Honorees

2023 Honorees

Sharon Matthews

Bio

Sharon Matthews

Visionary Award

Sharon Matthews is the deputy managing editor of Originals and Vice President of L.A. Times Studios. With over 25 years of experience in broadcast, tv, film, digital, and print media, she joins the Times to set and oversee the strategy, development, production, and integration of original content for unscripted and scripted original series and studio shows.

Before joining the Times in October 2022, Matthews was a senior director of originals for Andscape (formerly known as the Undefeated). Matthews expanded its digital storytelling platform into a multimedia video storytelling division of the Walt Disney Co., developing and producing more than 20 specials. Highlights include Emmy nominated special The Stop: Living, Driving and Dying While Black, an examination of the experiences Black Americans have with law enforcement and the long-lasting impact these interactions have on African-American communities. Collaborating with Grammy-nominated and Golden Globe winner Andra Day on Rise Up and teamed up with Oscar winner Common on The N-Word – An original special shot at the 16th Street Baptist Church. Unapologetic – brings Black female athletes’ challenges and triumphs into the limelight. Time For Change: We Won’t Be Defeated – A one-hour special featuring well-respected ESPN anchors, analysts, contributors, and authors who shine a light on the Black athletes’ experiences with injustice. Matthews served as an Executive Producer on “Tiger Woods America’s Son,” An in-depth look at Tiger Woods’ complex racial identity and how he became the first African-American golfer to win a major tournament at The Masters in 1997. “A Room of Our Own.” explores the connection that Black athletes have with music and the impact of that association in powering social movements. In 2021, she led the development and production of the award-winning special “The March On Washington: Keepers Of The Dream,” a one-hour documentary tracing the uncensored journey of the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of the heroes in partnership with National Geographic and available on Hulu.

Before joining ESPN in 2001, she spent six years at NBA TV Canada, launching original content for the specialty channel, scheduling, and programming, in addition to spearheading the production of its magazine shows, documentaries, and promos. She traveled to Afghanistan on the Canadian Prime Minister’s plane, bringing the Stanley Cup to the NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In 2021, She also led the launch of The Undefeated on ESPN+ and the expansion of the Black History Always collection on ESPN+, nine documentary films by nine diverse creators sharing stories of Black resilience, joy, and excellence beyond the 28 days of February. During her 15 years at ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, she has successfully recruited & managed an abundance of producers, directors, editors, and production personnel building dynamic teams from the ground up. She is a master at nurturing creativity and bringing together teams that drive impactful storytelling. During her tenure, Matthews spearheaded “We the Fans,” a multiplatform storytelling project following the stories of the Chicago Bears faithful of Section 250 in Soldier Field. She also produced original programming for numerous ESPN Studio Shows, including “SportsCenter,” “Outside the Lines,” “College Gameday,” and “SC Featured.”

She is a decorated Emmy-winning producer with over three dozen industry awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Outstanding Journalism Award for her short film “Marko Cheseto: Running for His Life.” A 28-time New York Festivals gold medalist, the recipient of two Cablefax Trailer Awards, and a National Headliner Award. Matthews’ original ESPN feature “We the Fans — Dallas” won the NLGJA Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Matthews advocates for equality, inclusion, diversity in technology, and storytelling. She has participated as a featured panelist at the ESPNW summit, addressing many issues Black women face in the sports and media industries. Born in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada of Guyanese parents, Sharon is a graduate of York University and is a loving wife to Marcus Matthews – A Howard University Graduate.

Anastasia Ali

Bio

Anastasia Ali

Luminary Award

As Vice President, Enterprise Commercial Inclusion Strategy at The Walt Disney Company, Anastasia Ali leads a comprehensive, company-wide commercial strategy that deepens Disney’s relationship with new and existing Black consumers, in partnership with existing marketing and commercial business leads. In addition, she provides thought leadership by maintaining an ongoing pulse on Black communities through both traditional research and culturally relevant ways of listening and relationship building, normalizing reciprocity as a standard practice.

A dynamic and results-oriented marketing strategist with 15+ years of media and entertainment experience, most recently, Anastasia served as the Vice President of Marketing for The Walt Disney Studios. She joined the Company in 2013, and has developed custom marketing campaigns for dozens of Disney films and series, including “Aladdin,” as well as Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” “What If…?,” and “Ms. Marvel.” She also led the multicultural marketing campaign for the Oscar-winning Disney and Pixar film, “Soul.” Anastasia co-founded Disney’s Black Employee Resource Group, The Bond, and Disney Studio Marketing’s inaugural Center of Excellence for multicultural marketing, rePRESENT.

Prior to joining Disney, Anastasia produced content for a global audience on digital and cable platforms including BET.com’s groundbreaking web series “Buppies,” which garnered a viewership of over five million. She produced TV One’s first scripted show “Love That Girl!” which was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards and won the Visionary Award from the National Association for Multiculturalism in Communications. She also worked in celebrity brand management, where she brokered deals with Toyota, P&G, the United Negro College Fund and the Ministry of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago.

Anastasia obtained a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Brown University. She is proudly Afro-Latina and Indo-Caribbean; her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Panamá and Trinidad.

Congressman
Barbara Lee

Bio

Congressman Barbara Lee

Shirley Chisholm Legacy Award

Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a forceful and progressive voice in Congress, dedicated to social and economic justice, international peace, and civil and human rights.

First elected in 1998 to represent California’s 9th Congressional District, the Democratic lawmaker has a reputation for principled and independent stands, unafraid to take on the tough issues and speak her mind for her constituents, for a more just America, and for a safer world. A social worker by profession, she has been a life-long advocate for constituents, families and others accessing government services.

Congresswoman Lee has been a strong proponent of safe communities, addressing hunger, environmental justice, universal health care, just immigration policies, the establishment of a living wage, reproductive health care rights and affordable housing, including creation of a National Housing Trust Fund.

Her accomplishments include authoring or co-authoring every major piece of legislation dealing with global HIV/AIDS issues since she was elected to Congress.

After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the congresswoman was the lone vote against a resolution that gave the President virtually unlimited authority to use force against unspecified organizations, individuals or nations for an unlimited period of time. She has consistently fought to stop endless wars and to reduce conditions that produce conflict and injustice.

