Detroit Boxer Lance ‘Boogie’ Smith honors his father’s legacy through faith, fight, and focus
Punches don’t sneak up on Lance “Boogie” Smith the way that memories do. Sometimes the memories are tucked inside a workout; sometimes they’re hidden in a decision that requires patience instead of emotion; and sometimes they arrive as a familiar phrase he heard so many times growing up that he stopped paying attention to it until life gave it meaning. His father, Stephan Smith, had a way of doing that. “I remember one time I had a conversation with my dad and I was like, ‘Man, Pops, you’re dropping a
Sheldon Ingram — on to his next chapter. Leaves WTAE-TV after 34 years to pursue acting career
In 2022, during an episode of the NBC hit show, “Law & Order: SVU,” WTAE-TV’s Sheldon Ingram wasn’t there doing any interviews. He was in the show, as an actor. When the play, “Two Trains Running,” the August Wilson classic, was being put on by Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, Sheldon Ingram wasn’t there for Channel 4. He was in the play, as an actor. Quite simply, Sheldon Ingram has been bit by the acting bug. At the end of May, Pittsburgh viewers saw Ingram on Channel 4, reporting on one of the
Meet the Black Woman Strategist Advancing Advocacy for Black Families, Disability Rights, and Community Impac
Dr. Issata Oluwadare, speaker, strategist, professor, author, and community advocate, has recently completed the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking program, marking a meaningful new chapter in her ongoing commitment to disability advocacy, educational equity, leadership development, and community transformation. For Oluwadare, the milestone is both professional and deeply personal. As a mother, sister, educator, and advocate, her work has long been shaped by the lived realities of families navigating disability systems, school systems, health care barriers, and public policy gaps. Through her family’s experiences advocating for her son
Vanessa L. Whiting, A.E.S. Management Corporation president pens foreword for WWIB Cleveland
Who’s Who In Black Cleveland proudly announces that Vanessa L. Whiting, President of A.E.S. Management Corp., attorney, investor, and civic leader, will author the foreword for the upcoming 18th edition of Who’s Who In Black Cleveland. The 18th edition will celebrate the achievements, leadership, and impact of Black professionals and entrepreneurs throughout Northeast Ohio while continuing the publication’s tradition of honoring Black excellence across the region. “Ms. Whiting’s long standing commitment and service to Northeast Ohio has been significant and impactful,” says Rhonda Crowder, Who’s Who In Black Cleveland
Spelman College Appoints Dr. Ayanna Howard, Renowned Roboticist, Higher Education Leader, its 12th President
Nationally recognized AI pioneer, former NASA engineer selected to lead nation’s top-ranked HBCU into next chapter of excellence and impact The Spelman College Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Dr. Ayanna Howard as the College’s 12th president. Dr. Howard, a renowned roboticist, entrepreneur, and higher education leader, will build upon Spelman’s legacy of academic excellence and leadership development while helping prepare future generations of Black women to lead in a rapidly changing world. Dr. Howard will assume her duties as president on August 1, 2026. Dr. Howard
Val Bates, a master of design and defying the odds
The name Khafra is derived from an ancient African king—an Egyptian pharaoh credited with building the Giza Pyramid. His likeness was the inspiration for the face of the Great Sphinx. Valentino “Val” Bates, principal partner of Khafra Engineering Consultants Inc., is a standout figure in the civil engineering field. In an industry where less than 4% of civil engineers are Black, the firm is nationally known for leading major infrastructure initiatives which include the Clean Water Program for the City of Atlanta and the Fulton County Water and
Leslie Bauknight Nixon: A Legacy of Leadership, Service, and Impact
By Leslie Nixon Photo by Ira Graham Community involvement has always been at the heart of Leslie Bauknight Nixon’s journey. Raised in New Jersey, Nixon’s early years were shaped by her active participation in Girl Scouts, an experience that ignited a lifelong passion for personal achievement and service to others. That same spirit continues today through her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where service to all mankind remains a guiding principle. With more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, volunteer program development, and philanthropic initiatives,
Leading with Purpose, Philanthropy, and Resilience
BY Jacqueline Killen PHOTO BY Ross Van Pelt Growing up in the rust belt town of Massillon, Ohio, Melissa Blount-Garner learned early the power of resilience, faith and community. Raised by parents who instilled confidence and a commitment to excellence, Melissa has carried those values throughout her more than two-decade career in financial services—emerging as a transformative leader in community development, corporate responsibility and philanthropy. Today, Blount-Garner serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Philanthropy at Fifth Third Bank, where she plays a pivotal role on the leadership
Serving Black Excellence in the Pulpit and Beyond
By Loán C. Lake Photo by P. A. Greene Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is an example of innovative leadership and Black excellence. She commands the stage and the pulpit, drawing all eyes and ears to her presence because she has something profound to say. Some may say it is luck, but these traits are rooted in McKenzie’s DNA. She is the granddaughter of Baltimore Afro-American newspaper publisher Carl J. Murphy and Vashti Turley Murphy, one of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated’s twenty-two founders. Most notably, however, McKenzie made history for
A Defining Night for Black Women’s Leadership in Columbus
There are moments that feel bigger than the event itself — moments that signal a shift, establish a legacy, and remind a community of its collective power. The inaugural Who’s Who In Black Columbus Women of Excellence event, celebrating 54 extraordinary women, was one of those moments. On May 29, 2026 more than 400 leaders, professionals, elected officials, entrepreneurs, educators, advocates, and community supporters gathered at the Hilton Columbus at Easton for an evening that celebrated far more than individual achievement. The event marked a historic milestone for