND enter the event.
2024 Honorees
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Hulu’s Black Cake Series Tribute
Marissa Jo Cerar
Special Recognition for “Black Cake” SeriesMarissa Jo Cerar began her career working as a writer and producer on hit series such as Netflix’s 13 REASONS WHY, Freeform’s THE FOSTERS, FOX’s SHOTS FIRED, and Hulu’s THE HANDMAID’S TALE, for which she shares nominations for both the Emmys and Writers Guild Awards for Outstanding Drama Series for season three.
She is a NAACP Image Award and Humanitas Prize winning writer-producer with a passion for socially conscious storytelling. She has spent her career focusing her creative efforts on projects that explore the intersectionality of the human experience through character-driven and female forward stories, such as her series WOMEN OF THE MOVEMENT which aired on ABC. In addition to her WOTM script winning the NAACP Image Award and the Humanitas Prize, the series has been honored as the Best Limited Series by the African American Film Critics Association and The Gracie Awards.
Marissa Jo’s new series, BLACK CAKE premiered on November 1, 2023, and is currently streaming on Hulu. The series was honored with the Critics’ Choice Association Seal of Female Empowerment in Entertainment (SOFEE) and was recently nominated for GLAAD Media Awards’ Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category. The NAACP Image Awards nominated BLACK CAKE for the Outstanding Drama Series category, as well as Marissa Jo’s writing for the Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series category. She served as Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer, along with Kapital Entertainment and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films.
- Carl Winston Lumbly
- Actor
- Legend Award
Carl Lumbly
Legend AwardCarl Lumbly is an actor respected for his steadfast talent, versatility and class. His prolific career includes over 150 credits in theatre, film, television and voiceover, with extensive critical acclaim for his work.
A familiar face on television, Lumbly recently made a memorable appearance in Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” for Disney+. The veteran actor played Marvel’s forgotten super-solider, ‘Isaiah Bradley,’ arguably, the original Captain America. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige announced at D23 Expo that Lumbly will return in the role of ‘Isaiah Bradley’ in the highly anticipated feature length version, “Captain America: Brave New World,” which Walt Disney Studios will release theatrically on February 14, 2025.
For the big screen, Lumbly played a pivotal role in Warner Bros.’ supernatural thriller, Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep,” the imaginative continuation of “The Shining” storyline. He starred as ‘Dick Hallorann,’ the role originally played by Scatman Crothers. The gripping film was directed by Mike Flanagan from his own screenplay based upon King’s best-selling novel.
Lumbly reunited with Mike Flanagan in his engrossing horror miniseries, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” based on various works from Edgar Allan Poe. In his initial casting announcement for “Usher,” Flanagan tweeted: Rounding out our first wave, as Poe’s legendary investigator C. Auguste Dupin, we are so honored to welcome back one of my favorite past collaborators, the extraordinary… CARL LUMBLY.” All eight episodes dropped globally on October 12, 2023 on Netflix and hit the top spot on Nielsen’s streaming charts opening week!
Now in his third collaboration with Flanagan, Lumbly has most recently been cast in Intrepid Pictures’ horror feature, “The Life of Chuck,” based on the Stephen King novella of the same name which was included in his 2020 anthology, “If It Bleeds.” The independent film, written and directed by Flanagan, was able to start production under the SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement while the strike was still in effect.
The busy actor can also be seen in Netflix’s one-hour action/comedy series, “Obliterated,” from the creators of “Cobra Kai.” It follows the story of an elite Special Forces team who thwarts a deadly threat to Las Vegas, only to discover after a wild celebratory party that a bomb they deactivated was a fake. Lumbly plays CIA Director ‘James Langdon.’ The project dropped on November 30, 2023.
Lumbly portrayed CIA agent ‘Marcus Dixon,’ the gentle, mild-mannered field partner to agent ‘Sydney Bristow’ (Jennifer Garner) for five seasons on ABC’s hit drama series, “Alias.” He also previously starred in FOX’s drama series “M.A.N.T.I.S,” playing an independently wealthy paraplegic scientist/crimefighter, marking the first black superhero on series television.
