Our History
In 2014, at the First Annual African American Leadership Awards, over 300 people were in attendance including 53 African American elected officials from all regions from across the State of Michigan. In 2015, over 400 people attended including 73 African American Elected Officials and over 200 community leaders, Labor leaders and business leaders. The 3rd Annual African American Leadership Awards was held in February of 2016 and over 500 people attended and we streamed live with over 1000 viewers.
Since the beginning, Lear Corporation, Laborers Local 1191, Detroit International Bridge Co., Diggs Group, Rickman Enterprises have all come together to ensure the African American Leadership Awards Ceremony continues to be an experience that inspires, and salutes the many accomplishments of African Americans from both the present and the past. From Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young to Flint Mayor Floyd McCree, there have been many accomplishments made by many African American Leaders from around the state. From Bob Millender of Detroit to Greg Eaton of Lansing African Americans have contributed to improving the quality of life for all Michiganders.
Happy Martin Luther King jr Day!
Who originated the idea of a national holiday in honor of MLK?
The Honorable John Conyers to the left. Martin Luther King Jr to the right.
It all started when…
It took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King Jr., holiday. Congressman John Conyers, Democrat from Michigan, first introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968. After the bill became stalled, petitions endorsing the holiday containing six million names were submitted to Congress.
Conyers and Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Democrat of New York, resubmitted King holiday legislation each subsequent legislative session. Public pressure for the holiday mounted during the 1982 and 1983 civil rights marches in Washington.
Congress passed the holiday legislation in 1983, which was then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. A compromise moving the holiday from Jan. 15, King's birthday, which was considered too close to Christmas and New Year's, to the third Monday in January helped overcome opposition to the law.
The Honorable John Conyers at the 2019 African American Leadership Awards. He was the recipient of The Leadership and Legacy Award.
the 10th annual African American Leadership Awards ceremony is coming soon!
The African American Leadership Awards derived from an idea to create an experience that recognizes and salutes public servants, business leaders, and community leaders for their contributions to the African American community locally, regionally and statewide. In 2014, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence discussed pulling together African American community leaders, business leaders, and African American elected officials to ensure we are united and working together on issues that affect all of us!
Award Categories
Annette Rainwater Grassroots Organizer Of The Year:
A black community leader who is deeply connected to the grassroots and uses his or her ties to build support for social and political agendas that benefit the black community
Political Pioneer:
A black leader who broke barriers and opened doors for African Americans in Michigan. The recipient of this award must be retired. Posthumous entries accepted.
Bob Millender Political Strategist Of The Year:
A black leader who has used his or her influence and talent to groom and support candidates or champion political agendas that have benefited the black community
Emerging Black Leader Award:
A black leader under the age of 35 who has shown great promise as a political leader or organizer
John Conyers Jr. Leadership and legacy Award:
A black leader who has written and/or championed legislation that has benefited the black community in a meaningful way
Labor Leader Of The Year:
This award is leader for a black leader who has leveraged his or her ties to organized labor to increase the quality of life of African Americans in Michigan
Lear corporation Business Leader Of The Year:
A black business leader who has and will continue to break barriers and opened doors for African Americans in Michigan business and politics.
Bruce Feaster Staffer Of The Year:
Recognizes a person going beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of constituents within the Government Office in which he or she serves. He or she is strong "behind the scenes" leader, who does the heavy lifting on the day-to-day operations of an Elected Officials team. Furthermore, this individual works diligently to ensure that policy goals are met and that the Elected Official is always prepared an equipped to succeed at the mission of improving the quality of life of those that they were elected to serve.
Nominations are close !
