Michigan Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 honorees.
Photo credit: Monica Morgan
On Thursday, June 30 over 200 distinguished guests and their loved ones gathered in downtown Detroit to celebrate Black excellence at the 2022 40 Under 40 Michigan Chronicle awards and induction ceremony.
They recognized the 40 honorees for their exemplary contributions in their respective professional fields and endeavoring spirit toward serving their local community. The winners represented the best and brightest young leaders in various industries, including education, mental and physical health, entrepreneurship, religious community practice, and business, among others.
The Chronicle welcomed guests with a dinner reception at the International Banquet and Conference Center in Greektown before being ushered into the ballroom for the awards ceremony. Upbeat music interspersed the evening as well-dressed guests enjoyed their meals, networked, and infused with a spirit of gratitude and celebration of each other’s success.
Detroit political and public relations expert, Cathy Nedd, gave the opening remarks and boasted about the special distinctions of this award.
“There is nothing more rewarding than celebrating young people,” said Nedd. “Not to take anything away from the Men and Women of Excellence, they certainly have deserved and earned everything they have.
But when I look through the list of the young people that we are celebrating today, one thing that struck me is that they got where they got really fast. I’m just so proud that they have achieved so much in so little time. So I can only imagine where they’re gonna be in 20 or 30 years from now.”
Andre Ash, Digital Anchor at the Michigan Chronicle, served as the emcee for the evening. He welcomed the crowd with words of wisdom on trekking his own path toward professional success with perseverance and humility.
“You know, somebody took the time to think about you. Somebody took the time to nominate you,” Ash said to the crown on stage. “And here tonight, we are going to celebrate you, so give yourselves a round of applause!”
In the absence of Hiram Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and publisher of Michigan Chronicle, Reginald Brown, senior marketing strategist at Real Times Media, delivered the corporate remarks.
Special awards were recognized and handed out prior to the main honorees:
- The corporate excellence award — Pierre Batton, corporate responsibility lead for Detroit at JPMorgan Chase
- The Trailblazer Award — Kamilia Landrum, executive director at NAACP Detroit and class of 2014 40 Under 40 awardee
- Entrepreneurship Award — Chase Cantrell, executive director at Building Community Value. The latter’s award was accepted by Jason Headen, the organization’s board chair on behalf of Cantrell.
“In 2018, the Detroit NAACP and many other organizations got together to expand voting rights across the state of Michigan,” said Landrum. “And as a result in 2020, we saw the highest amount of voters ever in this state use their voices at the polls and vote in that election…so yes, we care celebrating each other and many of us, including me, definitely need tonight. But we have to remember that the issues don’t die and the issues don’t be quiet just because we’re smiling and we’re having a great time. So what I hope is that you use this moment.”
The evening closed out with the induction ceremony of the men and women honored with the class of 2022 40 Under 40 Award.
Honoree Yolanda Turner, deputy chief legal counsel at Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network spoke with Michigan Chronicle.
“I feel like it means that I’m seen,” said Turner of the county-wide mental health awareness and care work she is involved in. “That the work that I’ve done is not just work that I’m aware of but those who I work with and those who nominated me and ultimately that you guys recognize it as well. It doesn’t feel real, I’m grateful.”
Fellow honoree Dexter R. Sullivan, director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and allyship at Lambert Global, shared his thoughts on being honored along his counterparts.
“It’s a privilege anytime someone recognizes you for the work that you put in,” said Sullivan. “It’s not to be expected, but when it comes, it’s definitely humbling, so it’s a rewarding experience.”
Read the Michigan Chronicle’s 40 under 40 full list of honorees here.
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