Honorees
2023 Honorees
Sharon Matthews
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Jo-An & Glynn Turman
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.
2017 Honorees
Grace Byers
Grace Byers
Cayman Islands
Actress on 20th Century Fox Television’s hit show EMPIRE.
Rising Sun Award
Grace Byers is a talented actress and dedicated activist who first entered into the spotlight with her breakout role as ‘Anika Calhoun’ on Fox’s smash hit series EMPIRE.
Grace attended college at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she received a B.A. in theater arts. Upon graduation, she was accepted into the University of California Irvine’s graduate program and obtained her M.F.A in acting.
A successful showcase took her from Los Angeles to New York City, where she performed professionally. Several theater productions, short films and national commercials led her to Chicago where she is currently filming EMPIRE.
Grace grew up in the Cayman Islands. As a multiracial young girl and Child Of Deaf Adults (CODA), Grace was bullied throughout her childhood. Her experiences have led her to write her first book, ‘’I Am Enough’ coming out in 2018. The book was born out of her impassioned desire to empower young girls against the negative effects of bullying.
In her spare time, she volunteers with the non-profit anti-bullying organization, Saving Our Daughters. She lives with her husband, actor Trai Byers and their little maltipoo, Baron Byers, in Los Angeles.
Anna Maria Horsford
Anna Maria Horsford
Antigua & Barbuda & Dominican Republic
Award Winning Actress
Life Achievement Award
Anna Maria Horsford has worked with directors Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Tyler Perry, and actors Meryl Streep, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ice Cube, Christopher Reeves, Lucille Ball, Lauren Bacall and Mickey Rooney.
The High School of Performing Arts graduate was born into a family of risk takers. Her father, Victor emigrated from Antigua, British West Indies and mother Lillian came from the Dominican Republic. He supported his family from his real estate holding and was the first Black owner of a super market in Harlem.
Ms. Horsford recently returned to television where she joined the cast of the daytime series, The Bold and The Beautiful, and is currently nominated for 2017 Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Vivienne Avant. The hit NBC series AMEN was her break through project, followed by The Wayans Bros. Both shows are currently in syndication.
Her guest spots have included some of TV highest rated programs; “New Girl,”‘ “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Bernie Mac,” ” Entourage,” and ” Everybody Hates Chris.
Ms. Horsford has left her indelible mark in a plethora of f ilms: A Madea Christmas, Our Family Wedding. Gridiron Gang, Street Smart, Minority Report, Along Came A Spider, Kiss The Girls, Set It Off , Presumed Innocent, St. Elmo’s Fire, How High, as well as two of the Friday series with Chris Tucker.
Although television has been very gracious, the award-winning actress has spread her talent behind the camera as well and is a member of the Director’s Guild of America.
Anna Maria Horsford was recently honored with the prestigious Ambassador of Tourism of Antigua and Barbuda. Her father was a Garveyite (following the Back to Africa teachings of Marcus Garvey and instilled in her “It’s not enough to do good for yourself , you have to do something for the generations that come after you.”
Anna Maria Horsford has taught drama therapy at the College of New Rochelle, NY. She conducted an acting workshop for the City Volunteer Corp in upstate New York. In addition she assisted her mentor Ellis Haizlip at a creative writing workshop at Rikers sland Correctional Facility through Hospital Audiences, Inc. She also sponsored and hosted a standup comedy festival, “Laughing Inside” at several New Jersey prisons.
In recognition of her philanthropic endeavors she has been recognized by The Department of Black Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, The Commitment of of Excellence and Humanity Award from Sigma Gamma Rho, The Generation of Light Award, The American Bible Society, The Annie Malone Children’s Home, St. Louis, MO, MADD, Celebrity Indianapolis 500 race, and 2010 UNCF Masked Ball and the Salute to Women in Leadership 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Honorable Roland Yorke
Honorable Roland Yorke
Belize
Consul General of Belize to Los Angeles, CA
Community Service Award
Roland Yorke has served as Consul General for Belize in Los Angeles for the last 9 years. Prior to coming to the Consulate, he worked as a Multi-Purpose Senior Center Director in the Second Superensial District for the County of Los Angeles.
His journey started in 1961 when he migrated to the United States and settled between the Bronx and Manhattan Bouroghs. Having always had an interest in community advocacy, he became attracted to leaders like Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jessie Gray and the then State Assembly Person Shirley Chisholm, who later ran for President of the United States in a Democrat Primary. It was as a consequence of her New York Legislation that ultimately enabled Roland to obtain a full scholarship to Onandaga Community College and later Syracuse University (SU). “Her Seek Legislation” gave educational opportunities to minorities in State of the New York.
Upon graduating from SU with a Sociology degree with emphasis on Public Administration and Advocacy, Consul General along with his wife Sylvia, moved to Los Angeles where members of his family resided and commenced working for Los Angeles County Department of Community & Senior Services.
As a consultant, he was assigned to review legislation impacting older persons, and organizing senior groups engaged in advocacy in the Second Supervisorial District. Both assignments enabled him to interact with most elected officials in the city, county, and state that represented the Second District.
He was also involved in assisting senior groups in lobbying local and State governments. By 1977 Roland was able to connect with the Los Angeles Belizean Diaspora and in 1978 a community organization by the name of The Concerned Belizean Association was established with a set of bylaws that made an indelible mark on Belizean Communities throughout the United States.
Always wanting to advance the envelope, CG Yorke joined with the then-Ambassador to the United States in forming a nationwide organization, billed as the Consortium for Belizean development.
But because of his love for politics, Roland joined in the formation of Friends of the United Democratic Party of Los Angeles, a support group to the United Democratic Party in Belize.
Once he discovered that a Caribbean organization named the Caribbean Action Lobby existed, he readily joined at the request of an invitation from Robert Farrell, then Councilman representing the 8th District in the City of Los Angeles.
While Mr. Yorke’s transition to the Consulate of Belize added to his ongoing drive to improve the quality of life for older persons for some 35 years, now he had the responsibility to serve the entire Belizean Community with an estimated population of 75 to 100,000.
The fact that cancer, particularly breast and cervical cancers seems to impact his community, the Consulate has conducted presentations on both issues twice annually.
The fact that cancer, particularly breast and cervical cancers seems to impact his community, the Consulate has conducted presentations on both issues twice annually. Although he speaks of retirement, the recent immigration issues has caused him to review his recent decision verses the need to assist those most traumatized by reckless rumors.
Jasmine Turner
Jasmine Turner
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
SVP, UBS Wealth Management
Legacy Award
Wealth management executive, cum laude college graduate, national spokesperson, world traveler, thirteen-time pageant holder, Jasmine Turner was born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, the eldest of four children to Emanuel and Pamela Turner. Her performance talents were first exhibited when she won a local junior high school pageant. She was salutatorian in her junior high school class of over 800 students. Four years later she graduated in the top 10% of her high school class and was voted outstanding senior by the American Legion. Her educational success was instrumental in building character, confidence and a desire to excel.
In 1977 Turner entered her first international competition. She won the 1977 Hal Jackson’s Miss Virgin Islands Talented Teen pageant and traveled to Hollywood, California where she was a finalist at the ABC-TV syndicated competition. The following year she won the Virgin Islands’ Knights of Columbus oratorical contest with her speech ‘Society Needs A Mother” and used the cash reward to travel to San Diego, California to attend the prestigious Stage 7 dance school for the summer. During her senior year Turner won Miss World Virgin Islands and traveled to London, England to compete in the internationally broadcasted finals.
At age 17, Turner enrolled at Howard University and three years later graduated cum laude from the school’s five –year undergraduate Theatre Education degree program. While pursuing her degree, she performed with the Washington, DC based La Verne Reed Dancers who were billed with such performers as Bill Cosby and Luther Vandross. As an ensemble member of the Washington Theatre Arts Production, she appeared on college campuses across the country and was a lead dancer in a Louis Johnson choreographed production of “The Wiz.” Additionally, Turner worked with choreographers Bob Banas and Joe Tremaine and was an extra in the film, “The Kennedy Story.”
Turner would return to pageant competition in 1984 and won the International Model of the Year in Las Vegas, Nevada. She would follow that with a Miss United States Virgin Islands crown in 1986 and travel to Panama City, Panama for the Miss Universe pageant. Turner received international attention from a UPI pre-pageant bathing suit wire photo. The following year she would become the first Black woman to capture the Queen of World Tourism title in Madrid, Spain and was invited to major conventions in Europe, Asia and South America. In 1990 Turner captured the coveted title Miss Black USA.