A protégé of the late trailblazing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Congresswoman Lee lead the successful efforts for a National Caribbean American Heritage Month.

She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking African American woman in the U.S. Congress.

Joy Thomas Moore

Bio

JOY THOMAS MOORE

Founder’s Award

Joy Thomas Moore is a Peabody Award winner and President and CEO of JWS Media Consulting. Prior to starting her consulting business full time, Moore worked for 15 years with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children and families in the United States.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Joy was a freelance writer and field producer in the New York City area, where she contributed to numerous local and nationally syndicated television programs, including ESSENCE: The Television Program, where for five years she was the senior writer for the weekly program.

Before television, Moore served in a variety of editorial positions at WMAL-AM radio, the ABC-owned and operated station in Washington, D.C. Among other accolades for her work in radio, the George Foster Peabody Award for Public Service for the 1972 documentary was awarded for “Suffer the Little Children,” a multi-part series on sexually abused children. For three years she also served as an adjunct professor in the Journalism Department at Howard University.

Joy Moore is the author of The Power of Presence: Be a Voice in Your Child’s Ear Even When You’re Not with Them. A book edited especially for single parents, working parents and caregivers who are concerned about the time they spend away from their parents.

Moore serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including Maryland Public Television and as board chair of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative. A national organization based in Baltimore, GHHI addresses the social determinants of health and racial equity through the creation of healthy, safe, and energy efficient housing.

Thomas Moore earned both her B.A. in Urban Communications and a M.A. in Broadcast Journalism at the American University in Washington, D.C. The proud grandmother of two, has three grown children. Daughters Nikki, an event planner, and Shani an attorney and screenwriter. Her son Wes, is the bestselling author of The Other Wes Moore and is Governor of Maryland, notably the first Black governor of Maryland and only the third in the U.S.

Joy Thomas Moore was born in Trelawney, Jamaica of a Cuban mother and Jamaican father.

Shanon Muir

Bio

Shanon Muir

Excellence in Entertainment Law Award

As Vice President, Enterprise Commercial Inclusion Strategy at The Walt Disney Company, Anastasia Ali leads a comprehensive, company-wide commercial strategy that deepens Disney’s relationship with new and existing Black consumers, in partnership with existing marketing and commercial business leads. In addition, she provides thought leadership by maintaining an ongoing pulse on Black communities through both traditional research and culturally relevant ways of listening and relationship building, normalizing reciprocity as a standard practice.

A dynamic and results-oriented marketing strategist with 15+ years of media and entertainment experience, most recently, Anastasia served as the Vice President of Marketing for The Walt Disney Studios. She joined the Company in 2013, and has developed custom marketing campaigns for dozens of Disney films and series, including “Aladdin,” as well as Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” “What If…?,” and “Ms. Marvel.” She also led the multicultural marketing campaign for the Oscar-winning Disney and Pixar film, “Soul.” Anastasia co-founded Disney’s Black Employee Resource Group, The Bond, and Disney Studio Marketing’s inaugural Center of Excellence for multicultural marketing, rePRESENT.

Prior to joining Disney, Anastasia produced content for a global audience on digital and cable platforms including BET.com’s groundbreaking web series “Buppies,” which garnered a viewership of over five million. She produced TV One’s first scripted show “Love That Girl!” which was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards and won the Visionary Award from the National Association for Multiculturalism in Communications. She also worked in celebrity brand management, where she brokered deals with Toyota, P&G, the United Negro College Fund and the Ministry of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago.

Anastasia obtained a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Brown University. She is proudly Afro-Latina and Indo-Caribbean; her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Panamá and Trinidad.

2022 Honorees

Danielle Pinnock

Bio

Danielle Pinnock

Actress

Danielle Pinnock is a dynamic actress-creator-writer who is quickly establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic and versatile new talents.

She currently stars as a series regular on CBS’s new comedy series, GHOSTS, which premiered on October 7, 2021 on CBS in their prime Thursday Night comedy block, and has ranked as the #1 most-watched new comedy series of the Fall TV season. It has been renewed for a second season. Danielle has a truly hilarious, breakout role on the ensemble as ‘Alberta’, a Prohibition-era lounge singer turned ghost who is trapped in a modern-day country estate recently inherited by two unexpecting new tenants.

As a creator, it was recently announced that her adult-aimed animated series, UNMENTIONABLES—about mismatched underwear and the millennial human who wears them—is being developed for television by Emmy-winning producer Anthony Hemingway and Taraji P. Henson. Danielle co-created the series with Emmy-nominated Punam Patel (Netflix’s SPECIAL).

Television audiences will recognize Danielle from four seasons on the hit CBS comedy, YOUNG SHELDON, where she recurs as ‘Ms. Ingram’, Sheldon’s math teacher. She has also memorably recurred opposite Ray Romano and Peter Bogdanovich in EPIX’s GET SHORTY; and recently guest-starred on HBO’s Emmy- nominated A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW, created and executive produced by Robin Thede and Issa Rae. Her other notable guest appearances include NBC’s THIS IS US, ABC’s SCANDAL, and Hulu’s DOLLFACE, among others. In addition, her voice work has been heard on Netflix’s BOSS BABY: BACK IN BUSINESS, Cartoon Network’s THUNDERCATS ROAR, Apple+’s DOUG UNPLUGS, and Peacock’s WHERE’S WALDO?

Danielle is also developing a pilot of her viral sketch series, HASHTAG BOOKED, co-created with LaNisa Renee Frederick, which has received over 20 million views and a Webby Award for its painfully-funny depiction of the very real challenges black actors face at predominantly white casting agencies. Forbes called it a “hilarious” short-form series that helped the world “laugh, to keep from crying” during the pandemic. In fact, Danielle kept us laughing throughout the entire quarantine, also the creative genius behind the viral #Bridgerton recaps, DAPHNE’S DIARY, which garnered 2 million views, hysterically recapping the full season of the hit Shonda Rhimes series in 15-second, viral-worthy clips.

Mentored by Anna Deavere Smith, Danielle is a classically-trained stage actress and playwright, notable for her solo show, BODY/COURAGE, a rich exploration of body acceptance which she created from over 300 real-life interview subjects whose words and spirits she evokes in a thrilling one-woman show. She has also appeared Off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Fringe in the prize-winning play, IN CONFLICT; and has performed at major regional theaters including Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, Goodman Theatre in Chicago, and D.C.’s famed Kennedy Center, among many others.

