03/13/2026
Great networking
📍 HONOREES
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are proud to introduce our 2026 Legacy Awards Honorees.
🏆Robert Townsend – Legacy Award
Trailblazing actor, director, and storyteller Robert Townsend will receive the Legacy Award for decades of groundbreaking work that has elevated Black voices in film, television, and culture.
🏆Jimmy Akintonde – Leadership Award
Jimmy Akintonde, Founder of Ujamaa Construction, will receive the Leadership Award for building the largest Black-owned construction company in Chicago and creating pathways for opportunity in the industry.
🏆Lisa McKay – Education Award
Lisa Kay, Founder of Culinary Education Academy, will receive the Education Award for empowering the next generation through culinary training, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.
🏆Stephanie Hart – Growth Award
Stephanie Hart, Founder & CEO of Brown Sugar Bakery, will receive the Growth Award for transforming a neighborhood bakery into a nationally recognized brand with multiple locations—including O’Hare and Midway airports—and revitalizing the historic Cupid Candiesfacility into a 10,000-square-foot manufacturing operation.
🏆Dr. Pamela Blackman – Advocacy Award
Dr. Pamela Blackman, CEO of Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts Chicago, will receive the Advocacy Award for her lifelong dedication to uplifting underserved communities through arts, culture, and philanthropy—providing scholarships, housing support, and youth programming across Chicago.
🏆Pam Robinson – Community Award
Pam Robinson, Founder of the 40+ Double Dutch Club, will receive the Community Award for turning a small Facebook group into a powerful movement of thousands of women celebrating wellness, sisterhood, and community impact across the country.
🏆Gus Rickette Sr. – Family Legacy Award
Gus Rickette, Founder of Uncle Remus Chicken, will receive the Family Legacy Award for building one of Chicago’s most iconic Black-owned restaurant brands and serving generations of families throughout the city.
This is Legacy.
Join us in celebrating these remarkable leaders March 14th during Legacy Awards Weekend.
See YOU on the Blue carpet.
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