Ebanks, also president of People en Español, provided the keynote speech for the night to members of FAAN and the general public. This year’s theme, “Women in Leadership – Movers, Shakers and History Makers,” was the background for honoring outstanding women in the community. Shirley Strawberry, co-host of “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” served as host for the evening celebration.
Felicia Fields, Ford group vice president for Human Resources and Corporate Services, provided welcome remarks before Strawberry announced this year’s honorees. The event awarded four outstanding women making a difference in the metro Detroit community;
- Faye Alexander Nelson, received the 2015 Heritage Award for her work with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy;
- Beverly Bantom, CEO of Unique Expressions, Inc., received the 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year Award;
- Dr. Peggy Richardson, medical director of S.A.Y. Detroit Family Health Clinic and Remonia Chapman, program director of Gift of Life Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) received FAAN’s 2015 Community Service Awards.
Past speakers of the FAAN Annual Black History Month celebration include: Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Roland Martin, Steve Harvey, Smokey Robinson, Martin Luther King III, Soledad O’Brien and many other legendary African Americans.