The multi- talented Turner was the 1987 celebrity spokesperson for the Virgin Islands Tourism Board and featured in the Virgin Islands’ 1988 and 1989 CEBA Award nominated $15 million U.S. Virgin Islands print and television advertising campaign. Her television appearances include “The Great Escape/Discover America” (ABC), “The Magic Cruise” (ABC), “Front Runners” (ABC), “This Week in Black Entertainment” (BET), “Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon” (ABC), “Martin” “ROC”, and “Fox Summer Games (all FBC).”
As the 1990 Miss Black US, Turner resided in Manhattan, New York and completed a six-city tour as a guest speaker with Dorothy Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women. Her numerous appearances included singing the National Anthem for the United Negro College Fund’s New York Marathon, performing as guest artist and keynote speaker with the Assault on Illiteracy Program in Washington, DC.
In addition to being the featured cover model for the 1990 December issue of Being Single magazine, she co-hosted their Pinnacle Awards in Palm Springs, CA. Turner was featured as one of the ten most beautiful women in the 1992 Fox Summer Games Swimsuit Special and also featured in Keith Sweat’s number one video, “Keep It Coming,” and After Seven’s video “Baby, I’m For Real.”
Currently, Turner has parlayed her experiences in leading a successful financial advisory practice. Today, she is a Senior Vice President for UBS Wealth Management Americas where she leads a Pension Advisory business focusing on Caribbean Pension Plans. Additionally, she provides comprehensive investment management solutions and wealth planning, as well as a wide range of specific offerings to wealthy individuals and families.
She is the recipient of the “1986 Outstanding Young Woman of America,” “Merit Award (Howard University), and “Outstanding Achievements (USVI Government).”
Jasmine is a graduate of Howard University with a Master’s of Computer Science and a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, Theatre Education, cum laude. She holds a Series 7, 63, 65 and California Life Insurance licenses.
She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and San Juan, Puerto Rico where she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family.
Julien Adams &
Rosie Hodge-Adams
Julien Adams & Rosie Hodge-Adams
USVI & St. Kitts
Co-Founders, Children of the Caribbean Foundation
Founder’s Award
Julien Adams is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley (J.D., 1991) and the University of Southern California (B.A., 1988). He is a partner of the Law Firm of Dovel & Luner, LLP and his practice covers a broad range of business litigation areas, including entertainment litigation, intellectual property litigation, and complex commercial litigation. Julien is co-founder and President of Children of the Caribbean Foundation.
Rosie Hodge-Adams is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University (MBA, International Business & Finance, 2006). She is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Children of the Caribbean Foundation. Rosie shapes and approves foundation strategies, advocates for the foundation’s issues, and sets the organization’s overall direction.
Julien and Rosie were married in a very intimate ceremony on the Caribbean island of St. John at the same venue where they met for the first time in their lives – the beach. The couple is proud parents of three children – Justin, Julien and Jaida. Making their children their priority, Rosie and Julien decided that Rosie who had worked in Securities and Investments upon moving from the United States Virgin Islands to Los Angeles in 1999, would give up her career in finance and become a stay-at-home mother to ensure that their children received the best possible care that only a mother could give to her child. Julien, who worked as a Federal Prosecutor at the time, shortly after accepted a position with the Law Firm of Dovel & Luner, where he remains one of the lead attorneys today.
Growing up in the Caribbean afforded Julien and Rosie the opportunity to appreciate the simple things in life yet aspire to achieve greater things in their lives. Hard work and good ethic, the principles instilled in them by their parents, their Caribbean teachers, their churches and the communities in which the two were raised – are what the couple credits for their success today. However, success in philanthropy is measured differently than success in business or government. And while Julien’s profession has afforded his wife Rosie and their children to enjoy a rather pleasant and comfortable lifestyle, [outside of seeing their children develop into healthy and independent young adult (Justin) and teenagers (Julien, and Jaida)] today, it is about the stunning strides that underprivileged children have made in overcoming the challenges that they face. Success for Julien and Rosie today, is about making a sad child happy. Success is about getting an HIV positive child to feel just as loved and accepted as the child who is HIV negative. Success is about ensuring that every child is happy over the holidays. It is about ensuring that every child has access to education and the books and supplies he needs for school. It is about reducing the infant mortality rate in the Caribbean, especially on Haiti. Success to Julien and Rosie is “about the gains made in helping others without – because in helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves, we express our true Caribbean values.
One of the greatest of those values is our belief that the best investment that anyone can ever make is in the life of a child.”
Pras
Pras
Haiti
Grammy Award-winning Rapper, Filmmaker and Activist
Grammy and Emmy winner, Prakazrel “Pras” Samuel Michél, rose to international super-stardom as a member of the multi-platinum group “The Fugees.” As a solo artist, he is most known for writing and producing the Grammy-nominated, worldwide top ten hit “Ghetto Supastar” feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Mya. The hit single was included in the soundtrack for the film “Bulworth”.
The Fugees stepped onto the music scene with a hip hop sound mixed with a Caribbean beat. A reflection of Pras’ identity — a Haitian American, born in Brooklyn, raised in New Jersey.
After his Fugees fame, Pras continued to work not only as a performer but also as an actor, producer and documentarian. In “Skid Row”, the documentary chronicles Pras as he spends nine days as a homeless man in downtown Los Angeles. His film “Sweet Micky for President” follows Pras as he returns to Haiti post-earthquake and passionately mobilizes a presidential campaign for the unlikeliest of candidates: Michel Martelly, aka ‘Sweet Micky’, Haiti’s most popular and most outlandish pop star. The film won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at Slam Dance and Documentary Edge Festival in 2015. It was also an official selection at HotDocs, Miami International Film Festival and Los Angeles Film Festival. Pras is also Producer on the web series “The Bay” which swept the digital categories at the 2017 Daytime Emmy Awards winning five awards.
Pras continues his work in music, and his new band Get Fr3e released their first album in 2015. Their song “Came to Win” was written for “Sweet Micky for President.”
Pras’ philanthropic efforts to improve the lives of Haitians after the devastating 2010 earthquake inspired him to take frequent travels around the world, specifically to countries where war, crime, disease, and lack of governance remain destabilizing issues. Recently, he visited Azerbaijan, North Korea, Yemen, and Iraq.
Pras has also worked with the Clinton Global Initiative, Artists for Peace and Justice, and his support for President Obama’s campaigns have shown his consistent drive to inspire conversation about the positive changes needed for societies to grow and flourish. During the 2012 presidential election cycle, Pras was one of President Obama’s top 25 private donors, and firmly supports the effort made by the President and the First Lady.
From his start as a member of the Fugees, infusing hip-hop with social consciousness, to his efforts as a filmmaker documenting grass roots elections in Haiti, Pras has made it his mission to produce art that fights against injustice and sheds light on the important issues of our time. The success Pras created when he founded the Fugees opened the door for him to pursue impactful political activism. While he does not seek the spotlight, nobody should underestimate the passion and vision of the man who makes it his ongoing mission to live a purpose-driven life that uplifts, entertains, and transforms the world around him.
“The Fugees afforded me many opportunities, professionally and personally,” explains Pras. “I’ve traveled the world, met the most interesting people and, most importantly, I am able to put my celebrity to good use by contributing to charities and working on philanthropic projects. Of all my endeavors, my philanthropic work is what I take most seriously. It’s what I hold dear to my heart and believe is my larger purpose on this planet.”
Shane Morgan & Romaine Sabukie Allen
Shane Morgan & Romaine Sabukie Allen
Jamaica
Directors, Life Yard
Shane Morgan and Romaine Sabukie Allen are the Directors of Life Yard an oasis in the middle of Parade Gardens in Kingston, Jamaica.
Shane Morgan
Having witnessed first-hand challenges facing his community while growing up, Shane Morgan made it his mission to make a difference in his community of Parade Gardens and to lead in the social reform and development of a community riddled with political segregation, violence and financial constraints.
With this mission in mind, he and a group of Rastafarians within the community with the same vision created Life Yard. A social enterprise that would be geared toward creating changes through art, education and agriculture.
Shane’s collaboration with Paint Jamaica acted as a stepping stone to Life Yard being a driving force behind Parade Garden’s new glow.
With a genuine love for social work, he has been able to garner support from residents and establish relationships outside of his community. As a result, he has been able to grow partnerships that blossomed into successful workshops for children in the neighbourhood. Teaching them social skills such as crochet, drumming and art.
Although the challenges have not been eradicated, Shane Morgan and Life Yard’s intent on “bending the tree while it’s young” will most likely see a change in the thoughts and actions of the community’s future generations.
