Special to the
Herald
The Emerald Awards, A Salute to Black Excellence in Seminole County, presented by Breaking Bread Beyond, Inc. and Radiantly Black Lifestyle Magazine is proud to announce the nominees for the upcoming awards ceremony. In August 2024, a Call for Nominations was issued to the public, inviting nominations for inspiring and high achieving African Americans who live or work in Seminole County, and deserve to be honored. Sixty nominations were received in twelve categories.
“We are delighted with the number of nominations and the achievements of the people nominated. Seminole County has many talented and service-oriented Black residents who help make this community a great place to live and work,” notes Dr. Ethan Johnson, Health Officer, Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. Dr. Johnson is one of four honorary chairs for this occasion. Other Honorary Chairs are Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart; Dr. Michael L. Howell, MD, MBA, FACP, Regional Medical Executive Southeast Region, Cigna Healthcare; and Mark McEwen, National TV Host, Regional Radio Host, and Seminole County resident.
The Nominees by Category
Banking & Finance: Tara Richardson, Kimberly Saunders, Joyce Odongo
Community Advocacy: Julia Brunson, Turner Clayton, Britt Henderson, Dr. Barbara Kirby-Bentley, Marian Mitchell, Judith Smith, Dr. Velma Williams, Sylvester Wynn
Corporate Achievement: Celeste Clark, Melvin Philpot, Reginald Anderson
Education: Serita Beamon, Ingrid Burton Nathan, Barbara Coleman Foster, Francis Coleman-Oliver, Dr. Marian Cummings, Demetria Faison, Dr. Yuvay Ferguson, George Gordon, Jr., Dr. Briyanna Jenkins, Dr. Baboucar Jobe, Dr. Loretta Ovueraye
Entrepreneurship: Kenneth Clark, Mario Hicks, Dr. Deirdre Manley, Dr. Maria McCoy, Tony Posey, Jaison Radcliff, Eyvonne Williams
Government: Norton Bonaparte, Jr., Sheena Britton, Nicole Osburn, Kerry Wiggins, Sr.
Healthcare: Bianca Carroll, Janelle Dunn, Dr. Ronald Fulmore, Sr., Venise White, Patricia Whites, Dr. Damion Williams, Insurance: Jeffrey Campbell, Alexia Emerson
Law: Veronica Anderson, Marie Benjamin, Carsandra Buie, Natalie Jackson, Christopher Monts, Jaimon Perry Public Safety: Valeria Penny, Ebony Perry, Marvin Scott, Cecil Smith
Religion: Rev. Sammie Edwards, Sr., Rev. Helen Ford, Rev. Sheryl Moore, Rosa Pickett
Technology & Engineering: Dr. Gena Henderson, Kenneth Reese, Jr., Christopher Shaw
The Emerald Awards, a televised event, will take place on Saturday, October 26, in the Performing Arts Center of Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs. Tickets may be purchased at www.radiantlyblack.com/emerald.
Breaking Bread Beyond (BBB) was established in 2017, as a 501C3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope to the hopeless and support for unsheltered individuals, economically disadvantaged families, students, and the elderly in Seminole and Orange Counties. BBB serves four hundred home-cooked meals per week to unsheltered and under- sheltered families and individuals primarily in Seminole County.
Questions concerning the Emerald Awards may be sent to J. Lajuana Miller, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Radiantly Black, Greater Orlando’s Black Lifestyle Magazine, [email protected] or 407-840-6813.