Raised in Northern New Jersey by her mother and grandmother, Pinnock is a proud first-generation Jamaican-American. She received her BA in Communications and Theatre from Temple University and graduated with First Distinction Honors with an MFA in Acting from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

April King

Bio

Photo credit: Nisha Espy

April King

Talent Agent – William Morris Endeavor

April King returned to William Morris Endeavor’s talent department in April 2022, where she started her career at its predecessor The William Morris Agency in 2004. Her clients include Alexis Floyd, Daveed Diggs, Janelle Monae, Keri Hilson, Letoya Luckett, Luke James and Thuso Mbedu. She has previously worked with Christina Milian, Keke Palmer, Ne-Yo, Quinta Brunson and Teyana Taylor.

She was a Talent Agent at ICM Partners for 9 years, primarily securing opportunities in film, television (scripted and non-scripted), theatre and podcasts for the agency’s multi-hyphenate clients, in addition to working with traditional actors.

April is a graduate of Williams College, where she received her degree in History. She previously earned her International Baccalaureate from the Mahindra United World College of India. She is a proud Jamaican, where she grew up in Ocho Rios and attended Campion College and Knox College at the secondary level. She is the mother of 4-year-old son Leo and 1-year-old daughter Jade, and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Elon Johnson

Bio

Elon Johnson

Head of Development – Tyler Perry Studios

Elon D. Johnson is the Senior Creative Executive, Head of Development at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. As lead of this wing, Elon’s work consists of discovering, fielding, creating, elevating, developing and producing TV series, TV films, feature films, and OTT content.

With more than a decade of experience in television and film, this Emmy Award-nominated producer, NABJ Award and Gracie Award recipient, has facilitated in the creation and execution of various critically acclaimed shows across several networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, MTV, VH1, BET). Her tenure in television began as a writer and producer at MTV, followed by a senior writing position at BET, where she earned a Cable Positive Award. Elon worked as a talk show producer at NBC and as a Senior Producer at SONY Entertainment in the Development division before becoming the Consulting Producer on Harpo Productions’ The Nate Berkus Show. Elon also served as a Show Producer at Anderson, Anderson Cooper’s daily talk show where she received her Emmy nod; and Co-Executive Producer for several of VH1’s reality reunions. She spent four years as an in-house Executive Producer and Creative Executive at BET/Viacom overseeing more than a dozen, multi-genre shows a year before accepting the position at Tyler Perry Studios. Most recently, Elon led the development and production of the BET+ scripted drama All The Queen’s Men as well as the revamped specials of The Tyler Perry Show.

As the grandchild of immigrants, Elon has maintained close ties to her family roots in Barbados, working on a number of international projects.

Elon, a Brooklyn native, is a graduate of Columbia University in the City of New York, now residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Karen Grant-Selma

Bio

Karen S. Grant-Selma

SVP, Head of Business & Legal Affairs – The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)

Karen Selma-Grant, a Miami native and daughter of Jamaican immigrants, currently serves as the head of the business and legal affairs department at OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. In addition to negotiating talent, production and license deals for both scripted and unscripted programming, her role includes overseeing OWN standards & practices, international sales, intellectual property, human resources, union administration, insurance, participations, rights management and risk assessment.

Since arriving at OWN, Karen has been instrumental in negotiating deals related to the network’s scripted programming and acclaimed drama series such as Queen Sugar, David Makes Man, The Kings of Napa and the continuation of the courtroom drama, All Rise, with its move from CBS to OWN. On the unscripted side, she helped shepherd the network’s first franchise which began with Love & Marriage: Huntsville and has now led to the addition of Love & Marriage: DC, along with other fan favorites such as Super Soul Sunday, Ready to Love and Put A Ring On It. In the midst of the chaotic months of 2020, she supervised the team in its efforts to bring clarity and conversation to the issues of race, the pandemic and the election as they brought town halls and TV specials to the viewers under the OWN Spotlight banner, like Oprah & 100 Black Fathers, Speak Sis and Where Do We Go From Here, which was simulcast across Discovery’s 19 U.S. networks and various platforms around the world, reaching over 18 million viewers. Karen also presided over OWN’s introduction to the holiday movie space in an effort to fill the audience’s desire to see a lighthearted TV movie with a cast or a storyline that captures the culture and represents the African-American experience.

Immediately prior to joining OWN, Karen handled business and legal affairs for DreamWorks Animation, leading a new focus in development and production of both scripted and unscripted live action series. Karen’s experience with business and legal affairs for entertainment companies spans over 20 years, including eight years as vice president of business & legal affairs at ITV Studios America and positions at Live Nation Productions, Universal Pictures, Maker Studios, AMC Networks and NBCUniversal. She began her transactional career in private practice under the tutelage of Nina Shaw at the firm currently known as Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.

Karen was recognized by Variety Magazine with inclusion on the list of the Top Lawyers in Hollywood in its 2020 Legal Impact Report.

Karen holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Miami and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (LA) and is on the Board of Councilors for the USC Gould School of Law.

2021 Honorees

Golda Rosheuvel

Bio


Photo credit: The Masons
Stylist: Georgia Medley,
Hair Stylist: Sheree Jourdan,
Makeup: Kenneth Soh

 

Golda Rosheuvel

Actress

Golda Rosheuvel is a Guyanese-British actress and singer. Born in Guyana to a Guyanese father and an English mother, she moved to England when she was five.

Golda’s notable theatre roles include Serena in Porgy and Bess, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and a female Othello in Othello.

She plays Queen Charlotte in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton produced by Shonda Rhimes and is set to play Shadout Mapes in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (Warner Bros.) 2021.

Sandra Lindsay

Bio


Sandra Lindsay

Director of Nursing – Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Dr. Sandra Lindsay, is Director of Nursing for critical care at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York. Lindsay has more than 26 years of nursing experience, majority of which have been in critical care.

Lindsay and her siblings were raised in Jamaica by their grandparents. Lindsay moved to the United States in 1986 and graduated from Borough of Manhattan Community College in 1994 as valedictorian of her nursing program. She then joined the team at Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill Hospital as a registered nurse in the oncology department. After three years in this specialty, she pursued her dream of becoming a critical care nurse, working as a bedside nurse in various critical care units before being offered a leadership role. Before assuming the director role, she served as the nurse manager for the adult medical intensive care unit at Lenox Hill Hospital for more than seven years.