Life Yard is now a space where children laugh, learn and liberate their minds. Each member tries to be an individual the children can emulate, practicing self-sustainability through their farm to kitchen restaurant, pallet furniture made from recycled pallets and craft jewelry made from simple resources such as coconut shells.
Shane Morgan has a sincere love for his community. This love inspired him to start Southside Eye TV, an extension of Aseer Entertainment, a media company owned by him and his partner.
Through photography and videos, Shane Morgan highlights what he believes is the beauty of self determination of the residents of Parade Gardens, which is achievable, despite the struggles they face.
Romaine Sabukie Allen
Growing up in a Rastafarian household, Romaine Sabukie Allen, understood from a very young age that “there is nothing more rewarding in life than to work for the benefit of others, one can derive more pleasure from giving rather than receiving”. One of Haile Selassie’s famous philosophies.
As a child his mother would have to constantly talk to him about giving away everything that he has and then having nothing for himself. But no matter how many times she spoke to him, his actions remained the same. Eventually one of her favorite names for him became “Samaritan”.
One of his favorite quotes from Haile Selassie is “Let infants be clothed, the elder be fed and the sick taken care.” He continues to live by these words as well as the words of Marcus Garvey and Patrice Lumba.
In his second year at the University of Technology, studying a BSc., he got reacquainted with Shane Morgan of Life Yard ( he knew him from the neighbourhood). He immediately fell in love with the mission of Life Yard.
He believed it was his calling and even ended his fruit business to be a part of Life Yard full time. Since then, his contribution has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has managed to enhance the vision and broaden the scope of Life Yard. Present for every event and standing strong with Shane Morgan for every mission, Romaine Sabukie Allen has been able to satisfy his own yearning to enhance the life of everyone who crosses his path.
It is safe to say that even though he has grown into an inspiring young man, he is still that little boy who is giving his all even though it often means being left with nothing but personal satisfaction. Both his mother and father had instilled in him a love for music. Realizing the powerful influence that music has, he also uses his creative energy with his sound system, Black Revelationz Sound, to help others learn about themselves and be better influences in society.
Please visit www.lifeyard.org for more information.
2016 Honorees
Francesca Harewood
Francesca Harewood
Excellence in Entertainment Law Award
Francesca Harewood is Vice President, Business Affairs for NBCUniversal where she negotiates agreements for NBC prime-time scripted series and specials. Francesca serves as the network business contact for outside studios producing NBC series, from the start of development, through pilot production and series. Francesca is also the business affairs executive for NBC annual specials, including “New Year’s Eve”, “Red Nose Day”, “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks” and “Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade”; and musical specials for artists such as Adele, Miley Cyrus and One Direction.
Before joining NBC, Francesca was Director of Business Affairs for Disney/ABC, negotiating talent and production deals for daytime soap operas, talk shows and syndicated programs.
After graduating from Wesleyan University, Francesca began her career in entertainment working in radio and television ad sales in Boston, MA. A few years later, USC Law School gave her the opportunity to move to Los Angeles and work in Hollywood. During her third year at USC, Francesca worked on“Entertainment Tonight” while interning on the Paramount lot. Following graduation, Francesca became a real estate attorney at Jones Day Reavis and Pogue in LA, and later a corporate securities attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati in Silicon Valley. At WSGR, Francesca advised clients ranging from small start-ups to large public corporations on corporate and compliance matters, and worked on numerous IPOs, mergers and private equity financing transactions.
In 2003, Francesca transitioned to entertainment law as a production attorney for Disney/ABC syndicated programs, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” and “The Tony Danza Show.” She has also held positions as General Counsel of an internet marketing company in San Diego, CA, and Head of Business and Legal Affairs for SiTV (now Nuvo TV) cable network. Francesca serves on the Board of Directors of the Fort Greene Council, the non-profit organization in Brooklyn, NY that her mother ran for over 30 years. She is also a founding member of Angelenos for LA, a private giving circle making annual grants to nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles.
Francesca was born in Brooklyn, but grew up in Dover, Christ Church, Barbados where she maintains a family home and visits as often, and for as long as, her schedule permits.
Mark Walker
Mark Walker
Excellence in Entertainment & New Media Award
For Disney fans and families, the Company’s network of digital experiences provides a way to explore and engage with favorite stories and characters whenever they need a little magic. Finding new ways to reach and delight a new generation of fans and families is at the top of Jamaican-American Mark Walker‘s to-do list as senior vice president and general manager, Disney Interactive Media.
Mark leads all product development, marketing, programming, content and operations for Disney’s network of digital gateways, including Disney.com, Family.disney.com, Babble.com and StarWars.com. He also is in charge of Disney’s vast social media footprint and its award-winning content apps, including Star Wars, Disney Animated and Disney GIF.
Prior to joining Disney Interactive in 2011, Mark was the head of Yahoo! News and Information properties. Under his leadership, Yahoo! News was transformed from an online news aggregation platform into a premier source of original reporting and premium original video programming.
Before taking the helm at Yahoo! News, Mark was the vice president of business development for Yahoo! Media, responsible for leading the business development teams in entertainment, sports and lifestyle content. He was the co-principal of Oceanaix Ventures LLC, an investment and consulting firm focused on digital media businesses. He has also held top business and legal affairs positions for several entertainment media companies in music, film and television.
Mark holds a J.D. degree from Stanford Law School, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, and a S.B. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. He is an active member of the Visiting Committee for the MIT Media Laboratory/Media Arts and Sciences.
Carmen J. Smith
Carmen J. Smith
Corporate Award
As Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, Carmen Smith is responsible for developing a diverse pipeline of product and people to enhance Imagineering’s consultant talent and its creative processes. Her four areas of primary emphasis: creative product and services development, consultant talent identification, casting talent to the full range of creative assignments, editorial participation in the creative process and the establishment of external partnerships to enhance product relevance in the diverse global marketplace.
Carmen served as vice president of Global Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. She was responsible for integrating diversity and inclusion strategies into creative entertainment worldwide, global development and all Walt Disney Park Operations and businesses.
Prior to joining Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Carmen served as the vice president of the Talent Development Programs for the Disney/ABC Television Group. In this position she was responsible for overseeing and managing the Disney/ABC Writers Fellowship Program and Writers Breakage Initiatives; the ABC/DGA Directors Fellowship Program; the Touchstone/DGA Partnership; the Directing Assignment Initiative; the Casting Project; the Talent Development Scholarship/Grant Program for filmmakers, writers and directors; the Entertainment Associates Program; ABC/Disney Writer-Director Summer Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the Institute of American Indian Arts; the American Indian National Center for Television and Film and she executive-produced the Micro-Mini Television Series Project. She also functioned as a liaison with diverse creative communities around the country, nonprofit arts institutions, entertainment industry guilds, colleges and universities to nurture talented, emerging writers, actors and directors.
In 2007, Carmen received an honorary doctorate from the Metropolitan College of New York. Ms. Smith serves on the board of the Urban Resource Institute, Robey Theatre, The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, East West Players – the nation’s longest running professional theater of color and is also a member of the advisory board of the Urban Women’s Retreat. She was a presenter at the United Nations’ Fourth Non-Governmental Forum on Women in Beijing, China. She was elected to the Hall of Fame of the Alumni of Hunter College of the City University of New York; she received the Urban Resource Institute Certificate for Outstanding Leadership; the Great Seal of the State of New York for Community Service; recognition from the Doors of Hope Foundation for outstanding service to Battered Women.
Carmen was selected as the ABC, Inc. Black Achiever in Industry for 2000; received the 2001 John D. Blodger Diversity Award and the 2003 AFTRA National American Scene Award (Crystal Award), was a 2004 AFTRA, Actors’ Equity and SAG Diversity Honoree; received the 2004 Oneness award for promoting diversity in Television and film and received the Directors Guild of American African-American Steering committee award for outstanding efforts to elevate the stature of women and minorities in the entertainment industry; 2005 AFTRA National Scene award as Executive Producer of the ABC Entertainment Micro-Mini TV Series and the 2005 Theresa’s Haven Award from the Family Support Systems Transitional Housing Services of New York, for improving the quality of life for homeless families in New York and received the Institute of American Indian Arts 2006 Visionary Award. Most recently she was honored with the Frances E. Williams Award by the Community Coalition of Los Angeles; 2009 recipient of the Our Authors Study Club- Pat Tobin Award of excellence; the 2009 DiversityBusiness.com Champion of Diversity Award; the recipient of the 2009 DiversityFirst award winner from the California Diversity Council; listed in 2009 Diversity MBA Magazine’s Top 100 Executive Leaders and 2011 Uptown Professional Magazines Top 100 Executives in America.