He had a recurring role as classic DC character M’yrnn J’onzz, the father of J’onn J’onzz the Martian Manhunter on The CW television series “Supergirl.” He previously voiced action hero J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter in the Cartoon Network’s animated series “Justice League.” The busy actor also recently had recurring roles on NBC’s “This Is Us,” CBS’ “S.W.A.T.,” Showtime’s “The Chi” and CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles,” along with guest-starring roles on CBS’ “God Friended Me,” Netflix’s “Altered Carbon” and HISTORY’s military action drama, “Six.”
Lumbly recently appeared in award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” which received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of “Best Music Film.” He voiced the iconic jazz musician in this feature-length documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and screened theatrically to wide acclaim. Produced by American Masters, “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” made its television debut nationwide on February 2020 on PBS, in honor of Black History Month.
His impressive feature credits include a role opposite Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Men of Honor,” portraying the father of the first black diver in U.S. Navy history. In “Everybody’s All-American” with Jessica Lange and Dennis Quaid, he starred as a former football player affected by the segregated South. Other film credits include “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “South Central,” “Pacific Heights,” “To Sleep With Anger,” “The Bedroom Window,” “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai,” “Caveman,” “Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation,” and director Gore Verbinski’s supernatural horror feature, “A Cure for Wellness.”
Lumbly, the son of Jamaican immigrants Carrol and Ida, was raised with three sisters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like many immigrants, his parents stressed education and reading, as the gateway to respect, success and achievement. A self-described ‘library geek to this day,’ Lumbly worked in libraries to earn money and have ready access to the larger worlds of literature, world history and art, which inspired his early appreciation for literature. An English major in college, Lumbly’s first love was writing. He worked as a journalist in Minneapolis, early on. Through a series of ‘happy accidents,’ he took a short break from writing and worked in a political -satire comedy theatre. After a couple of years, Lumbly moved to San Francisco intending to continue his work as a journalist for the Associated Press. Just two days after arriving, he came across a newspaper ad seeking “two black actors for South African political plays.” He went to the audition and met the other actor already cast — an unknown Danny Glover. He landed the part and toured with Glover in productions of Athol Fugard’s “Sizwe Bansi is Dead” and “The Island.”
The plays brought Lumbly to Los Angeles, where he signed with an agent, followed by a move to New York. He landed his first significant on-screen role in a movie-of-the-week, “Cagney and Lacey,” which turned into the hit series. More importantly, CBS cast the beautiful and talented actress, Vonetta McGee, as his wife on the show. They fell in love, married and had a beautiful son, Brandon and a beautiful life together. Lumbly starred as ‘Detective Marcus Petrie’ for the show’s seven-year run.
Lumbly’s versatility spans a range of characters, from his NAACP Image Award-nominated work in TNT’s “Buffalo Soldiers,” produced by Danny Glover, to a wealthy, black entrepreneur in “Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding,” starring opposite Halle Berry. He starred in the Showtime telefilm “Just a Dream,” directed by Glover. He also starred in the telefilms “Color of Friendship,” “Little Richard,” “On Promised Land,” “The Ditchdigger’s Daughters,” “Nightjohn” and “Sounder,” ABC’s telefilm remake of the 1972 classic. Of his critically acclaimed performance in “Sounder,” the Houston Chronicle stated, “Carl Lumbly plays ‘Father’, and his performance is a stunner: Dignity and anguish come together to touch your heart.”
His additional television credits include a recurring role on the TNT cop drama, “Southland,” where he played old-school, no-nonsense LAPD Captain ‘Joel Rucker.’ He appeared in the ensemble cast of A&E’s suspense series “The Returned” and has made numerous guest-starring appearances on such popular television series as “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” “Chuck,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Cold Case,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “The West Wing,” “ER” and “The X-Files.”
