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P A T H M A K E R A W A R D S G A L A
KARENLOQUET
RetiredAsst Auditor
Controller,LACounty|WIT|LA
DearFriends,
DR.JOSEPHBRYANT,JR. Founder/CEOPROSPEAK
RYANE.GALES
ChiefExecutiveOfficer JGM
OnbehalfoftheHostCommittee,itisourgreathonortowelcomeyouto the2024PATHMAKERAwardsGala!
Tonight,wecometogethertocelebratethetrailblazerswhoaremakinga profoundimpactonthelivesofyoungwomenandgirls.ThePATHMAKER AwardsGalaisnotjustanightofrecognition itisatributetothecourage, resilience,andleadershipofthosewhoarebreakingbarriersandcreating amoreequitablefuture.
Yourgenerosityanddedicationallowustocontinuethisvitalwork, empoweringover1,000girlseachyeartoriseabovechallengesandrealize theirlimitlesspotential.
Aspecialthankyoutooursponsors,whoseunwaveringsupportmakesour missionpossible.WeareespeciallygratefultoJPMorganChaseand EdisonInternational,ourtitlesponsors,andtoallofoursponsors—atevery level.Yourcontributionstrulymakeadifference,andwecannotexpress ourgratitudeenough.
Thankyouforbeingpartofthiscelebrationofempowerment,inspiration, andhope.Welookforwardtosharingthisunforgettableeveningwithyou.
The Betty LaMarr PATHMAKER Award recognizes and honors three phenomenal women for their achievements, leadership, courage, and significant contribution to the lives of girls and women everywhere.
EmmyAward-WinningJournalist Honoree
JemeleHillisanEmmyAward-winningjournalist, co-founderofLodgeFreewayMedia,andacontributing writerforTheAtlantic.InOctober2022,Hillpublishedher memoir,Uphill:AMemoir,whichdelvesintoherchallenging childhood,familydynamics,andjourneyintojournalism.
In2019,Hilllaunchedtheaward-winningpodcastJemeleHillisUnbotheredonSpotify, featuringinsightfulconversationswithinfluentialfigureslikeVicePresidentKamala Harris,AvaDuVernay,andStephenColbert.ThepodcastwontwoNAACPAwardsin2022 forOutstandingPodcastinboththeArtsandEntertainmentandSocietyandCulture categories.Hillalsoco-hostsTheWire:WayDownintheHole,apodcastrecappingthe HBOseriesTheWire
Hillextendedherinfluenceintotelevision,co-hostingCari&Jemele:Won’tSticktoSports withCariChampiononVice,coveringpolitics,sports,andculture.Shealsoservesas executiveproduceronColinKaepernick’supcomingdocumentary,directedbySpike Lee,andisdevelopingacomedyserieswithGabrielleUnion.
ADetroitnativeandMichiganStategraduate,Hillhashada20-plusyearcareerin journalism,withnotablerolesatESPNandvariousmajornewspapers.In2018,shewas namedJournalistoftheYearbytheNationalAssociationofBlackJournalists.
KiKiShepardisaversatileperformerwholoves entertaining,whetheronfilm,television,orthestage. ShehasbeenafixtureonAmericantelevisionfor over30years,andHostingforKiKi,isanaturalarena…itfits
herperfectly!KiKiisbestknownasthe“ApolloQueenofFashion”.For15years,she starredasthesmashingCo-HostofNBC’soriginal“It’sShowtimeattheApollo”.Ms. ShepardwasalsotheHostofNBC’s,“LiveInHollywood”;andTVOne’sgameshow, “TheBidWhistPartyThrowdown.”KiKiperformedonBroadwayforover10years,and continuestoHostnumerousspecialeventsandworkontelevisionandfilm.
Ms.Shepardfeelsespeciallycompassionatetothefightwagedbythepatientsand familieslivingwithSickleCellDisease.In2006,sheproudlyformedherown501(c)(3) non-profitorganization,TheKISFoundation,Inc.,whosemissionistoraise awareness,advocate,andeducatethepublicaboutSCD.TheKISFoundation,Inc., supportstheSCDcommunitythrougheducationalscholarships,student mentorships,itsCrisisCarePackageBackpackProgram/COVID-19RecoveryCare Box,andtheiramazing“CelebrityGolfClassic”.