Lindsay’s educational accomplishments include a Baccalaureate degree in nursing from St. Joseph’s College, a Master of Science in nursing from Herbert Lehman College, and a Master of Business Administration from Hofstra University. In March 2021, Lindsay completed a Doctor of Health Sciences degree with a concentration in global health and leadership and organizational behavior from A. T. Still University.

On Monday, December 14, 2020, Lindsay was the first person in the United States to be vaccinated. She is a fierce advocate for vaccine confidence, especially in underserved communities. When not busy working, she enjoys traveling, reading leadership books and articles, gardening, mentoring, and Transcendental Meditation.



Steve McQueen

Bio


Photo credit: BBC Studios

Steve McQueen

Artist and Filmmaker

Academy Award-winner Steve McQueen is a British artist and filmmaker of Grenadian Heritage. His critically acclaimed first feature HUNGER (2008), starring Michael Fassbender as an IRA hunger-striker, won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008. He re-teamed with Fassbender for his follow-up feature SHAME (2011) for which Fassbender won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best Actor.

McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013) dominated awards season, winning, amongst many others, the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and AAFCA Awards for Best Picture while McQueen received DGA, Academy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe directing nods.

His third feature WIDOWS (2018) was one of the best-reviewed films of the year and starred Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Elizabeth Debicki, and Michelle Rodriguez.

His most recent project, SMALL AXE (2020) is an anthology series that comprises five original films about resilience and triumph in London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s through the early 80s. Three of the five films in the series played at the 58th New York Film Festival with Lovers Rock opening the fest. SMALL AXE won the award for Best Picture from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and McQueen will receive the Storyteller Award (TV) for the series at this year’s 16th Annual Final Draft Awards.

McQueen is the recipient of many accolades for his work as a visual artist. In 2016, he received the Johannes Vermeer Award at the Hague. In that same year, the British Film Institute awarded him with a Fellowship. McQueen won the Turner Prize in 1999. His artwork is exhibited and held in major museums around the world.

A retrospective was recently exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago and at the Schaulager in Basel. Tate Modern and Tate Britain were home to two critically acclaimed shows in 2019/2020, Year 3, and a Retrospective Steve McQueen.

In 2020, McQueen was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honors List for his services to the Arts.

Kanneh-Mason Family

Bio


Photo credit: Jake Turney

Kanneh-Mason Siblings

Musician

What makes the Kanneh-Mason siblings so remarkable? Is it the fact that all seven of them seem equally obsessed with music? They are, by order of age, Isata (24), Braimah (22), Sheku (21), Konya (20), Jeneba (18), Aminata (15) and Mariatu (11), and all play either piano, violin or cello or a combination. Or is it the fact that their parents Stuart, who hails from the Caribbean Island of Antigua, and Kadiatu, born in West African, Sierra Leone – neither of them musicians but both musical – did not go down the more obvious hot-housing route with specialist music schools, but instead opted for state education in Nottingham at a school that truly integrated music into the curriculum? Or is it the fact that they are equally at home playing Bob Marley, African American spirituals, Mozart or medleys from the musicals?

In 2016 cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was the first-ever black musician to win the coveted BBC Young Musician, a competition that has been running since 1978. But he is not the only one in the family to have made his mark there, with pianist sisters Isata and Jeneba reaching the keyboard finals in 2014 and 2018, respectively. The family have also performed at the BAFTAs and in 2018 Sheku reached an audience of two billion worldwide when he played at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Sheku and Isata have both made best-selling recordings and all seven have released a new album built around Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals with new poems by Michael Morpurgo, of War Horse fame, read by Morpurgo and Olivia Colman, together with irresistible illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark.

2019 Honorees

Euzhan Palcy

Bio

Euzhan Palcy

Martinique - Director
Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award

Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments

Biography:

The first black female director produced by a major Hollywood studio (MGM).
The only woman who directed Marlon Brando.

The first black director who directed an actor to an Oscar nomination (tied with Spike).

The first female and the first black director who won a Cesar Award (French Oscar).

The only black director & only woman filmmaker who managed to direct an anti-apartheid narrative feature film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence.

Born in Martinique, Euzhan Palcy is a film director, writer and producer. In 1983, she directed SUGAR CANE ALLEY (Rue Cases Negres) putting the French West Indies on the world cinema stage. This critically acclaimed movie went on to win the prestigious Cesar award (French Academy Award) for best first film making Euzhan Palcy the first black person (male or female) to be granted this prestigious award. SUGAR CANE ALLEY won more than 17 international awards including the Silver Lion and Best Actress awards at the Venice Film Festival.

Euzhan Palcy successfully brought back Marlon Brando to cinema screens with the anti-apartheid film, A DRY WHITE SEASON. She travelled to South Africa defying the special section of the apartheid regime with the help of Dr. Nthato Motlana, President Nelson Mandela’s personal physician and friend, who smuggled her into Soweto undercover. She received the Orson Welles award for this film in Los Angeles in 1989. After his historic release from Robben Island in 1990, the newly elected President Mandela watched the film and invited her to South Africa in 1995 (during the first anniversary of his election). Therefore, she directed and produced the never before seen interview titled MY CHAT WITH PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA.

Euzhan wanted A Dry White Season to be “Cinema Verité” — that is to reflect the truth — at all costs. She was so passionate about creating an accurate portrayal that she traveled to Soweto undercover to research the riots. With a false cover of a recording artist looking for singers for her new album she was secretly interviewing victims of the apartheid regime thus eluding the South African secret services.

The regime felt particularly threatened at this time and had stepped up it’s actions against the opposition. A Dry White Season was finally released in September, 1989. South Africa banned it, enraged by the truths exposed of what they were actually doing to the people who opposed them. MGM had to continue engaging the two bodyguards to protect Euzhan Palcy throughout the promotion of the film.

