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Legacy Pioneers: Champions of Equity Awards Honor the Commonwealth’s Black Business and Economic Trailblazers
One-Time Event Celebrates Black History Month by Recognizing Immense Contributions of Local Leaders
BOSTON – February 12, 2024 – The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), in collaboration with Builders of Color Coalition, Embrace Boston, Mill Cities Community Investments (MCCI), New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF), and The Partnership, Inc., will host a celebration honoring Black economic trailblazers and their critical contributions to advancing economic equity across Greater Boston and the Commonwealth. The event will be held at Big Night Live in Boston on Monday, February 12 at 6:00 p.m.
Legacy Pioneers: Champions of Equity recognizes community leaders who have broken barriers, opened doors to economic opportunities, championed inclusivity, and driven positive change across the city and state for minority-owned and operated businesses. Legacy Pioneers have contributed greatly to racial and social justice and embody the evolving face of leadership within Greater Boston’s Black communities.
Recipients will be honored across four categories:
- Icon Award recipients are economic equity champions with more than 30 years of impactful leadership. Recipients of this award include: John Cruz, Marvin Gilmore, Colette Phillips, Darryl Settles, Richard Taylor, and Teri Williams.
- The Dynamic Duos award is bestowed to couples who emanate the values of courage by influencing systems, communities, people and policies at equal pace with one another, with both leading in their respective fields. Honorees of this award are Deborah and Duane Jackson, and Benaree “Bennie” and Fletcher “Flash” Wiley.
- Rising Forces have pushed the boundaries of “what once was” to be more inclusive, exponentially increasing investment in Black and Brown businesses. The recipients are Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Nia Evans, and Glynn Lloyd.
- In Loving Memory honorees were renowned community leaders who have passed on but leave behind a lasting legacy in their tireless pursuit of social and economic justice. Award recipients include former Boston City Council President Bruce C. Bolling, Kenneth I. Guscott, Leon Nelson, Sen. Bill Owens, and father-daughter duo Archie and Beth Williams.
Representatives from the hosting organizations determined the awards criteria and honorees. The nominating committee considered individuals’ lasting impression on the economic landscape across five areas: commitment of time, policy influence, economic impact, community impact, and courage. Brief biographies and photos of awardees are available here.
“BECMA is thrilled to honor the invaluable contributions of the Black business and community leaders who forged the path for future generations to have a seat at the table,” said Nicole Obi, President and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. “We would not exist as an organization were it not for our Legacy Pioneers and their fearless and tireless innovation, advocacy, and pursuit of economic justice. We appreciate their guidance, support and incomparable leadership and we are proud to celebrate their profound impact on our communities.”
“All the awardees selected have created a path of equity for communities of color to gain a vital stake in our thriving economy,” said Colleen Fonseca, Executive Director at the Builders of Color Coalition. “We are delighted to praise these trailblazers, who have all broken many barriers. Their successes remind us of the progress made over the years and inspire continued hope for equitable economic prosperity throughout our Commonwealth.“
“In Boston we are fortunate to have a wealth of committed leaders who have laid a foundation for us all to build on,” said Embrace Boston’s President and CEO, Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries. “The honorees have put action with their words and stand out as shining examples of what we can do when we answer the call to fight for a better Boston. Embrace Boston is proud to be a part of honoring these champions of equity.“
“The time is overdue for a substantial shift in the way we grow our community’s assets. We are blessed to be in partnership with so many talented individuals and organizations leaning in to make this happen,” said Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director of Mill Cities Community Investments (MCCI).
“NCF is proud to honor these men and women, who have been champions of equity and justice for decades,” said Makeeba McCreary, President of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund. “Personally, I feel fortunate to call many of them my friends and mentors. They have laid the foundation for so much of the work we do at NCF, paving the way for a more equitable Commonwealth.”