A native of New York with roots in the twin island country of Trinidad & Tobago, Carmen graduated from Hunter College with a degree in communication arts. She received a master’s degree in international administration from New York University and completed the Simmons Graduate School of Management Certificate Program for Developing Managers, as well as the Women and Power Executive Education Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Dana Elizabeth Verde
Dana Elizabeth Verde
Rising Sun Award
Dana Elizabeth Verde started her entertainment career while she was an undergraduate at the New School University (NSU) pursuing her degree in Media Studies/Screenwriting. Entering the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, her first full length feature script “The Only Black Girl” made the final round in the competition. She completed her degree at NSU and became a script reader for Maisha Film Lab (founded by filmmaker Mira Nair) and co-hosted a TV show on MTV called “Your Movie Show” as a film reviewer.
Wanting to further knowledge of her craft, Verde attended the London Film School (LFS), London UK. After receiving her MA in Filmmaking in 2008, Verde returned to New York to work as an independent filmmaker. Her short film “Lock & Key” was a major success in 2012, screening at 10 film festivals internationally and winning a best short subject award at the North Carolina Black Film Festival.
In 2014, Verde wrote, produced and directed her first feature film “Grand Gesture” on a shoestring budget of 10k. The film was shot in three cities New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and was nominated for best feature film at the Martha’s Vineyard African American film festival.
Dana wrote the screenplay for the 2016 hit, “The Perfect Match” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4871980/) staring Paula Patton, Terrence Jenkins and Cassie Ventura. The film was produced by Queen Latifah’s production company Flavor Unit and is now in theatres. Verde indicates that “As a filmmaker I enjoy creating narratives from a cross cultural prospective and incorporate my Caribbean heritage into the world of cinematic storytelling”.
Dana is of Cuban and Jamaican heritage.
2015 Honorees
Dawnn Lewis
Dawnn Lewis
Heritage Award
Dawnn Lewis is a multitalented and multifaceted individual. Born in Brooklyn, New York, of Guyanese parents, Dawnn is an NAACP & Trumpet Award winner, a Grammy Award-winning singer, multiple BMI & ASCAP Award-winning songwriter, film actor and a Series TV creator/producer (BLACK JAQ) for ABC. She’s now recurring on the hit TV shows MAJOR CRIMES & BETTER CALL SAUL, and as the narrative voice for BET’s bio-series BEING.
acclaimed actor Harry Lennix and guest starred in SURVIVOR’S REMORSE, a new series produced by NBA star, LeBron James & Tom Werner.
She stars in the recently released films: THE DIVORCE, MEGACHURCH MURDER, A LESSON IN ROMANCE & TWO IN. Dawnn can be heard giving voice to several characters: “LaBarbara” in FUTURAMA, “Mrs. Hanshaw” in SOPHIA THE FIRST, “Granny McStuffins” in DOC MCSTUFFINS, as well as a variety of characters in the series TURBO & Disney/Pixar’s mega hit films MONSTERS UNIVERSITY and INSIDE OUT.
She stars in the groundbreaking John Avnet/Rodrigo Garcia short film series WIGS, in JENNIFER, written and directed by Mykelti Williamson, and also composed and performed some of the film’s underscore music. Other film & TV credits include: LET IT SHINE, THE POOF POINT (also contributed to score), I’M GONNA GIT U SUCKA, DREAMGIRLS, DINO TIME, STRANGE FRAME, CASTLE, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, ONE TREE HILL, SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER, ANY DAY NOW, THE CLEVELAND SHOW, THE LIFE & TIMES OF TIM, HANDY MANNY, KING OF THE HILL, THE BOONDOCKS, The X-MEN, SPIDERMAN, RICK & MORTY. Proudly on the hit TV shows A DIFFERENT WORLD (composer of shows theme song) & HANGIN’ WITH MR. COOPER (sang theme). Dawnn also starred in “NYC Encore’s” Broadway presentation of THE WIZ ; created the role of, and won best actress: FRED AWARD (Los Angeles) and nominated for the 2007 best actress: SUZI AWARD (Atlanta), for her “knock your socks off!” performance in the world premiere of the Broadway hit “SISTER ACT: THE MUSICAL” as Deloris Van Cartier.
Her record label, Morning Jewel Music, released her successful solo CD WORTH WAITING FOR, & partnered with & performed on “Donny McCullough & Friends: CANDLES IN THE WINDOW.” Dawnn’s concert schedule includes sold out performances at H.O.M.E in Beverly Hills, the Hands For Hope Jazz Festival and a sold out concert in the Cayman Islands for The CAYMAN HEART FUND. She’s recorded with or composed for Everett Harp, Patrice Rushen, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Take 6, Weyman Tisdale, Grover Washington Jr., Quincy Jones, Michael Ward & Tom Scott (to name a few).
She’s served the last seven and half years on the National Advisory Board of the NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM, & four terms on the SAG National Board of Directors, participating in its merger with AFTRA, while serving all our years as the National Co-Chair & Los Angeles Chair of the SAG now SAG-AFTRA Singers Committee.
Dawnn also teaches Master Classes, mentors youth across the country, gives motivational lectures and lends her support to: EMPOWHER, The United Negro College Fund; Los Angeles Urban League, American Cancer Society; The March of Dimes; Youth Entertainment Studios; the Hall of Fame Foundation; Habitat For Humanity; The United States Conference on AIDS; The K.I.S. Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease; Artists For A New South Africa; Campfire Boys and Girls; The NBA/WNBA and other important causes.
Look for more detailed information about Dawnn on her Web site www.DAWNNLEWIS.com FaceBook: Dawnn Lewis Official Fan Page Twitter: @dawnn_lewis
Yvette Noel-Schure
Yvette Noel-Schure
Trailblazer Award
Yvette Noel-Schure, a former senior VP of Media at Columbia Records/Sony Music, established her own publicity and event-planning firm, Schure Media, LLC. (now Schure Media Group) in 2010. Based in New York City and northern New Jersey, the firm signed global superstar Beyoncé as its first client.
She helped launch the career of the then-unknown Destiny’s Child in 1998, guiding the group through its 1999 multi-platinum watershed, “The Writing’s On The Wall,” and 2001 smash, “Survivor.” She executed successful press campaigns for each member’s solo albums, including two top-charting gospel releases for Michelle Williams, Grammy-winning releases for Kelly Rowland and international and national tours of every Beyoncé solo album.
During a seventeen-year career as a music publicist, Noel-Schure developed press campaigns for a diverse roster of artists, including Mariah Carey, Will smith, Jessica Simpson, Prince, John Legend, Adele, Wyclef Jean, Destiny’s Child and for each of that group’s members: Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Beyoncé, as well as media launches for Maxwell (“BLACKsummers’night”) and Beyoncé’s (“I AM…SASHA FIERCE”).
Noel-Schure has played an indispensable role in the multi-platinum careers of Bow Wow, Jessica Simpson, John Legend, among others. She and Columbia Records publicist, Benny Tarantini, convinced Adele to sign with the label just before the US release of her first album, “19.”
Today Schure Media Group creates and executes press campaigns for Beyoncé, including the launch of the unprecedented self-titled visual album on December 13, 2013, Iconic international legend Prince and his band 3RDEYEGIRL, Broadway star and former Destiny’s Child member, Michelle Williams, fashion designer Tina Knowles, Sky Blu of LMFAO, singer/songwriter, Amel Larrieux, rapper Lecrae and unsigned, New Jersey-based teen star, Zach Matari.
Noel-Schure has folded her passion for others into Schure Media Group with successful social campaigns including World Humanitarian Day 2012 and 2013 with the United Nations and Chime For Change, founded by Gucci, to promote Education, Health and Justice for women and girls everywhere. She worked closely with Chime For Change on the media campaign for The Sound of Change Live, a global concert at Twickenham Stadium in London in 2013 attended by 50,000 people and seen by millions around the world. The line-up included BEYONCÉ | ELLIE GOULDING | FLORENCE + THE MACHINE | HAIM | IGGY AZALEA | JAY Z | JENNIFER LOPEZ | JESSIE J | JOHN LEGEND | LAURA PAUSINI | MARY J. BLIGE | RITA ORA | SIMON LE BON and TIMBALAND.