In 1992, she wrote and directed the musical fantasy film SIMEON with Kassav, the Godfathers of Zouk music and premiered the Caribbean Musical Fantasy genre. Technically, SIMEON was the first French movie produced with CGI VFX & digital scans. Palcy won the Silver Raven Award at the Brussels International Fantasy Film Festival competing against Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 3 & Joe Dante’s Matinée. She also won the Public award in Philadelphia. In 2011, The MoMA acquired a copy of SIMEON for its permanent collection. Thereafter, she filmed the documentary trilogy AIME CESAIRE: A VOICE FOR HISTORY (1994, reissued in 2006 as AIME CESAIRE: A VOICE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY) and directed and coproduced RUBY BRIDGES (Disney, 1998). President Bill Clinton and Disney CEO Michael Eisner introduced the movie from the White House, when it first aired. THE KILLING YARD (a Paramount/Showtime film) followed in 2001. The film received the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award for “Best Film About Justice”.

In 2006, she directed the French documentary PARCOURS DE DISSIDENTS (THE JOURNEY OF THE DISSIDENTS) which tells the incredible story of 5,000 young French West Indians fighters (boys and girls) during World War II. Her struggle for their national recognition was officially acknowledged by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy who bestowed them France’s highest award: the Legion of Honor on behalf of all those courageous war veterans. In 2007, she directed the historical drama, THE BRIDES OF BOURBON ISLAND, about the colonization of the Reunion Island during the 17th century. That same year to mark the Bicentennial of the 1807 Abolition of Slave Trade Act in the UK, The National Maritime Museum of of London hosted her first retrospective.

In a poll by the BBC/British Film Institute’ citing The 100 Most Iconic Black Screen Icons of the Last 100 years, Euzhan Palcy ranked among the top three in both the female and directors categories.

In 2011, President Sarkozy asked her to create a “short cinematic synopsis” to launch France’s National Tribute to Aimé Césaire at the Panthéon; Cannes Film Festival paid her a Tribute and The New York City’s Museum of Modern Art organized her mid-career retrospective. Later that year, Palcy was decorated with the Officer Medal of the National Order of Merit by President Sarkozy. On June 1 2014, for the 70th anniversary of WWII Normandy and Provence landings, President Hollande hosted the presidential screening of PARCOURS DE DISSIDENTS (THE JOURNEY OF THE DISSIDENTS) at the Elysée Palace as a National Tribute to the Dissidents. The heroes in her film received a full week of tributes at the Presidential Palace, the Invalides, the National Assembly, the Senate, the Panthéon and in Normandy.

On April 28, 2017, as part of the Freedom Day, the Republic of South Africa bestowed upon Euzhan Palcy the Order of the Companions of Oliver Reginald Tambo “for her excellent contribution to the liberation struggle by exposing South African social injustices through an international film that strengthened the revolution against apartheid”. This order is the highest honor in South Africa for a foreign dignitary.

On March 8, 2018, The Telegraph included Palcy in its all-time list of 35 Women who changed the history of cinema while The International Slavery Museum of Liverpool inducted her on its Black Achiever’s Wall as part of its commemoration of the centennial of the woman’s vote. Euzhan Palcy‘s films have undoubtedly a huge impact initiating humanitarian efforts globally for causes extremely important to her core values as a filmmaker and a person. She manages her time between her humanitarian work (helping disabled or very ill young people to rebuild themselves and achieve their dreams) and the development of new European and American film projects.

The Filmmaker holds the keys to the cities of New York, Atlanta, New Orleans and Sarassota, Fl. In France, she is a distinguished recipient of the French Legion of Honor for her work and social causes. A high school, a movie theater and a road bear her name.

Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments

Some Distinctions:

  • Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honor (Decree 2019/01).
  • Officer of the National Order of Merit.
  • Grand Companion of the Order of OR Tambo (South-Africa).
  • Knight of Les Arts et des Leares.
  • Medal of the city of Bordeaux.
  • Gold Medal of Martinique.
  • Citizen of Honor of New York, New Orleans, Atlanta & Sarasoaa Fl. 2018 The Telegraph (UK) 35 Women who changed the history of Cinema. Inductee on the Black Achievers’ Wall of the International Slavery. Museum for the centenary of the women’s vote in the UK.
  • 2016: Life Time Achievement Award of the first Positive Cinema Week of Cannes The WRAP: 17 Women Who Revolutionized Hollywood From Mary Pickford to Oprah Winfrey, here are some of the most influential women in Hollywood. Euzhan Palcy is one of the five living women listed.
  • 2015 Tribute to Euzhan Palcy by the American Cinematheque
  • 2013 Unveiling of the Euzhan Palcy Road
  • 2013 Henri Langlois World Cinema Honor Award
  • 2013 First woman President of the Fespaco
  • 2011 ELLE.fr magazine’s 17 Most Influential Women of the Planet
  • 2011 Euzhan Palcy RetrospecOve at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art
  • 2011 Cannes Film FesOval Pays Tribute to Euzhan Palcy
  • 2010 The Most Powerful Black Women in Europe
  • 1998 Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
  • 1994 John Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts
  • 1989 People magazine’s 10 Most Inspiring Women
  • 1989 First black female director produced by a major Hollywood studio
  • 1984 First female and first black director winner of a French Oscar.
  • 1983 First black winner of the Venice Film Festival Silver Lion

Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments

Filmography:

  • 2015 My Chat with President Mandela
  • 2014 Saving Nadine (Humanitarian rescue)
  • 2011 Aime Cesaire “short cinematic synopsis” for the France’s National Tribute to Aimé Césaire at the Pantheon *
  • 2010 The Journey of the Dissidents & WWII French West-Indian Maquisards DVD collector 8h30 of video
  • 2008 Cesaire/Senghor: l’Ami fondamental
  • 2007 The Brides of Bourbon Island
  • 2006 The Journey of the Dissidents (Hosted by President Hollande of France in 2014)*
  • 2001 The Killing Yard
  • 1998 Ruby Bridges (premiered by President Clinton)
  • 1994 Aimé Césaire: a Voice for History /Aime Cesaire A Voice for the XXI Century
  • 1992 Siméon
  • 1990 Hassane: segment of “How are the Kids” A UNICEF & Red Cross sponsored six-films anthology produced for the signature of the UN convention for the rights of children (with Jerry LewisJ
  • 1989 A Dry White Season*
  • 1983 Sugar Cane Alley
  • 1982 The Devil’s Workshop
  • 1975 The Messenger


* A Dry White Season was screened by President Mandela. He then invited Euzhan Palcy to visit him for a week in South Africa / Ruby Bridges was introduced by President Clinton on ABC from the White House

An excerpt of Aime Cesaire: a Voice for the 21st Century introduced President Sarkozy’s eulogy for the NaOonal Tribute of France to Aime Cesaire at the Panthéon & The Toussaint Louverture Award by Unesco /

*The Journey of the Dissidents was hosted by French President Hollande at the Elysee Palace for the celebraOon of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy and Provence WWII Landings.

Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments

Movie Awards (partial):

  • A DRY WHITE SEASON
  • 2016 Trophée d’Honneur of the 1st Positive Cinema Week of Cannes Film Festival
  • 2015 Sabela International RecogniOon Award (South African Oscar) for Mandela Day by the Durban International Film Festival
  • 1990 Orson Welles Award
  • 1990 Tokyo International Film Festival Grand Prix nominee
  • 1990 PoliOcal Film Society Award for Human Rights nominee
  • 1990 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Film Award nominee
  • 1990 Academy Award, Golden Globe & BAFTA nomination for Marlon Brando
  • 1990 Tokyo International Film Festival Best Actor Award
  • SIMEON
  • 2013 Cannes Classics official selection
  • 1995 Fespaco Thomas Sankara Institute for Black People’s Award
  • 1993 Brussels International Fantasy Film Festival Silver Raven Award
  • 1993 Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema: Public Award
  • 1993 Milan Film Festival Youth Award
  • 1993 Montreal Film Festival “Vue d’Afrique” Ban Zil Kreyol Award
  • THE KILLING YARD
  • 2002 Silver Gavel Award by the American Bar Association
  • SUGAR CANE ALLEY (Rue Cases Nègres)
  • 2011 Cannes Classics official selection
  • 1985 Fespaco Public Award (First movie to receive the award)
  • 1985 Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Award
  • 1984 Houston International WordFest Special Jury Award
  • 1984 Cesar (French Oscar) for Best First Film (A first for a black person)
  • 1983 Venice Film Festival Silver Lion (A first for a black person)
  • 1983 Best Actress Award (A first for a black person)
  • 1983 Unicef Prize
  • 1983 OCIC Award (now Signis Award)
  • RUBY BRIDGES (Wonderful World of Disney)
  • 1999 Christopher Award
  • 1999 National Educational Media Network Gold Apple Award
  • 1999 Young Artist Award Best performance by a young artist under 10
  • 1999 Image Awards nominee
  • 1999 American Cinema Editors nominee
  • 1998 Humanitas Prize (for the screenwriter)
  • 1998 Young Star awards nominee
  • AIME CESAIRE: A VOICE FOR HISTORY
  • 1997 National Black Programming Award of Excellence

Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments

Presidential & Governmental Appointments

2013 -2015 Appointed by French President François Hollande, member of the National Committee for the Memory & History of Slavery (CNMHE)
2011-2013 Appointed Chair & Member of the advisoring committee of the Martinique Film Fund at its inception
1992 -1995 Appointed by French President Miaerrand, member of the High Committee for the housing of disadvantaged people at its inception
1992 Appointed by French President Miaerrand, Member of the High Council of Francophonie at its inception

Robin Petgrave

Bio

Robin Petgrave

Jamaica - Founder & Executive Director, Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum
Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award

Robin Charles Petgrave was born in Jamaica as the youngest of three sisters and one brother who passed away in 1997. While his mother worked two full-time jobs to make ends meet, Robin and his sister Florence spent three years in foster care before coming to Boston, Massachusetts at age ten. Robin grew up in Belmont where he noticed people close to him were influenced by the wrong crowd, and he saw their lives crumble from drugs and alcohol. He became determined to become successful and avoid self-destructive behaviors at all costs. Robin explored his passion for flying by joining the Civil Air Patrol, immersed himself in extracurricular activities, and blossomed as a track star in high school.

While in college, he enjoyed working as a summer camp counselor. On a track scholarship, he graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Acting and a minor in Communications. He later qualified for the Olympics, but moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. It was in Los Angeles that he discovered flight school, and obtained his Commercial Helicopter Pilot License and Certified Flight Instructor’s Certificate. Shortly after, be started his own helicopter company that grew to a $3.5 million a year business earning him features in numerous books, magazines and television appearances including the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Robin created Positive Vibrations in 1990 when a local school invited his first company, Bravo Helicopters & Wing, for a career day landing. In 1992 he met a single mother with a troubled son. Robin was compelled to mentor Richard Washington, and discovered a passion for helping kids and the community.

Robin’s vision was to honor WWII’s Tuskegee Airmen by continuing their legacy with the next generation of pilots and provide tools for youth to learn about aviation as a real life application of math and science. He founded Torrance Aeronautical Museum in 1997. In 2000, Compton’s Mayor Eric Perrodin invited him to re-locate the organization to the Compton Airport. Seeing the greater need for at risk youth programs in Compton, Robin moved his small staff of two and a few desks with computers to the 7,000 square foot hangar, and re-named the organization Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (TAM). Robin envisioned TAM’s Compton airport location as being an entry point for underrepresented youth to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers and enrichment. TAM’s purpose was simple: teach inner city kids about flying, support their academic achievement, and instill in them the importance of their education.

Today, the non-profit museum boasts a variety of static displays and historical artifacts, an annual Arts & Aviation Career Expo, and is the umbrella agency for the Aero Squad fixed wing flight school and after-school program in its Tuskegee Airmen Learning Center. TAM has become a living classroom bringing aviation history to life and empowering the dreams of youth to take flight. TAM has been a safe haven for the youth in the community since it’s inception evolving into a safe place for learning and building positive relationships with other adults and peers. Robin instills a “second home” culture. When a youth joins TAM, they not only join a family, but become part of a cultivation process designed to empower them to excel in their personal, academic, and future professional lives. Under his leadership, TAM envisions a place where all community youth receive the support they need to graduate high school, go to college, and become future contributors in the fields of science, aeronautics, technology, and to the well-being of society. TAM serves the community from 8am to 8pm daily, and Robin currently volunteers 100% of his time as Executive Director. Most youth do not have access to aviation-centered enrichment on this level, let alone an impoverished area like Compton.