For the stage, Lumbly received glowing reviews for his 2015 performance of ‘Pops Washington’ in “Between Riverside and Crazy” at the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco. States the Huffington Post, “Pops is portrayed with torrents of fury and flashes of gentleness by the marvelous Carl Lumbly. He is one of seven characters in Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play, which won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for drama, but he provides the fuel that energizes all.”
In 2013, Lumbly starred Off-Broadway at Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre in New York’s Pershing Square Signature Center in “stop. reset,” directed by Regina Taylor. “stop.reset.” tells the story of ‘Alex Ames’ (Lumbly), the owner of Chicago’s oldest African-American book publishing company.
He starred in the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre’s (LHT) 2012 production of British playwright Joe Penhall’s comedy drama “Blue/Orange” in San Francisco. He was featured in the San Francisco Playhouse’s 2010 production of Cormac McCarthy’s “Sunset Limited.” In 2007, he starred in the SF Playhouse’s production of “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train,” directed by Bill English. For his remarkable performance, he was honored with a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Best Performance by an Actor.
Lumbly works out regularly to keep in shape for his demanding roles. In his free time, he enjoys writing, long walks and playing basketball. Carl is a Leo. That’s about all…
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Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love Special Tribute
- Recognition for Cinematic Excellence
Bob Marley: One Love
Recognition for Cinematic Excellence“Bob Marley: One Love” movie celebrates the life and music of the reggae legend who inspired generations through his message of love, peace, and unity. A message that could not be timelier given today’s unforgiving climate.
The movie, which masterfully chronicles the icon’s rise to fame in the mid-1970s up until his death in 1981, scored an unprecedented biggest non-Friday Valentine’s Day opening, taking in $14 million when it debuted in theatres on Wednesday, February 14.
“Bob Marley: One Love” is streaming now on Paramount+ and MGM+ in the U.S. and Canada and is available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Filming was done in Jamaica and the U.K.
- Dr. Jatali Bellanton
- Neuropsychologist
- Founder, Kids Who Bank
- Changemaker Award
Jatali Bellanton, Ph.D.
Angel Investor and Financial Literacy ExpertDr. Jatali Bellanton, a prominent Angel Investor and expert in financial literacy and cryptocurrency, boasts an impressive background in wealth management. Her father is of Jamaican Italian heritage, and her mother is of Cape Verdean descent. With over a decade of experience in investment banking and forensic accounting, she shifted her focus to empowering aspiring individuals worldwide. She has been educating youth on business principles in various countries, including Ghana and Kenya, for six years.
Dr. Jatali's career is marked by her ability to adapt and drive growth. She has successfully restructured accounting departments, leading to substantial revenue growth. Her strategic thinking has been instrumental in adapting businesses to the digital age. Notable achievements include steering companies toward profitability during global transformations and significantly enhancing profit margins within medical practices. As a financial consultant for a medical practice, she achieved a remarkable 42% increase in profit margins in just one year.
In March 2015, Dr. Jatali's journey to entrepreneurship began unexpectedly with the birth of her first child. Finding a lack of financial literacy resources for kids, she launched Kids Who Bank, creating story-based finance books and curricula to inspire youth to chase their dreams and learn about money management. Through this initiative, Dr. Jatali aims to provide every child with equal opportunities for success.
Dr. Jatali's commitment to education and social responsibility is evident in her philanthropic efforts. She has generously donated over $40,000 to schools worldwide, providing students with essentials like education fees, supplies, and books. Her dedication to integrating financial and business education into school programs has been recognized with the prestigious 2019 New York State Mother of The Year award. This award is a testament to the impact of her work and her dedication to creating a better future through education. She organized the "2nd Annual Kidpreneur Awards Gala" in April 2019 to honor young entrepreneurs and philanthropists nationwide for their remarkable endeavors.
In February 2024, Dr. Jatali became a finance expert on Disney & Microsoft Philanthropy’s show Our America: In The Black.
