Annual Black Leading Women Celebration takes place in Baltimore

By Nicole Kirby,
Special to the AFRO

Black women took the spotlight at a recent annual event hosted by Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center (LTYC), a non-profit focusing on arts in education, and CarVer Communications, a public relations, marketing and special events agency.

The event, Black Leading Women Celebration, highlights women from Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area that are making change and leading their fields of expertise. This year, the event added a new award, the Pivot Award, to honor women who, at the top of their careers, decided to pivot and go after their passions.

Award recipients and attendees, from left to right: Denise Roles Matthews, co-founder of
Philosophy Wine; Founder and Executive Director of the Black Arts District, the poet, Lady
Brion; Author and entrepreneur, Bellen Woodard; LTYC Executive Director Dana Carr; Co-
owner of Louisiana Creole Pecan Candy, Debra Garland; CEO of Restocked, Dana Green, CEO; Baltimore City Councilwoman, (D-10) Phylicia Porter; Vice president of Community Health and Social Impact for CareFirst BlueCross,Blue Shield, Destiny-Simone Ramjohn; Boxer Jarrett Hurd; White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris, of Urban One Radio; Owner of The Popcorn Bag DC, Teia Hill; Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel for Neuberger Berman, Savonne Ferguson and CarVer Communications CEO, Nicole Kirby.
Singer Gabby Samone
AFRO Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper, with CarVer Communications CEO, Nicole Kirby, AFRO Executive Director, Lenora Howze and AFRO Public Relations Manager, Diane Hocker.