Robin and TAM have received numerous awards, recognitions and honors for service to at- risk youth, including the General Noel F. Parrish Award presented by the National Order of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.; the Astronaut Ronald McNair Award presented by National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees and the Living Legend Award presented by LA County Board of Supervisors. Robin and TAM have been featured in People Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Oprah, CNN, AIM Zones on AOL to name a few, and have been recognized by Senator Roderick D. Wright, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, and California State Assemblyman Isadore Hall. In November 2011, Robin received the Bank of America Local Heroes Award.

Robin is also a highly sought after motivational speaker through his “Positive Vibrations” program. He is a stunt pilot with celebrity status and has several movie credits to his name. He privately funded many of the museum’s programs and equipment needs. Robin holds fast his belief that all children are capable of achieving success.

In addition to receiving his BA in Acting and Communications from the University of Connecticut, Robin is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor, helicopter pilot, airplane pilot, the museum’s Executive Director, President & Chief Pilot of Celebrity Helicopters, and mentor. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Myra; daughter Little Robin and son Neeko.

Amanda Seales

Bio

Amanda Seales

Grenada - Comedian & Actress
Excellence in Entertainment

Comedian, actress, writer, producer and more, Amanda Seales doesn’t just make you laugh, she makes change!

With an uncanny knack for taking serious topics (racism, rape culture, sexism, police brutality, etc.) and with humor, making them relatable and interesting, she combines intellectual wit, silliness and a pop culture obsession to create her unique style of smart funny content for the stage and screens.

Along with performing stand up across the globe and touring colleges doing comedic lectures, this former MTV VJ with a master’s in African American studies from Columbia University is a series regular as Tiffany on, HBO’s “Insecure”, guest starred on, “Blackish, will release her debut stand up special, I Be Knowin on HBO January 2019, is the creator/host of the hit live music comedy game show, “Smart Funny & Black”, speaks truth to change via her wildly popular Instagram, and weekly podcast, “Small Doses”, which will have an accompanying book releasing Fall 2019 via Abrams Books.

A Jedi Khaleesi with a patronus that’s a Black Panther with wings, Grenadian-American Amanda Seales continues to keep audiences laughing, thinking, and living in their truth!

Gordon Bobb

Bio

Gordon Bobb

Guyana - Partner, Delshaw Moonves et al.
Excellence in Entertainment Law

Michele Weaver is on her way to becoming a major force in Hollywood.

This Haitian-American most recently landed a series regular role in the new NBC pilot, COUNCIL OF DADS as well as a lead role in Netflix’s Anthology Dolly Parton Theatre ‘If I Had Wings” with the emmy-award winning Gerald McRaney, Delta Burke, Ben Lawson and Brooke Elliott. She also starred as Nuri in OWN’s straight to series, hour-long romantic dramedy LOVE IS _, created by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil.

On the big screen, she most recently shot the thriller NIGHTHAWKS with Chace Crawford. She also starred in ILLICIT with Vivica A. Fox, SISTERCODE with Amber Rose, Drew Sidora and Eva Marcille and Syfy’s 2 LAVA 2 LANTULA. Her other television credits include ABC Family’s SWITCHED AT BIRTH and FOX’s COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE, among many others.

She was first noticed as the star in two short films; the 1960s musical DIANA LEIGH and the drama THE DAUGHTERS OF EVE. She also played Dorothy Dandridge in THE NICOLAS BROTHERS TRIBUTE and MARILYN ‘A NEW MUSICAL’ at the 1400 seat Alex Theater.

Weaver attended Pepperdine University and majored in Theatre Acting and Media Production under a Theater Arts Scholarship. She traveled with the theater program to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. She is from Colorado and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Michele Weaver

Bio

Michele Weaver

Haiti - Actress
Rising Sun Award

Michele Weaver is on her way to becoming a major force in Hollywood.

This Haitian-American most recently landed a series regular role in the new NBC pilot, COUNCIL OF DADS as well as a lead role in Netflix’s Anthology Dolly Parton Theatre ‘If I Had Wings” with the emmy-award winning Gerald McRaney, Delta Burke, Ben Lawson and Brooke Elliott. She also starred as Nuri in OWN’s straight to series, hour-long romantic dramedy LOVE IS _, created by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil.

On the big screen, she most recently shot the thriller NIGHTHAWKS with Chace Crawford. She also starred in ILLICIT with Vivica A. Fox, SISTERCODE with Amber Rose, Drew Sidora and Eva Marcille and Syfy’s 2 LAVA 2 LANTULA. Her other television credits include ABC Family’s SWITCHED AT BIRTH and FOX’s COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE, among many others.

She was first noticed as the star in two short films; the 1960s musical DIANA LEIGH and the drama THE DAUGHTERS OF EVE. She also played Dorothy Dandridge in THE NICOLAS BROTHERS TRIBUTE and MARILYN ‘A NEW MUSICAL’ at the 1400 seat Alex Theater.

Weaver attended Pepperdine University and majored in Theatre Acting and Media Production under a Theater Arts Scholarship. She traveled with the theater program to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. She is from Colorado and currently resides in Los Angeles.

2018 Honorees

Lisa Marie Boykin

Bio

Lisa Marie Boykin

Cuba
SVP, Business & Legal Affairs/Television Group Annapurna Pictures
Excellence in Entertainment Law Award

Born in Philadelphia, PA and raised by Cuban and African American grandparents, Lisa Marie Boykin grew up in Sumter, SC where she attended Sumter High School. She holds a BA in Government/Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from NYU School of Law.

Lisa started her legal career as an associate in the Banking & Institutional Investment group at the Wall Street law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. In her current role in the newly formed television group at Annapurna Pictures, she’s responsible for negotiating the above-the-line talent deals with the writers/directors/performers on Annapurna’s television series. She also handles the day-to-day production matters for the television group and negotiates the deals to distribute the Annapurna television series premium cable and new media platforms.

Prior to joining Annapurna Pictures, she worked in the legal department at The Walt Disney Company. She’s also served as production and legal counsel at Nuevo TV, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. and PBS.

One of Lisa’s proudest professional accomplishments is the NY Emmy award-winning documentary film she worked on called PastPort: Cuba—The Search for Nicolita, which follows a fashion designer’s trip with her parents back to Cuba, a country they left over 50 years ago.

Lisa lives in the Baldwin Hills section of Los Angeles, CA.