Yvette started her business career started as a journalist. In 1985, Noel-Schure joined the staff of Black Beat Magazine where she served as editor until moving to Columbia Records as Director, Media in 1993. In 1997, she was named Senior Director, Media. Before leaving Columbia Records in 2010 to open Schure Media Group, she served as the department head for Columbia Records Media, handling press for every genre.
An immigrant from the Caribbean island of Grenada, Yvette Noel-Schure holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the City College of New York. She is the mother of three and has been married to David Schure for over three decades.
www.schuremediagroup.com
Caiphus Moore
Caiphus Moore
Excellence in Visual Arts, Game Design Award
Caiphus Moore is a Trinidadian American artist who currently resides in Oakland, California. He has spent most of his professional artistic career creating artwork for the video game industry and currently works as a Senior Artist for Electronic Arts (EA).
A painting graduate of the Maryland Institute, College of Art, Caiphus has always been inspired by the natural human form. He creates on a variety of mediums; from traditional canvas to 3d sculpting. His current focus is to create a synergy between his love of fine art, gaming and multimedia.
www.caiphus.com
Talitha Watkins
Talitha Watkins
Corporate Leadership Award
Talitha Mahadeo Watkins was named Vice President of Multicultural Marketing in August 2010. In her role Watkins works across all marketing divisions to enrich outreach efforts of African-American audiences for titles across the Universal slate. She works directly with the publicity, media, digital, creative, research, and partnerships divisions to customize existing and develop new strategies, marketing and outreach efforts for African-American moviegoers.
Since joining Universal Pictures, Talitha has worked on over 50 titles including the multicultural blockbusters FAST FIVE, FAST & FURIOUS 6 and FURIOUS 7. She has also been instrumental in increasing the production of African-American films such as the box office success, THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY and record-breaking RIDE ALONG, a number one movie three weeks in a row.
Prior to joining Universal Pictures, Watkins worked with Telepictures Productions Inc. where she served as Assistant General Manager responsible for overseeing operations, sales and marketing for five female-focused digital properties in the Warner Bros. portfolio including Ellentv.com, Extratv.com, TyraShow.com, Momlogic.com and BonnieHunt.com.
Previously, Watkins served in several marketing positions with SiTV (now NuvoTV), the Latino and multicultural network; Gemstar-TV Guide; Lifetime Entertainment Services; and A&E Television Networks.
Born “under the clock” at University Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, Watkins immigrated to the United States in 1985. She holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her daughter Selah.
Dr. Henry R. Ford
Dr. Henry R. Ford
Humanitarian Award
Henri R. Ford, M.D. is vice president and chief of surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Vice-Dean of Medical Education, Professor and Vice-chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Surgery and at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.
Dr. Ford was professor and chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine prior to joining CHLA in January 2005. He is also a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the medical executive committee of CHLA. As surgeon-in-chief and vice president for Surgical and Perioperative Services, he oversees the entire perioperative services area at CHLA. Under his leadership, CHLA has developed a robust, state of the art minimally invasive surgery program. He served on the Board of Trustees of Princeton University (2010- 2014) and serves on the Harvard Medical School Global Health Advisory Council (2011 – present).
As a professor in the Department of Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, he is an important role model for young physicians and medical students. As the Vice Dean for Medical Education at the Keck School, Dr. Ford advances the medical school’s educational mission by promoting excellence in medical education as one of its highest priorities. Dr. Ford recently led a very successful accreditation visit for the MD program which resulted in the maximum eight-year, full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the best results achieved since a 10-year accreditation was granted in 1981. Dr. Ford’s current priorities include revising the Year III/IV medical student curriculum; strengthening research opportunities for medical students; and developing new sources of funding for medical student scholarships.
Dr. Ford has demonstrated “…truly exceptional leadership…” in pediatric surgery and has conducted the definitive studies on pediatric trauma in the United States and his investigative studies have generated new insights into the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis, the most common and the most lethal disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract of newborn infants. He is the author of more than 300 publications, book chapters, invited manuscripts, abstracts and presentations and the recipients of many awards and has been active on many local and national professional and scientific committees.
Dr. Ford was born in Haiti and spent his early years in Port-au-Prince. His father was a preacher who spoke out against inequality in Haitian society. When Dr. Ford was 13 years old, he fled with his family from the government of Papa Doc Duvalier, settling among the Haitian community in Brooklyn, New York. He has made and continues to make and lead many medical humanitarian trips to Haiti before and after the 2010 earthquake.
Egbert Perry
Egbert Perry
Visionary Award
Egbert L. J. Perry is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of The Integral Group LLC (“Integral”). In this role, he provides the strategic vision and direction for the company and chairs the Senior Management Committee comprised of all members of the executive management team. He co-founded the company in January 1993 with a mission to “create value in cities and (re)build the fabric of communities.” Pursuit of that mission has made the company a premier global provider of sustainable real estate, facility and infrastructure solutions. The company provides community development, commercial real estate development, investment management, program management, construction and property management services in mature and emerging markets across the United States and internationally. The company and Mr. Perry have received numerous awards, and are regarded nationally as innovators in the field of urban development and revitalization.
As one of the pioneers of the urban mixed-income, mixed-use community revitalization model integrating housing, education reform and human services, they are often called on for their expertise in implementing public-private partnerships and sustainable development solutions that foster “responsible” community development. In addition to its strong focus on holistic community development, the company is active in the development of urban infill and transit-oriented mixed-use projects. Today, with a track record of over $1 billion of real estate developments and investments, the firm is a diversified, 300-person, organization with projects in about 14 markets in the mid-Atlantic, Southeast and western regions of the United States, as well as the Caribbean.
A real estate, construction and community development professional since 1979, Perry has developed and/or built most project types, including residential, office, retail, and institutional and mixed use projects. Prior to founding Integral, he spent thirteen years helping to build an Atlanta-based construction and real estate company into the nation’s 3rd largest African-American owned business and largest African-American owned General Contractor in 1992, increasing its annual revenues from about $12 million to approximately $200 million.
An honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Perry received both Bachelor of Science (’76) and Master of Science degrees (’79) in Civil Engineering from the University’s Towne School, and a Master of Business Administration degree with majors in Finance and Accounting (’78) from its Wharton School. In 1990, he was elected as the eleventh graduate in 250 years to be named to the “Gallery of Distinguished Engineering Alumni” of the University’s Engineering School.
In 2010, he was selected by REIAC and Georgia State University for induction into the Hall of Distinction for Real Estate, the highest honor awarded to Developers in the Atlanta real estate community and in 2014 was named Chairman of the Board of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae).
Mr. Perry was born on the island of Antigua.
www.integral-online.com
2014 Honorees
Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Heritage Award for Outstanding Work in Television
For over a decade Wayne Alphonso Brady has been entertaining audiences with his acting, improv, singing and dancing on television, film and the stage. He began his career in Orlando, Florida working for both the Disney World and Universal theme parks.
He also performed in several community theatre shows and at the Orlando improv comedy theater SAK Comedy Lab. In 1998, his career took off with Whose Line Is It Anyway? for which he won a 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series. Brady went on to host his own syndicated talk/variety show, The Wayne Brady Show, for two years. He picked up two Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and the show also won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show. Brady also hosted Don’t Forget the Lyrics on Fox.
In 2005 Brady took the opportunity to return to his first love, musical theatre, and starred in the Broadway production of “Chicago,” playing the role of “Billy Flynn.” In 2006, he starred in the movie Crossover, and in 2007, he starred in the independent feature The List. Brady was also featured in Fox Searchlight’s Roll Bounce (2005). Brady provided his voice for the animated feature Foodfight! and most recently stars as “Clover” for Disney’s highest rated animated series, Sofia The First. He has guest starred on TV shows including The Dave Chappelle Show, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Real Husbands of Hollywood and Everybody Hates Chris.
After conquering television and theatre, Brady took on the recording industry and earned a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for his single, “A Change is Gonna Come,” off his debut musical album A Long Time Coming.
He made a big splash in Las Vegas in 2009 with his hit stage show “Makin’ It Up.” The show was met with critical acclaim and has been heralded as “pure genius,” “hysterically funny” and “amazing.” He has taken the show to venues across the country and overseas to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and India and is currently on tour in the states.
In August 2010 he joined the all-star cast as “Angel” in the musical “Rent,” performed at the Hollywood Bowl and directed by Neil Patrick Harris. This one-weekend event opened to sold-out performances and outstanding reviews.
Brady also released a children’s album entitled Radio Wayne with Disney Records in May 2011, which reached the number one position on iTunes and Amazon Kids charts.
