2024 Emma Bowen Rising Star Speech

Over the course of the 2024 Emma Bowen Foundation Conference, I was honored with the Rising Star Award.
This speech was impromptu. Receiving the award was the last thing I expected. Why? I underestimate myself.
This award goes to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It also goes to Emma L. Bowen, an activist committed to granting equity for young people of color in the media industry. The relationship between the media and minorities has been plagued with negative connotations for decades. She used her network to create the Foundation for Minority Interests in Media, renamed to the Emma Bowen Foundation after her passing. Bowen was fearless, unapologetic, and confident in the overlooked talents in minority communities.
She never underestimated me. Why should I?
Thank you to…
The Holy Trinity
My mother
My little sister
My family
Emma L. Bowen
Nikki A. Bethel
Claribel Nunez
Crystal Aldape
Everette Harrison
Michael Barham
Niéna Drake
Ayia Gospodinova
Takora McIntyre
Ope Majekodunmi
Anel Disla
FOX Television Stations
Emad Asghar
FOX 5 Atlanta
Amy Oates
Regina Davis
Lily Jaramillo
Hampton University
The Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications
WHOV-TV
True Partnership Christian Academy
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Special thank you to all the panelists, Warner Bros. Discovery, FOX Corporation, Hearst Television for hosting the foundation and ABC News (especially Sara Avery) for hosting me!