Logo celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Black Joy Parade, with the words 'Fifty Years of Black Joy Parade' and the NBC and Comcast logos.

Media Partner

NBC logo with a colorful peacock design.

MEET OUR 2024

ICONS

Donald Frazier
CEO, Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) | Executive Director, Reentry Providers Association of America

Jameelah Hanif
CEO, Watch Me Grow

Shelene Huey-Booker
Founder / Executive Director, Youth Utilizing Power and Praise Organization

2024 FINALISTS

Black and white portrait of a man with short hair, a beard, wearing a patterned shirt and a blazer, facing forward.
Orange maple leaf silhouette.

BOSKO
KANTE

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short, curly hair, glasses, hoop earrings, and layered necklaces, wearing a blazer over a top.
An orange maple leaf icon.

SHELENE
HUEY-BOOKER

A Black woman with a shaved head and large, patterned glasses, wearing earrings and a checkered jacket, sitting outdoors against a rustic, wooden background.
An orange maple leaf silhouette on a black background.

ASHARA
EKUNDAYO

A man wearing a cap with the text 'UD UNCLE DAME' and a collared shirt with stripes, smiling at the camera.
A stylized orange maple leaf with multiple points.

DAMIEN
POSEY

A smiling man with glasses, wearing a cap and a puffer jacket, with a blurred background.
Orange maple leaf silhouette.

DONALD
FRAZIER

A smiling woman with shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a patterned top, looking at the camera.
Orange maple leaf silhouette.

PHYLLIS JA MAVA
WHITE

Portrait of a man with glasses, a beard, and a buzz cut, smiling, wearing a suit, tie, and dress shirt, portrait taken indoors.
A stylized orange maple leaf.

KEVIN L.
NICHOLS

A black and white portrait of a man with textured hair, wearing a patterned jacket, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
A stylized orange maple leaf with seven pointed tips.

TYRONE “CHAMP”
STEVENSON JR.

A woman with dreadlocks smiling, wearing a necklace and bracelets, in black and white.
An orange maple leaf with pointed edges.

JAMEELAH
HANIF

IN THE

PRESS

⇱ East Bay Times: Comcast and Black Joy Parade Honor Leaders Making a Lasting Impact in the Bay Area

⇱ NBC Bay Area: ‘Icons Among Us' announced ahead of Black Joy Parade in Oakland

⇱ ABC 7: Oakland's Black Joy Parade Honors Community Leaders at 'Icons Among Us' Event

⇱ Live in the Bay KRON: Comcast and Black Joy Parade Recognize Leaders Dedicated to Igniting Change

Group of six diverse people on stage holding flowers and awards, smiling, with a large building in the background.

To be an activist is to be a visionary.

Black Joy Parade is teaming up with Comcast to recognize activists icons yet to be crowned.

Upon selection, Icons will receive a $5,000 contribution to a nonprofit of their choice to recognize their commitment and contribution to creating more space for Black joy to thrive.

Partial circle chart with white bars radiating outward against a black background.

WHO DO WE

CELEBRATE?

To be eligible, nominees must be:

  • Primarily based in the Bay Area (9 counties)

  • Been engaged in social equity work elevating the community for at least 7 years

  • Their work must be tied to an official organization (preferably a nonprofit but not mandatory) in good standing

  • Contribution will be gifted to a 501c3 of their choice, in good standing

  • Their work has been primarily focused on and benefiting the Black community

Recipients of this recognition will be selected based on the tenure and impact of their work by a panel of Black Joy Parade and Comcast leadership. The top 3 finalists will be crowned as Icons, and announced in just a few months.

MEET OUR 2023

ICONS

Antoine Hunter
Founder / Director, Urban Jazz Dance Company

Dr. Angela Wellman
Founding Director, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music

Chef Mimi
Founder, The Black Food and Wine Experience

MEET OUR 2022

ICONS

Adamaka Ajaelo
Founding Executive Director - Self Estem

LaNiece Jones
Executive Director - Peralta Colleges Foundation

Milan R Balinton
Executive Director, African American Community Service Agency

MEET OUR 2021

ICONS

Ben McBride
CEO, Empower Initiative

Cathy Diane Adams
President & CEO - Oakland African America Chamber of Commerce

Maurice Woods
Executive Director & Founder, Inneract Project

CELEBRATING BLACK JOY

CELEBRATING BLACK JOY