December 13, 2025
Why this recognition belongs to more than one person

The Moment

I wasn’t standing on a stage when I received the news. I was at a wedding, present in a family moment, when my phone began to buzz — calls, texts, and messages of congratulations.

That’s how I learned I had been selected as the recipient of the Blackprint Award, presented by the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce as part of its annual Black Brilliance Awards.

What the Blackprint Award Represents

The Blackprint Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work helps define culture, elevate community, and mobilize impact with intention. It honors leadership that leaves a measurable imprint — not just in words, but in outcomes.

The award is determined through a nomination and public voting process led by the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, an organization committed to advancing Black-owned businesses, leadership, and economic empowerment throughout Virginia.

When Recognition Finds You

Because I was unable to attend the ceremony in person, the moment reached me in a different way — through people. Through messages. And through words that carry weight.

I was honored to receive letters acknowledging this recognition from Congressman Eugene Vindman and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. Their messages were more than congratulations; they were affirmations of service, leadership, and community-centered impact.

How We’ve Shown Up — and Will Continue To

This recognition caused me to pause and reflect on how we’ve shown up — and why. Not in a single moment, but over time.

We’ve shown up by choosing service over shortcuts. By investing in people, not just projects. By believing that leadership is less about position and more about presence — being willing to listen, to learn, and to lead with care even when the work is difficult or misunderstood.

And we will continue to show up the same way: with intention, urgency, and accountability. Recognition does not change the commitment — it deepens it.

Built in Service, Seen in Community

This award is not about an individual achievement. It reflects a collective effort — partners, colleagues, mentors, family, and community members who believe leadership should be purposeful and people-centered.

Every initiative and decision has been guided by one simple question:

How does this serve the community?

That is why this honor resonates. It wasn’t built in isolation. It was built in service — and seen in community.

The Work Continues

I receive the Blackprint Award with gratitude, not as a finish line, but as a reminder. A reminder that service still matters. That community still sees.

And that leadership, when rooted in purpose, always carries responsibility.

The work continues.