Brady can be seen weekdays on CBS as the host of the daytime classic Let’s Make A Deal, for which he’s been nominated three years in a row for a Daytime Emmy for Best Game Show Host. He was recently nominated for his sixth Daytime Emmy. He currently stars on fan favorite Whose Line Is It Anyway? on the CW and in October of 2013 reprised his role as James, Barney’s gay black brother on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother.
Wayne Brady was raised by his paternal grandmother, who is a native of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Val Boreland
Val Boreland
Luminary Award
As executive vice president of programming and production for REVOLT, Val Boreland draws upon nearly two decades of hands-on experience in cable television.
At REVOLT, Val serves as the head of programming, ensuring entertaining content reaches music fans on a daily basis. She manages a team that includes production, on-air talent, scheduling, research and news. She is part of the senior executive team responsible for launching the network in October 2013.
Boreland previously served as senior vice president, program, promotion & multiplatform strategy for Comedy Central, working at the network’s offices in New York. She oversaw its programming group, including program and promotion scheduling, in addition to managing the network’s content across all digital platforms, including VOD, wireless and emerging platforms. Boreland played a key role in the programming strategy that launched The Colbert Report, Tosh.0, Workaholics, Key & Peele and Futurama. Boreland also helped bring Comedy Central its highest ratings in the network’s history by successfully programming The Roast of Charlie Sheen in 2011. She also contributed to long-term strategic planning at the channel and participated in the launching of new digital platforms.
Before joining Comedy Central in 2005, Boreland served as vice president, scheduling, planning and acquisitions at Lifetime Television. While at Lifetime, Boreland helped take the network to the top spot of highest-rated cable networks 2 years in a row, an accomplishment that had not yet been achieved at the network prior to her arrival. She was also responsible for scheduling and acquisitions and was integral in the launch of two spinoff ventures, Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Real Women. She previously worked in Lifetime’s programming department, promoted there one year after joining the network’s sales department in 1994.
Val was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in Westchester, New York. She received her B.A. in Communication from the University of Michigan.
Olun Riley
Olun Riley
Excellence in Animation/Visual Effects
Olun Riley was born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and lived in Cascade, a suburb of Port-of-Spain, until he left to study abroad at the age of 17.
He majored in Fine Arts at the University of Toronto and studied animation at Sheridan College in Canada. After graduating, Riley returned to Trinidad where he worked as a pioneering computer graphics (CG) artist for broadcast commercials at Advance Dynamics Ltd., a local post facility. In 1993, Riley began working on feature films at Sullivan Bluth Studios in Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1995 when American Film Director Don Bluth set up shop with Fox Animation Studios in Phoenix, Arizona to create the 1997 animated film “Anastasia.”
Riley continued to work as a CG artist in Effects, Lighting and Compositing and eventually became a CG supervisor on feature film projects for DreamWorks, Sony Pictures Imageworks and Cinesite in Hollywood.
Riley joined the Lighting & Compositing Department at the Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2005. He became a Sequence Lead on “BOLT” in 2007 and has also worked as a Stereo 3D Sequence supervisor, helping to pioneer the conversions of both “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” for 3D screens.
Riley’s latest animated film projects include mega hits Oscar® winning “Frozen” and “Wreck-it Ralph,” and Oscar® nominated “Tangled.” Most recently, Riley worked as a key lighter for Elsa’s Golden Ice Palace fight sequence on the Academy Award-winning “Frozen.” He is currently working as a Lighting supervisor on Disney’s upcoming feature “Big Hero 6.”
His range of films include “El Dorado,” “X-Men: The Movie,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Red Planet,” “Envy,” “The Polar Express” and “Monster House,” to name a few.
Nicole Bernard
Nicole Bernard
Corporate Leadership Award
Nicole Bernard is Executive Vice President of Audience Strategy for The Fox Group. She oversees the company’s new Audience Strategy department, which identifies programming content and services that are compelling and relevant to increasingly broad audiences.
Bernard’s cross-divisional role expands upon the company’s diversity initiatives to more closely align them with business goals and results. She and her team provide strategic guidance to and collaborate with senior leaders across the company’s Los Angeles-based entertainment business units (filmed entertainment, broadcast television, cable television and digital media) to ensure that the company’s policies, content and operations reflect broadening audiences. Prior to leading Audience Strategy, Bernard served as Senior Vice President of Broadcast Standards and Practices for the network.
Before joining FOX in 2005, Bernard was Senior Vice President, New Business Development for New York’s Apollo Theater Foundation, where she was responsible for all new business development opportunities for one of the nation’s most historic and recognizable African-American brands. She was also an attorney of counsel at Davis, Shapiro & Lewit in New York, where she specialized in assisting musical artists, industry executives and recording companies to expand their brands into other entertainment platforms.
Prior to entering private practice, Bernard worked with MCA Records in New York, where she scouted, identified and developed new artists. She began her entertainment career at Uptown/MCA Records as Director of Business Affairs, negotiating new artist, publishing, production, joint venture and label agreements, as well as coordinating soundtrack and compilation acquisitions and licenses.
Born in Washington, DC to Jamaican immigrants, Bernard earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism/Communications from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and holds a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and eight-year-old twins.
Cleveland O. Neil
Cleveland O. Neil
Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the Los Angeles Jamaican-American Community
Cleveland O. Neil held the position of Honorary Consul of Jamaica to Southern California for over three decades. In that capacity, he facilitated official state actions on behalf of the Jamaican government and generally acted as a liaison between the government of Jamaica and American regional interests.
During his tenure as Honorary Counsel, Mr. Neil hosted countless dignitaries from various counties, brokered numerous business relationships and created a strong network of colleagues and friends around the globe. Between 1969 and 2003, Cleveland Neil represented not only the pride of the Jamaican people; with integrity in all of his actions, he also represented their strength and spirit.
Born in Balaclava, Jamaica, Mr. Neil attended Gainstead College for two years and graduated from Kingston College in Kingston. He began his career as Personnel Supervisor at Kaiser Bauxite Ltd., Manchester, Jamaica. Later he served as Industrial Relations Advisor at Esso Standard Building Products in Spanish Town.
In 1967, Mr. Neil immigrated to the United States and attended the University of Connecticut and earned a B.S. degree. He later moved to the west coast of the United States and attended the University of California at Los Angeles (U. C. L. A.) where he earned a Masters in Business Administration from the Anderson School of Business.
In 1977, he established a consulting firm, the Business Development Center, Inc., administering Federal manufacturing and service contracts in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Anaheim and Colton. BDC, Inc. employed over 100 Angelinos, managed over one million dollars in service or construction contracts and issued bonds or loans in excess of five Hundred million dollars. The company’s client list included, Proline, Inc., Burbon, Inc., Sinclair Engineering, Ali Construction, J. Kim Construction and Tape and Label.
Through the Mayor’s office of economic development under the Bradley administration, Cleveland also worked extensively with minority owned businesses and nurtured small business ventures through the 8(a) or minority certification process. He help them to secure meaningful contracts and to access management and technical assistance that sustained their growth.
Mr. Neil continues to provide occasional consulting services and he currently serves in an advisory capacity on the Board of Directors for Kedren Mental Health Association in Los Angeles and the Jamaica Cultural Alliance based in southern California. He spends most of his time between Los Angeles, Kingston and Miami where he has two adult children who he enjoys visiting.
2013 Honorees
Reno Wilson
Reno Wilson
Reno Wilson plays Officer Carl McMillan on the hit CBS series “Mike and Molly.” Reno made his television debut as Theo’s best friend, Howard, on the legendary television series, “The Cosby Show.” Reno has since starred and guest-starred in dozens of television series, including “Heist,” Blind Justice” and the critically acclaimed Showtime series, “The Hoop Life.”
He can be seen in the upcoming feature film “Bolden,” in which he plays legendary jazz icon Louis Armstrong. Wilson’s other movie credits include “Mighty Joe Young,” “Rough Draft,” “Fallen” and “White Hype.” He is also an accomplished voice-over artist who, most notably, gave voice to the Decepticon “Frenzy” in the blockbuster film “Transformers,” and later voiced the Autobot “Mudflap” in “Transformers 2.”
A native New Yorker with roots in the beautiful island of Antigua, Wilson grew up with a blues pianist father and an opera singer mother. He attended the notable High School for the Performing Arts. Wilson enjoys basketball, running, spinning, yoga and music.
He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles.
Rhona Fox
Rhona Fox
Rhona Fox is a dynamic Indian-American actress. Born in Guyana (South America) on November 2, 1979, Fox was raised in Nassau, Bahamas, where her parents who are teachers, moved to secure a better life for her and her two older brothers, Sean and Ron.
