Ten community leaders will be honored by Allen Media Group and its television network The Grio during a special telecast on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The broadcast of the second-annual “The Grio Heroes” ceremony will be immediately followed by a Juneteenth special hosted by Allen Media founder, president and CEO Byron Allen that will explore the influential figures and historic moments in Black and American history. The special will include prominent celebrities and guests like LeVar Burton, Tamron Hall, Kevin Frazier, Jon Kelley, Loni Love, and Shaun Robinson.
“As we unveil the remarkable achievements of these 10 heroes and amplify the icons featured in our Juneteenth special, we are reminded of the incredible resilience and excellence that defines the African-American community,” Allen said in a statement. “Heroes are needed more today than ever before, and The Grio is steadfast in its mission to uplift Black culture and remains one-thousand percent committed to celebrating our frontline community leaders.”
“Striving to support empowering, measurable change, we elevate the critical contributions The Grio Heroes make to our community every day,” Geraldine Moriba, the Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer at The Grio, said on Wednesday. “We are honored to shine a light on their extraordinary accomplishments and support work that will inspire and uplift many people for generations to come.”
The full list of community leaders who will be honored at the second-annual The Grio Heroes event follows:
- Osei Boateng of Somerset, New Jersey — the CEO of the OKB Hope Foundation, which brings essential health care services to rural communities in Ghana.
- Rhiannon Carnes of Columbus, Ohio — the co-founder and executive director of the Ohio Women’s Alliance, which is committed to building collaborative power with BIPOC women and bringing gender-positive changes to Ohio.
- Marvin Dunn of Miami, Florida — the professor emeritus within the Department of Psychology at Florida International University, who is known for teaching Black history in Florida and actively fighting against book bans.
- Angela Ferrell-Zabala of Washington, D.C. — the executive director of Moms Demand Action, and an advocate for reproductive rights, gun control and social justice.
- Angel Gregorio of Washington, D.C. — an entrepreneur who founded Black+Forth and The Spice Suite, and who amplifies Black-owned businesses by fostering economic empowerment and community growth.
- Jacqueline Hubbard of St. Petersburg, Florida — an advocate who brought Freedom Schools to Florida and whose work has empowered countless individuals through education and advocacy.
- Chris Matthews of Atlanta, Georgia — the founder of Blankies 4 My Buddies, an organization providing comfort to children dealing with traumatic situations.
- Dr. Kwane Stewart of San Diego, California — the co-founder & board president of the Street Vet, whose dedication to caring for homeless animals and their human caretakers has garnered widespread recognition and admiration.
- Mychal Threets of Fairfield, California — a librarian with the Solano County Library whose viral TikTok videos promoted life-affirming messages and helped influence reading and literacy.
- Jabee Williams of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – the founder of Live Free OKC, a subsidiary of Live Free USA, a national gun violence prevention organization.
“The Grio Heroes” starts Wednesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time (4:30 p.m. Pacific Time) on The Grio television network, and will stream live via The Grio online app and through Allen Media’s free streaming TV service Local Now. “Byron Allen Presents: Celebrating Centuries of Black Excellence” will air immediately following the conclusion of “The Grio Heroes.”
Both programs will replay on Sunday, June 23 and Sunday, June 30, and the shows will also be available to stream on-demand through The Grio’s website and apps starting Monday, June 24.
