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,
The Women of Excellence Awards – Columbus Nominations
The Women of Excellence Awards – Columbus proudly celebrates local African American women who inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and commitment to community service. These are women who exemplify extraordinary stature, poise, and grace — balancing the many roles they carry as leaders, professionals, mentors, mothers, and pillars of their communities. As we launch this distinguished celebration in 2026 for the first time in Columbus, we will induct our inaugural class of honorees — women who are champions of economic empowerment and diversity, the
A Legacy of Excellence: From Humble Beginnings to Transformative Impact
Eddie Brown’s journey to success began in the small segregated town of Apopka, Florida, where poverty was a reality, but perseverance was his guiding force. “Someone once told me, ‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,’” Eddie Brown recalls. Growing up without electricity or running water, he became the first in his family to graduate from high school in the late 1950s and college in the early 1960s. “Until about five or six years ago, I was still the only one in my family to have graduated
A Fierce Champion for Justice
By Loán C. Lake, Photo by P. A. Greene Baltimore native Judge William H. “Billy” Murphy, Jr. loves speaking truth to power. He hails from an extensive line of successful entrepreneurs and brave community leaders, including his great-grandfather John H. Murphy, Sr., founder of the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper. Murphy, who grew up in Cherry Hill, is the senior partner of the Baltimore-based law firm Murphy Falcon & Murphy launched by his father, retired Maryland District Court Judge William H. Murphy, Sr., in 1948. Law was not the original plan.
A Mainstay in Ministry and Media
Written by Rhonda Crowder Photo by Lewis Burrell “Your gifts aren’t just for you, they’re for the people you help along the way,” says Dale Edwards, a veteran media executive, community advocate, ordained minister, and retired law enforcement officer whose lifelong mission is rooted in public service, Black empowerment, and truth through media. He lives by the belief that integrity, service and purpose matter more than titles and accolades. And, with over four decades of impact across journalism, radio broadcasting, policing, and ministry, his journey is a testament to leadership,
Columbus’ Kwesi Kambon: Born to Serve
By Kristopher Jackson Photo by Ira Graham For Kwesi Kambon, service is not a slogan. It is the thread running through his life, from a childhood on Columbus’ east side to decades of work in schools, mentoring and community leadership. Kambon grew up in Windsor Terrace, the second oldest of five. His father was absent, but the neighborhood stepped in. “Had it not been for Black men who mentored me, I wouldn’t have made it,” he said. “Even without a dad at home, I felt blessed.” At East High School, he
Vivian Anderson Jackson: A Life of Vision and Value
By Kristopher Jackson Vivian Anderson Jackson has built her life on a simple but profound principle: service is not optional — it is necessary. A native of Georgia, she has spent more than four decades transforming communities across Ohio through health advocacy, education, and unwavering leadership. Her journey, marked by resilience, compassion, and conviction, reflects a legacy of lifting others as she climbs. Jackson earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Norfolk State University, with a minor in psychology. Determined to expand her expertise,
The Power of Yes: Turning Opportunity into a Lifetime of Leadership
Photo by Paul Williams III By Loan C. Lake When opportunity knocks, Gracie Pendergrass Coleman says yes. That fearless approach — paired with confidence in her own expertise — opened doors throughout her decades-long career in executive leadership. Born in Chester, SC, and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Coleman describes her success as a mixture of serendipity and a strong belief in herself — one that was reinforced by her upbringing. “My parents were teenagers [when they had me], and I’m astounded at how wise they were. My father and
Art as Legacy: From Charlotte Walls to Museum Halls
Photo By Tyrus Ortega Gaines By Loán C. Lake Renowned artist Tommie Robinson has been drawing and painting for most of his life. His unassuming nature belies the fact that his work is seen all around Charlotte, including a commissioned portrait that hangs in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse today. Robinson has called Charlotte home since relocating from Lumberton, North Carolina at age seven or eight, around the time that he discovered his love for art. After the death of his father, his mother gave him permission to sketch and paint
Property is Power! How the Housing Crisis is Affecting Black Homeownership
The current housing market is being called a crisis for good reason. Home prices remain historically high; interest rates are elevated compared to the past decade and inventory the number of available homes is near record lows. For the African American community, where the homeownership rate lags nearly 30 percentage points behind white households, this crisis carries a deeper and more urgent meaning. It not only makes it harder for Black families to buy homes, but it also threatens long-term wealth-building and generational stability. Understanding what’s happening