After graduating high school at 16, she journeyed to New York for a summer vacation and the rest was destiny. Enrolling in college there, the Big Apple remains home and work today.
After attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, Fox spent the first seven years of her career as an award-winning News Promotion Producer at ABC and FOX news affiliates, before becoming the Editor-In-Chief of JAMROCK Magazine, a then nationally-published Caribbean lifestyle and entertainment magazine. Ultimately, she parlayed her extensive professional media experience into launching a music media-marketing firm aptly named FOX FUSE, representing clients such as Pitbull, Lil Jon and Shaggy. The company became a partnership in 2010, to allow time for her to embark on an acting career.
Working in entertainment offered a natural transition into acting for Fox, who told her mother since she was a five-year-old in Guyana that she will become an actress one day. Being surrounded by opportunities in New York forced her to make the leap towards fulfilling her ultimate dream. Fox’s first acting gig placed her on the set of the Roc-A-Wear 10th Anniversary commercial in August 2009, where she was directed by Spike Lee. Ever since then, she was truly bitten by the acting bug.
She earned her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) membership after being hired for a three-day stint on ‘Sex And The City 2,’ which filmed a scene in Dubai (shot on a Brooklyn soundstage) and needed Middle Eastern-looking people for the “local Dubai” set. Fox then enrolled in classes at T. Schreiber Studio to study the craft of acting and become trained as an actor, and to also enhance and polish her natural skills in the field. During that time, she worked on several television shows that were produced in New York City, and regularly worked as a stand-in on ‘The Good Wife’ (CBS) and ‘Royal Pains’ (USA Network), which were the only two productions in New York with Indian lead actresses and for whom she was able to stand-in.
Fox recently appeared on ‘Made In Jersey’ (CBS) during its pilot that aired in September 2012, where the director liked her first name and added it to the script during her scene. She also played the featured Assistant District Attorney on ‘Law & Order: SVU,’ during season 14. She is currently developing independent projects with other upcoming talents in New York City, including a webisode and a few short films that are presently in pre-production.
Fox has been honored with the prestigious Golden Arrowhead Award from Guyana, during a ceremony hosted by the Guyana Consulate in New York City, in June 2012. She also received a Proclamation from the City of New York for her contributions to the City as an actor, during the same occasion.
In addition to pursuing her acting dreams, Fox enjoys reading, writing and rooting for her favorite sports teams. She continues to hone her craft at T. Schreiber Studio and looks forward to more chances to define herself as an actress, as well as an ambassador for her Caribbean culture and people.
Paula Williams Madison
Paula Williams Madison
Paula Williams Madison is a partner in Williams Group Holdings LLC, a Chicago-based, family-owned company, which has significant investments in media (The Africa Channel), a sports franchise (the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks), and various real estate, consumer, financial and trading businesses. Chairman and CEO of the Sparks, she’s also a member of the WNBA Board of Governors.
Madison recently retired from NBCUniversal, where she had been Executive Vice President of Diversity as well as a Vice President of the General Electric Company (GE).
During her 22 years with NBCU, she held a number of successful leadership roles, including President and General Manager of NBC4 Los Angeles, Los Angeles Regional General Manager for NBCU’s Telemundo TV stations and Vice President and News Director of NBC4 New York.
In 2007, she was appointed to lead diversity for NBCU. It was the first time a company officer assumed a full-time responsibility as the business-lead for diversity. That same year, Madison was named a Company Officer for GE, then the parent company of NBCU, now operated by the Comcast Corporation.
After Vassar College, her early career was spent as a newspaper reporter in New York and Texas, then a TV news manager and executive in Dallas, Tulsa and Houston. Finally, she returned to her native New York City as NBC4’s Assistant News Director, becoming the station’s Vice President and News Director in March 1996.
Her career as a journalist led to a 1996 Peabody Award for NBC4 New York’s investigation, “A License to Kill.” Madison’s continued dedication to quality journalism helped NBC4 Los Angeles earn numerous Emmy, Golden Mike and Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
In June 2012, she was featured on the cover of Broadcasting & Cable magazine’s “Women in the Game,” which profiled the twelve most powerful women in sports television. She was recently honored for her philanthropy by the Jenesse Center, a shelter for families plagued by domestic violence.
Honored for corporate leadership and community outreach, Madison was named one of the “75 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise Magazine in 2005 and included in the Hollywood Reporter’s “Power 100.” She has received awards from the NAACP, Organization of Chinese Americans Greater LA Chapter, Asian Pacific American Legal Center and New York’s 100 Top Minority Executives to name a few.
A marathoner, Madison also received the “Citizen of the Year Award” from the City of Los Angeles Marathon in 2004 and the Anti-Defamation League’s “2003 Deborah Award.” Ebony magazine listed her in the “Power 150 in Media.”
In 2010, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa appointed her one of five Library Commissioners for the nation’s second largest public library system.
Madison is a Board Member of Greater Los Angeles United Way, a past Chairman of the California Science Center Foundation, Vice Chair of National Medical Fellowships, the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, the Los Angeles Public Library Commission, Cardinal Spellman High School, and Chair of The Nell Williams Family Foundation.
Of Black and Chinese Jamaican heritage, Paula Madison was born in Harlem, New York, to Elrick M.Williams, Sr., who was a tool and die maker and Nell Williams (nee Lowe), who was a homemaker. She is married to artist Roosevelt Madison.
2012 Honorees
Antonio Fargas
Antonio Fargas
Antonio Fargas, has held a commanding on screen and stage presence for over forty years. Born in New York City of Cuban, Puerto Rican and Trinidadian heritage, Mr. Fargas started his career in film at the age of fourteen. Since then, he has developed memorable characters such as informant Huggy Bear, in Starsky and Hutch, and has TV credits spanning from popular sitcoms to soap operas, dramas and television movies.
He has had an extensive television career in the United States and Britain and his credits include such shows as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Kojack, The Bill Cosby Show, Holby City, The Wayans Brothers and Everybody Hates Chris.
Mr. Fargas’ talent soars beyond television to the theatre and the silver screen. On Broadway, he starred in “Great White Hope”, he has toured Europe with the smash hit, The Blues Brothers, he shined in plays such as the North Carolina Reperatory’s The Contract, Stage West’s, The Rainmaker, and The Emperor Jones. He has appeared in over 50 movies to date such as The Cool World, Car Wash, and La Bell Anglaise.
He is a true thespian, committed to the art of the theatre and is on the board of Rhode Island’s Langston Hughes Centre for the Arts and the Martin Luther King Centre of Newport in addition to being the Chairman of the Board of the Mount Vernon Open Case Theatre and the Honorary Board Chair on the Progressive Symphony’s Academy of the Arts.
Truly a Renaissance man, Mr. Fargas started a production company, Bumpit, as an outlet for “his musical approach of old school hip hop fusion” and to help create opportunities for young artists in the Music Industry.
Lorraine Toussaint got her start studying performing arts at the renowned High School of Performing Arts and continued her studies at The Julliard School. On her graduation day, she landed her first paying job as Lady MacBeth with Shakespeare & Company. That was just the beginning for Toussaint, who spent 12 years working in New York theater prior to moving to Los Angeles.
No stranger to Series Television, veteran Lorraine Toussaint has recently concluded a highly successful three year run on the TNT show Saving Grace, where she starred opposite Holly Hunter. For four seasons she starred as Rene Jackson on Lifetime’s critically acclaimed series, Any Day Now. For her work on the show she was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards and the TV Guide Award for “Best Actress in a Drama Series.” Lorraine is also the recipient of The Wiley A. Branton Award from The National Bar Association.
Ms. Toussaint starred opposite Halle Berry in Their Eyes Were Watching God. In 2002, Toussaint joined the cast of NBC’s Crossing Jordan portraying assertive medical examiner, Elaine Duschamps. Since 1990 she has recurred as Shambala Green on the NBC Emmy Award winning drama Law & Order. Some of her additional Series Television credits include Series Lead roles on Leaving LA, Where I Live, and Amazing Grace. Ms. Toussaint has also appeared in recurring roles on Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights, and Threat Matrix to name a few. Toussaint also appeared in the HBO telefilms Cherokee Kid, America’s Dream, and If These Walls Could Talk. Her feature film credits include Point of No Return, Black Dog, Psalms From the Underground, Breaking In, Hudson Hawk and most recently, The Soloist. Ms Toussaint has received critical acclaim for her role in Ava Du Vernay’s Sundance Award-Winning film, Middle Of Nowhere. This film opens in theatres in October 2012.