KiKiShepardholdsaBAinBusinessAdministrationfromHowardUniversity,andisa proudmemberofDeltaSigmaThetaSorority,Inc.Shealwaysemphasizestheneed forhighereducation,hasanunfalteringwilltosucceed,andtrulybelievesinthe greatnessoffamilyandGod!
CorporatePhilanthropyAdvisor, CivicEngagement
CorporateCommunications&Philanthropy EdisonInternational|SouthernCaliforniaEdison
C In2021,VeronicaVazquezjoinedtheCorporate PhilanthropyteamatSouthernCaliforniaEdison, dispersingmillionseveryyearonbehalfofEdison International,theparentcompanyofSCE.Shefocuseson diversity,equity,andinclusionpartnershipsandmanagestheCivicEngagementportfolio.
Sheconnectsyouthleadership,professionalmentorship,andworkforceeducation programstoadvancecleanenergyandaimstoadvancecommunitymembersofcolor intoemergingtechnologies,business,andtrades.EdisonInternational,knownforits historyofcommunitysupport,isamajorcorporatecontributorsupportingcriticalneeds throughoutSouthernCaliforniaEdison'sexpansiveanddiverse50,000square-mile serviceregion.Veronicabringsmorethan20yearsofexperiencetoservingthe communitythroughgrant-fundedprograms,projects,andpartnerships.Beforejoining SouthernCaliforniaEdison,Veronicawasasuccessfulgrantwriterandfundraiserin nonprofithealthcare,servingdowntownLosAngeles.Inthisrole,shewitnessedfirsthand thedisparitiesinaccesstohealthcare,childcare,education,andservicesforthe unhoused,thepoor,theelderly,andnon-citizens.Priortofundraising,Veronicaexcelled asaprogramdevelopmentconsultant,specializinginbudgetingforpublicprojectsand municipalprograms.
Sheisdrivenbyservice,gratitude,grace,andasolutions-orientedperspective.AfirstgenerationcollegegraduatefromWhittierCollege,Veronicaappreciatesmentorship opportunitiesforstudentsandyoungprofessionalsAnativeNorthernCalifornian,she enjoysnatureandsharingtheoutdoorswithfriendsandfamily.Veronicaand herhusbandaretheproudparentsofseveraldaughters,dogs,andreptiles.
USC Sea Grant’s mission is to contribute to solving the problems of the Urban Ocean; foster the public’s understanding of coastal, ocean, and social science; recognize opportunities for the blue economy, coastal commerce, and recreation; solicit and fund relevant, innovative science to inform better decision-making, and improve the quality of life in coastal regions across Southern California.
The Sea Grant Program at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles is part of the national network of 34 programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)’s National Sea Grant College Program. It is a federal-state-university partnership that integrates research, education, and outreach with a specific focus on the ‘Urban Ocean’ and solving issues arising out of managing people and natural resources in an intensely urban and developed coastline.
USC Sea Grant funds marine and coastal research, communicates research results to leaders in government and local communities, and is a leader in integrating current research with new education initiatives to increase science literacy among urban students and to encourage teachers to adopt science education curricula. USC Sea Grant is recognized as a leader in coastal hazard planning, training, and technical assistance.
Award-WinningTelevision& FilmActor
madewavesinShowtimes TheLWordGenerationQ season2andstarred inRyanMurphy's"AmericanHorrorStories"asDr.EleanorBerger.
Herimpressivefilmographyincludesiconicrolesin"NewJackCity,""Thriller," "Singleholic,"and"Candyman,"amongothers.VanessaearnedanEmmy nominationfor"OurAmerica"andwonthe2003NAACPImageAwardfor "SoulFood."Herworkin"RaisingIzzie"garneredacclaimandaNAACP ImageAwardnomination.
BeyondfilmandTV,VanessashinesonBroadwayandintheater productions.Herbook"SHINE"inspiredthesoloshow"FEETONTHECEILING!" She'saformerViceChairofTheBlackAIDSInstitute'sBoardofDirectorsand afoundingmemberofArtistsandActivistsforHealthEquity.