T’Shaka Lee

Bio

T’Shaka Lee

Montserrat
Partner, Deloitte
Spirit of the Caribbean Award

T’Shaka Lee was born in the tiny island nation of Montserrat, where he spent his early childhood and his final three years of high school. He holds an MBA (high honors) and BBA (magna cum laude) from Pace University and is a licensed CPA in NY and CA.

T’Shaka is the Global & US Audit Process Transformation Leader at Deloitte, where he is responsible for transforming the way in which the firm executes and delivers its services through design and redefining process and the use of technology and innovative solutions. He has more than 18 years of professional experience in advising clients on financial reporting, operations and compliance (including tax,) mergers and acquisitions, finance transformation, IPO readiness, and shared service center and center of excellence design and implementation.

T’Shaka is the proud father of three sons, Dayyan, Jamal, and Dohryien. His interests outside of work, include his family, coaching football for his sons, cricket, food, reading, personal investing, and supporting charitable causes. T’Shaka is the past-president and tenured board member of the Southern California Cricket Association, and has served as a board and/or advisory council member for The Posse Foundation and the SRP Foundation.

Lloyd Greig, M.D.

Bio

Lloyd Greig, M.D.

Jamaica
Physician, Cedars Sinai Medical Group; Founding Member & Chairman of the Board, United Support of Artists of Africa (USA for Africa)
Caribbean Heritage Humanitarian Award

Lloyd Byron Greig was born in the town of Savannah La Mar on the island of Jamaica. The second eldest of four children, he was the first of his siblings to leave Jamaica and pursue his graduate studies and, ultimately, a career in medicine in the United States. Prior to leaving Jamaica, he taught geography at Mannings High School and De Cartaret College. He graduated from Fisk University and earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College.

Dr. Greig completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He worked as a Research Physician at the Upjohn Pharmaceutical company in 1974 and began private practice in Los Angeles, California in 1975. He joined Cedars Sinai Medical Group in 2000 where he currently practices today.

Dr. Greig is a founding member of United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) and currently serves as Chairman of the board. Throughout his career he has donated his time to various charities aligned with his profession and personal passions. He has served on the Board of Directors of Cedars Sinai Health Associates as well as the Board of the Lamaze Organization. He has been a member of the Board of Overseers for the Tufts University School of Nutrition and the Advisory Committee for California Health Policy and the National Nutrition Cognitive Action Committee.

Dr. Greig has been honored with the Presidential Citation from the 42nd President of the United States for his highly valued assistance with the Clinton Health Plan. He was the recipient of The Presidents International Humanitarian Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the NAACP and a special award from the Tigray Development Association of Ethiopia for assistance during the famine of 1985. He was also recognized by the Shelter Partnership in Los Angeles for work with the homeless.

Dr. Greig’s philanthropic work has also extended across the globe. He organized two medical missions to Mozambique Africa and has been a member of the HELPS medical mission to Guatemala.

Dr. Greig was named Physician of the year by the March of Dimes Foundation and was awarded thru Lifetime Teaching Award by the resident Physicians at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He was also awarded the Service Excellence award by the Health Network Foundation.

He has authored publications on Women’s health issues including 100 Questions and Answers about Uterine Fibroids, 100 Questions and Answers about Hysterectomy, and Alternative Procedures and “Placenta Acereta” for the American Journal of Obstetrical and Gynecology.

Dr. Greig is married to his wife of 47 years, Sally. They, along with their two daughters and one grandchild, all continue to reside in Los Angeles.

Jo-An & Glynn Turman

Bio

Lloyd Greig, M.D.

Vice-President of Entertainment Industry Partnerships & Real Estate Broker, Habitat for Humanity; Emmy Award Winner & Veteran Actor
Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award

Jo-An and Glynn Turman are community advocates and industry professionals who have left an indelible mark in the hearts of many.

Emmy® Award Winner & Veteran Actor Glynn Turman, all the way from little Travis in the original groundbreaking Broadway play “A Raisin in the Sun” opposite Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee to his recent stellar performances on OWN’s ‘Queen Sugar’ and ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ it seems Mr. Turman always has the word “Outstanding” next to his name. Known best for his memorable roles on ‘A Different World’, ‘The Wire’, ‘Cooley High’ and ‘House of Lies’ Glynn has been a celebrated actor for six decades starring on hundreds of television shows, in films, and plays. On screen and on stage, he certainly has mastered his craft, and after already receiving four “Lifetime Achievement Awards”, three NAACP Image Awards and other multiple nominations, Glynn is in a league of his own. Something you may not know but Glynn is also a writer, an accomplished DGA Director, owns his own production company, and serves on several Board of Directors, not to mention he’s a real cowboy, humanitarian and mentor. Glynn has also been inducted into the Western Heritage Black Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. Glynn was born and raised in New York, NY.

Jo-An Turman is the Vice President of Entertainment Industry Partnerships and Real Estate Broker for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. She has dedicated her life to helping others and has spent over 27 years advocating for low-income families and individuals. Jo-An has traveled the world building homes with Habitat for Humanity. She is well respected in the Industry and works with all genres of entertainment partners including actors, athletes, musicians, directors, producers, writers, entertainment execs, corporations and studios. She has crossed the threshold with all-time highs in fundraising for these great causes, has served on several prestigious boards including the American Camp Association. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Jo-An has roots in the island of Jamaica. She has a BA in Afro-American Studies and a Master’s Degree in Urban Education and Communications. She has been a Real Estate Broker for 30 years and holds a teaching credential.

Individually they have accomplished so much, but together they are most proud of being the co-founders of their own non-profit 501c (3) foundation, ‘The IX Winds Ranch Foundation’ which was founded in 1992 as a promise to the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King to help bring peace to the inner-city after the LA Riots. The foundation provides opportunities to disenfranchised inner-city and at-risk youth including attending a free western style summer camp “Camp GID D Up” on the Turman’s own 20 acre ranch, as well as employment and scholarship opportunities. Thousands of youth have been able to experience camp, attend black rodeos, attend Rodeo College and be mentored through the IX Winds Ranch Foundation.

The Turman’s are mentors, humanitarians, philanthropist and role models. The couple attributes their many blessings to their faith and their love of God. They are proud members of West Angeles Church of God In Christ under the leadership of Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.

The couple has one daughter together.