“The Partnership celebrates all of the Legacy Pioneer honorees,” said Pratt Wiley, CEO of The Partnership, Inc. “Across generations and industries, these leaders have championed a Boston economy that works for everyone and role modeled how We Lift As We Climb. Because of their leadership, Boston is a place where we can be our best and do our best.”
Sponsors for Legacy Pioneers: Champions of Equity include: Meet Boston, The Boston Foundation, BlueHub Capital, Commodore Builders, Eastern Bank, Gourmet Caterers, Keith Construction, OneUnited Bank, The Village Bank, WinnCompanies, Boston Medical Center, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, HYM Investment Group, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, Massport, Needham Bank, Santander, Yale Appliance, The Menkiti Group and Redgate. Bay State Banner is an advertising partner.
The Boston stations of NBC, including NBC10 Boston, NECN, Telemundo Boston, and NBC Sports Boston are the proud media sponsors of Legacy Pioneers.
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About the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)
The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) is a member-based nonprofit organization that builds Black wealth across Massachusetts by supporting and empowering Black-owned businesses and removing barriers to opportunity and prosperity for the Black community. Founded in 2015, BECMA focuses on four pillars to building and sustaining Black wealth: entrepreneurship, placement, commerce, and ownership. Through advocacy, programming, and strategic partnerships, BECMA drives economic equity and prosperity for Massachusetts to achieve inclusive growth that enables Black-owned businesses and Black communities to thrive. For more information, visit www.becma.org.
About the Builders of Color Coalition (BCC)
The Builders of Color Coalition (BCC) increases access and diversity in Boston’s commercial real estate sector, to promote the economic well-being of minority businesses and the communities we serve.
Founded in 2017, BCC convenes a network of 600+ real estate professionals of color, private firms, government agencies, trade organizations, and community nonprofits, to collectively create greater opportunities for education, employment, partnership, and financing. Our minority real estate network comprises developers, investors, architects, attorneys, bankers, contractors, and brokers working across a range of firms, from family-owned enterprises to multinational companies. To learn more about BCC, visit www.buildersofcolor.com
About Embrace Boston
Embrace Boston was established at the Boston Foundation in 2017, and their work is intended to inspire change and activate social justice values towards the realization of a radically equitable and inclusive Boston by 2030. Embrace Boston is a nonprofit with a mission to dismantle structural racism through their work at the intersection of arts and culture, community, and research and policy. Collectively, the work is intended to create a radically inclusive and equitable Boston where everyone belongs and the BIPOC community prospers, grounded in joy, love, and wellbeing. The organization is a deeply collaborative, BIPOC-led organization that is working toward an ecosystem which fosters equity, opportunity, and wellbeing for a transformed Boston by 2030, the city’s 400th birthday.
About Mill Cities Community Investments (MCCI)
Mill Cities Community Investments (MCCI) is a community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides flexible growth capital, technical assistance and strategic advisory services to small business owners and homeowners in historically disinvested communities. Our purpose is to build generational wealth to close the racial wealth gap. With our robust advice, resourced networks, and capital investment, we aim to grow sustainable, thriving, and diverse communities driven by equal access and opportunity. In 2022, the Foundation for Business Equity (FBE), an award-winning Boston-based organization working to scale businesses of color, merged with MCCI. To learn more about MCCI, visit https://mccinvest.org/.
About The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund:
The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF) is a funding and support resource for Black, Latino, and Indigenous entrepreneurs, innovators, and nonprofits. Together we are addressing systemic racism and racial inequality while fostering inclusion, representation, opportunity and prosperity for Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities in Massachusetts. Visit for more information. Follow the conversation on our website, LinkedIn page and on Twitter @NCFMass.
About The Partnership, Inc.
Formed in 1987, The Partnership is the premier New England organization focused on attracting, retaining, and developing professionals of color at all levels of leadership. We offer leadership development programs for professionals of color and provide services for companies so professionals and executives of color can thrive in today’s global workforce. Over the last three decades we have collaborated with 300 organizations and helped more than 4,000 diverse professionals reach their full potential in organizations across the country.
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