- Paul Beckles
- Director of Global
Athlete Marketing, Nike Inc. - Visionary Award
Paul Beckles
Director of Global Athlete Marketing, Nike Inc.Paul Beckles is an award-winning leader in the sports and entertainment industry. Paul joined Nike in 2019 as the Head of Global Brand Marketing for Converse. In his current role as Director of Global Athlete Marketing, Paul leads marketing strategy development and planning for signature athletes, including NBA sensations Ja Morant and Devin Booker. With more than a decade of leadership experience, Paul’s past roles include Marketing Partnerships Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers, General Manager for Dragon Sports Properties, and Director of Brand Partnerships for Athletes First Partners.
Paul hails from Dash Valley in St. George, Barbados. At the age of 6, Paul and his family moved to the United States, and he was raised in the Philadelphia area. Growing up, Paul volunteered for the Philadelphia Caribbean Festival, where his mother served as a committee member. His mother also co-founded the Barbados Society of Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization dedicated to building community and supporting the advancement of Bajans locally. Paul volunteered for the Society, and his stepfather later served as president.
Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and an executive education certificate from Harvard Business School’s Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports Program. Now, Paul lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife (and college sweetheart) Ebony and their two children: Cameron and Summer.
- Nicole Commissiong
- Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Dynamic Service Solutions
- Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award
Nicole Commissiong
Co-founder & COO Dynamic Services Solutions
Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award
Nicole Commissiong epitomizes the essence of success as both a visionary business entrepreneur and a dedicated community activist. Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago and a devoted mother of four, Nicole currently serves as the Co-founder and COO of Dynamic Service Solutions (DSS), a flourishing multi-million-dollar corporation boasting a staff of over 400 individuals.
At DSS, Nicole leads with distinction, spearheading large-scale, high-impact infrastructure projects spanning engineering, emergency management, and shelter operations. The company’s sterling reputation extends as a trusted advisor to prestigious U.S. agencies such as FEMA, HHS, and the Department of Defense. Guided by its foundational principles of Restoring Dignity, Delivering Excellence, and Ensuring Safety, DSS stands at the forefront of innovation and service.
Nicole’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 29 when she co-founded Secure Communications alongside her husband, marking a significant milestone as the first Tier 1 Black woman vendor for Verizon’s Mid-Atlantic region. The company’s focus on engineering and installation services played a pivotal role in constructing telecommunications and power infrastructure.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Nicole is a passionate advocate for women and community empowerment. She actively supports the Inkwell Society, dedicated to promoting and financing films that illuminate the rich tapestry of the African American experience in the United States.
Nicole’s commitment to social impact extends to Senegal, The Gambia and other West African nations as a dedicated partner at TOSTAN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to igniting transformative change within communities. With an unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and fostering movements that champion dignity for all, Nicole tirelessly advocates for their community-driven development and transformative education.
Through her company, Nicole’s commitment to community engagement shines. She spearheads initiatives to uplift local schools and families, providing mentorship, technology access, and organizing efforts to combat food insecurity. Her dedication to fostering thriving neighborhoods is a testament to her commitment to social impact.
Her unwavering support for her alma mater in Trinidad underscores her dedication to equipping students with the tools for global competitiveness and holistic development, including support for high school athletes.
Drawing from her personal experiences as an international student at Howard University, Nicole established a scholarship exclusively for Caribbean students, providing invaluable support for their academic journey.
Nicole’s dedication to community engagement is further evidenced through her involvement in various programs, including her membership in the Cursillo movement, her support for the Nova Kairos Prison Ministry, and her mentorship of women in business ventures, emphasizing progress over perfection.
Nicole’s pursuit of knowledge is reflected in her academic achievements, having studied Organizational Leadership at Harvard Business School Women’s Leadership Forum, she also attended Howard University School of Business and Strayer University.
Throughout her remarkable journey, Nicole finds unwavering support from her loving husband and family, who stand as pillars of strength in her pursuit of excellence and social impact.
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
– Hon. Shirley Chisholm –
Our 2023 Features
Our team
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Kristin Watson / CEO, Rome