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The Trailblazer Awards
These multi-generation events are fun but the knowledge you gain is invaluable. Dr. Bobby Jones was kicking us some gold nuggets and we soaked it all up! Learn from your elders...
#TrailblazerAwards Donzaleigh Powell
About:
The Trailblazer Awards were founded in 2015 by Everything Underground to create a platform to award and honor those who have blazed the path for others in the field of education, entertainment, gospel music and broadcasting.
Mission:
To raise awareness and bring attention to those who are in the fields of education, broadcasting, gospel music and entertainment by honoring and recognizing their hard work and dedication in their respective industries.
Vision:
Everything Underground strives to provide a foundation that honors and awards individuals across the nation who have blazed the trail in various fields.
Everything Underground press release
Everything Underground is pleased to announce this year's recipients of our Trailblazer Awards. This event, which will be held on December 4, 2016 in Indianapolis at the Madame C.J. Walker Center, will honor those who have excelled in the fields of education, journalism, entertainment and sports, blazing trails and setting an example for future generations in terms of leadership, perseverance, dedication and achievement. In many instances, they have not gotten the recognition or exposure they deserve, yet they have not let that lessen their willingness to help others and to push ahead for expanded economic opportunities and social justice for all.
This year's winners are:
Barbara Boyd - Indy's first Black newscaster
Bertha Davis - Award winning author and Mississippi native
Catherine Hughes - Founder of Radio One
David Gadis - Vice President of Voila Water
Mike Epps - Comedian/Actor
Dennis Bland - Youth Enterprises
Gregg & Jannett Keesling - Founders of Welfare to Work, 20 years in staffing field
Harrel Scott - Medical field
Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson - Founder of nationally acclaimed Hip-hop publication Hype Magazine
Olgen Williams - Founder Christamore House Ex Deputy Mayor and Community Activist
Tamika Catchings - WNBA All-Star and Founder of Catching the Dream
William Pride - Lifetime supporter of publishers
Melvin Jackson - Lifelong Activist and Founder of WSCM, which creates programs for at-risk youth
Stephanie Young/Mozel Sanders Foundation - has supplied over one million meals during Thanksgiving
Eric Washington - Underground Artist/creator of various Hip-Hop shorts with conscious messages
Deborah Asante - Founder of Children's Theater
Phyllis Carr/Barbara Wilson/Helen (Perkins) Charles - Founders of Indiana Black Expo
They will be honored at a gala ceremony that will also include live entertainment. More details will be announced at a later date. Everything Underground is located at 1125 Brookside Ave. Indianapolis, In. We are a multi-media organization and part of a national network consisting of business and firms dedicated to community awareness, uplift and empowerment.
First Trailblazer awards prove successful
By Everything Underground
Any first year venture faces its share of problems, particularly an awards show. But the first annual Trailblazer Awards proved a success far beyond expectations. The event attracted an overflow crowd to Nashville's Agenda club last Oct. 4.
The program's purpose was twofold. One was to honor pioneers in the fields of education, journalism, entertainment, gospel and broadcasting. The second was to continue the mission of the Indianapolis-based organization Everything Underground, which was founded nearly 14 years ago to build, develop and foster co-operation and interaction between Black businesses and enterprises across the state, region and throughout the nation.
The initial class of honorees included many distinguished people. Among those honored were Dr. Bobby Jones, Dr. Sybril Bennett, John Heidelberg, Nella Pearl Frierson, Hazel Joyner Smith, Connie Denell, Sharon Kay, Rosetta Miller Perry, Young Buck, Charles Howe, Jesse Johnson, Janiro Hawkins and Ron Wynn. A sign of how well the inaugural event went and the respect it already has earned was the fact almost all the honorees attended. Lashell Daniels, creator and owner of Everything Underground explained the philosophy behind the event and the selections of Trailblazer awards this way, saying:
“We wanted to recognize those individuals in the Middle Tennessee area who have made a difference and paved paths for those that follow behind them. Our list of honorees, which were voted for by our board, covers a wide demographic and we feel that the community will be able to draw inspiration from every person on the program. We are beyond excited to award and recognize these individuals for their hard work."
Planning is already underway for the 2016 edition of the Trailblazer Awards, as more pioneers will be highlighted. Agenda has already stepped up to be the locale for the second edition, and more details regarding the time and other information will be revealed later in the year. But given the excitement generated by the first show, there will be plenty of interest and anticipation for the second edition of the Trailblazer Awards.
