by Shawn Nowlin
A sizable crowd of friends, colleagues and family members gathered to support five deserving individuals honored Thursday, Feb. 11 as the Urban Professional League (UPL) held its 2016 Community Achievement Awards.
The event, now in its fourth year, was held in Fitzpatrick Hall at the Jefferson Center. Brie Jackson as emcee brought her usual flair that many know her for as a WSLS news reporter.
“Our main thing is to promote professional networking and to try and build a better quality of life for young African American professionals in the area,” stated UPL Executive Board Member Sherman Lea, Jr.
Charnika Elliot, founder of Noah Christian Academy, received the Lucy Addison Education Award while Cora Carpenter–Smalls received the F.E. Alexander Business Award program.
“It’s an honor for me and my team to be recognized,” said Carpenter-Smalls, founder of Paint Nite. “When I was starting the business we were told we wouldn’t be successful. People said we would only do two or three events a week but within two months we were doing fourteen events a week.”
Xavier Duckett and EJ Webb both received the C.C. Williams Community Service Award. Duckett is known for wearing many different hats. Along with founding Humble Hustle, the Old Dominion University graduate is also a photographer, youth mentor and education advocate.
“If you think about it everybody has a hustle. If you go to work that is a hustle. If you have children, raising a family is a hustle,” he said.
Webb, is known as one of the founders of a clothing line “Against All Odds.” He says the same focus and determination he used as a student at William Fleming High School to earn a college football scholarship are the same attributes he uses in his life post football.
The Dr. Beth Brown Citizen of the Year Award went to Antonio Hash. The current court bailiff began his career in law enforcement in 2008 and founded UBU Gospel Entertainment a few years later. “It’s okay to be you. It’s all about being comfortable in your own skin,” he said. “When you have your own identity you don’t really care what other people think.”
“Every year has been a success but in particular this year’s event was a lot more inspiring,” said UPL Executive Board President Kianna Price Wade.
There are certain people who take significant pride in excelling at their craft. Such individuals as those honored by UPL typically by their nature, serve to inspire those around them and make positive impacts in their community.