As an Executive Producer, Ms Toussaint is most recently credited with the Hallmark Television Award Winning telefilm, An Accidental Friendship. An avid writer, she has now turned her sights to long form. She is currently working on her first novel, and hopes to finish by Christmas of 2012. Lorraine Toussaint and her daughter currently reside in Los Angeles.
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, W.I. and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to an American father and a Jamaican mother. Sheryl attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY. She starred in the High School musical Oklahoma! and played Ado Annie. Sheryl graduated in 1972. In 1973, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York. At 19, Ralph was the youngest woman to ever graduate from Rutgers University.Also that year she was named as one of the top 10 college women in America by Glamour magazine. Initially she hoped to study medicine, but after dealing with cadavers in a premed class and winning a scholarship in a competition at the American College Theater Festival, she quit medicine for the performing arts. Many years later, she served as the commencement speaker at Rutgers for the Class of 2003.
Original DREAMGIRL, Sheryl Lee Ralph is a multifaceted jewel of a woman who sparkles in every area of her life. An acclaimed show business “pro”, her award winning body of work in film, television and the Broadway stage includes originating and creating the role of Deena Jones on Broadway in the landmark musical Dreamgirls, which earned her a Tony Award Nomination and a Drama Desk Award Nomination for Best Actress. After Dreamgirls, Ms. Ralph turned her attention to music, television, and film. She scored a top-ten selling dance hit in the mid-eighties with the infectious anthem In the Evening. The video is a You Tube hit.
On television, she has starred in It’s a Living, her own series New Attitude, the George Foreman series George and in the hit comedy Designing Women. She was voted one of TV’s Favorite Moms for her portrayal of loving step mom, Dee on the smash series Moesha and received numerous NAACP Image Award nominations for this role. In the SHOWTIME series, Barbershop, Sheryl broke new ground as the popular, post-operative transsexual, Claire. She brought a new face to the sufferings of war in the NBC hit series ER.
Her extensive film credits include The Mighty Quinn with Denzel Washington, Sister Act II with Whoopi Goldberg, Mistress with Robert De Niro, and Eddie Murphy’s Distinguished Gentleman to name a few. Sheryl Lee’s performance with Danny Glover in To Sleep with Anger won her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Author, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s first book Redefining DIVA (Simon & Schuster) debuted to rave reviews. Kirkus Reviews says, “A highly enthusiastic memoir by one of the original Broadway Dreamgirls… Actress Ralph embraces the label Diva (“Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed”) … Proposing that a real diva is a strong woman who respects herself and others and who promotes positive change. Ralph presents an engrossing story of a woman who challenged Hollywood… Her responses to trying circumstances reveal genuine grace and the ability to move forward with forgiveness.” Wendy Williams, Sherri Shepherd, Richard Simmons, Raven Symone, Shaun Robinson and Publishers Weekly all say it is a must read!
As a producer, Sheryl Lee found new success with her production company, Island Girl Productions, writing, directing and producing her award-winning film short Secrets. With an all-star cast, that includes Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard, Tina Lifford, Victoria Rowell, La Tanya Richardson, Robin Givens and Ralph herself. Secrets was a finalist in the HBO Film Short Competition, Showtime Filmmakers Series, Acapulco Black Film Festival, Hollywood Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Urban World Film Festival and “Audience Favorite” at Outfest Film Festival. She is also the founding creator of The Jamerican Film & Music Festival, which in five years gave birth to five SHOWTIME Filmmaker Finalists.
As a national speaker, Sheryl Lee consistently creates a contagious positive energy with her spontaneous humor and quick wit, which has made her a much sought-after speaker, guest, guest-host and celebrity expert. She has appeared on: HLN, Joan Velez Mitchell, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, The Daily Show, FOX & Friends, Good Day LA, Good Day NY, CBS Morning News, CNBC Africa, The Martha Stewart Show, The Wendy Williams Show, The Michael Baisden Show, Tom Joyner Show. Sheryl has been featured in: People Magazine, JET, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, Ebony, ESSENCE, Bazaar, Vogue, GQ, Glamour, Time Magazine, Black Enterprise, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer and hundreds more publications. Sheryl Lee Ralph captivates and motivates audiences around the world.
A passionate AIDS activist, Ms. Ralph is the founding director of the DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed) Foundation 501(C)3 which she created in memory of the many friends she had lost to HIV/AIDS. She also created the critically acclaimed Divas Simply Singing!, an evening of song and entertainment that after 22years is the longest consecutive running musical AIDS benefit in the country. Ms. Ralph has added the critically acclaimed one-woman show Sometimes I Cry, written, directed and performed by Ralph herself, about the lives, loves, and losses of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS to her list of outstanding credits. Sometimes I Cry touches the heart leaving audiences around the world deeply moved and encouraged to know their HIV status. Ms. Ralph, was awarded the first Red Ribbon Award at the UN for her unique use of the arts in HIV/AIDS activism.
Mother of two with a blended family of four, Sheryl Lee loves every moment of motherhood and marriage. Happily married to State Senator Vincent Hughes of Pennsylvania in what Entertainment Tonight called, “The most elegant and romantic wedding!” she acknowledges love is the greatest gift to be given and shared.
Lorraine Touissant
Lorraine Touissant
When deciding upon a career, Lorraine Toussaint let her fingers do the walking. At age 11, when questioned what she wanted to do with her life, Lorraine opened the telephone directory and turned to the “A” section. She found a variety of advertisements for acting schools staring her in the face. Toussaint decided to give it a try, called the school with the largest ad, and quickly found herself hooked.
Lorraine Toussaint got her start studying performing arts at the renowned High School of Performing Arts and continued her studies at The Julliard School. On her graduation day, she landed her first paying job as Lady MacBeth with Shakespeare & Company. That was just the beginning for Toussaint, who spent 12 years working in New York theater prior to moving to Los Angeles.
No stranger to Series Television, veteran Lorraine Toussaint has recently concluded a highly successful three year run on the TNT show Saving Grace, where she starred opposite Holly Hunter. For four seasons she starred as Rene Jackson on Lifetime’s critically acclaimed series, Any Day Now. For her work on the show she was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards and the TV Guide Award for “Best Actress in a Drama Series.” Lorraine is also the recipient of The Wiley A. Branton Award from The National Bar Association.
Ms. Toussaint starred opposite Halle Berry in Their Eyes Were Watching God. In 2002, Toussaint joined the cast of NBC’s Crossing Jordan portraying assertive medical examiner, Elaine Duschamps. Since 1990 she has recurred as Shambala Green on the NBC Emmy Award winning drama Law & Order. Some of her additional Series Television credits include Series Lead roles on Leaving LA, Where I Live, and Amazing Grace. Ms. Toussaint has also appeared in recurring roles on Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights, and Threat Matrix to name a few. Toussaint also appeared in the HBO telefilms Cherokee Kid, America’s Dream, and If These Walls Could Talk. Her feature film credits include Point of No Return, Black Dog, Psalms From the Underground, Breaking In, Hudson Hawk and most recently, The Soloist. Ms Toussaint has received critical acclaim for her role in Ava Du Vernay’s Sundance Award-Winning film, Middle Of Nowhere. This film opens in theatres in October 2012.
As an Executive Producer, Ms Toussaint is most recently credited with the Hallmark Television Award Winning telefilm, An Accidental Friendship. An avid writer, she has now turned her sights to long form. She is currently working on her first novel, and hopes to finish by Christmas of 2012.
Lorraine Toussaint and her daughter currently reside in Los Angeles.
Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards, an accomplished screenwriter and producer, is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience. His most recent career achievement includes his work as a writer on Disney’s Academy-Award and Golden Globe nominated The Princess and the Frog, starring Anika Noni Rose, Oprah Winfrey, John Goodman, Bruno Campos and Terrence Howard. Edwards has also produced and written for popular television shows including: Full House, A Different World, The Marshall Chronicles, Roc, In the House and In Living Color, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. He also worked on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, where he met show creators Andy and Susan Borowitz. The team went on to create Out All Night for NBC. Edwards has also written for Disney’s Academy Award-nominated animated feature, Treasure Planet.
He is currently working on The King of the Elves, based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick as well as Animated American for producers Robert Zemeckis, Bob Cooper and Dan Fogelman and Walt Disney Studios and Amulet: The Stonekeeper for Will Smith’s company, Overbrook Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Born in Detroit of Guyanese parents, Edwards lives in Beverly Hills with his wife, Michele, and two sons Joseph, a college sophomore and Sammy, a high school freshman.