Aninternationallyrecognizedstar,Vanessa'sappealisauthenticand relatable,blendingpassionwithtimelesscharm.Asanartist,activist,and mother,shedeeplyconnectswithaudiencesandisatalentadmiredand trustedworldwide.VanessaEstelleWilliamsisatrueicon.
debut,TheLoveExperience(2005), withhissophomorerelease,LoveBehindtheMelody(2008),which toppedtheBillboardR&B/Hip-HopAlbumchartandearnedtwo Grammynominations.
Overtheyears,Raheemhascontinuedtoevolve,producingasteady flowofhits,includingJustRightandDon’tComeEasy.Hispassionfor R&BisevidentinalbumslikeDecadeofaLoveKing(2018)andLove Reunion(2019),alongwithhislatestprojects,FallInLoveandSummer ofLovein2023.
Asanindependentartist,Raheemhasmaintainedcreativecontrol, fosteringtalentthroughhisbrandwhilecontributingtothecultureof R&B.Hisdedicationtokeepingthegenrealive,whilepushing boundaries,hasearnedhimnumerousaccolades,includingBET AwardsandanNAACPImageAwardnomination.“R&Bandsoul musicisaliveandwell,”Raheemdeclares,andhecontinuestoprove itwitheveryrelease.
Midi Riperton (formerly Sammi G) brings 12 years of music experience, including a degree in Audio Engineering from the Art Institute of California and 7 years mentoring under the world-renowned Beat Junkies DJ crew As a co-founder of Ladies of Sound, the official women ’ s division of the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound, she empowers women and non-binary individuals in the DJ and music community
Raiz Brazil Dance Company had its debut in February 2008 at the Sambala Carnival Ball at the Vault 350 in Long Beach by its founder Jonia McClenney Jonia is from Brazil and she wanted to make art and entertainment come together exploring the Brazilian rhythms like samba, axe, samba-reggae, frevo and fusing them with other traditional dance techniques like ballet, jazz, modern and hiphop
Thank you to our Staff and Volunteer Boards for your hard work and dedication to our mission
Board of Directors
DAWN L. BROWN PRESIDENT / CEO
CECILIA OWENS Chair
JOSLYN OSBORN
Interim Treasurer Emeritus Board Chair
CLAUDIA ALLEYNE, MD Secretary
ANGEL JAMES HORACEK Parliamentarian
TONY BAYLIS Director
GLORIA DOMINQUEZ Director
DIEDRA PORCHE’ Director
Staff
DAWN L. BROWN
KENDRA BURKS
ADREE DE LUNA
DR. DIJANNA FIGUEROA
ABIGAIL GALVEZ
JESSICA GUILLAUME
STACI JANISSE
KEYONNA KEITH
MADELINE QUINTEROS
EmpowHer Youth Advisory Board
JIANELLA BECERRIL Parliamentarian
MIREYA ESQUIVEL President
SAMANTHA MORA Vice President
OLGA GARCIA Treasurer
PEYTON MEEKS Secretary
JAZMIN ROMERO
ALEJANDRA VIDES-AUSTIN
TRACY YASSINI
Advisory Board Members
ROSA CARRILLO
MARTHA DANIEL
NIKKOLE
DENSON-RANDOLPH
JULIA EVANS
LORI HEFFELFINGER
INAMARIE JOHNSON
TENIEL JONES
HELEN NORRIS
RENE’ NOURSE
JASON PARK
MARY SADEGHI, MD
SAMANTHA GODOY Director
JALAH GUY Director
ANGELA LOPEZ Director
KAYALAH MOORE Director
LIZBETH SANTILLANO Director
SPONSOR
SPONSOR
SPONSOR
SPONSOR
OURMISSION
Empowergirlsandyoungwomenin marginalizedcommunitiesbyhelpingthem gaintheskillsnecessarythrougheducation, trainingandmentorshiptobecome confident,collegeandcareerready.
OURVISION
Weenvisionaworldwhereeverygirlis providedtheopportunitiesandresources sheuniquelyneedsto:embracethepower ofhervoice;makeinformeddecisionabout herbodyandfuture;breakgenerational cyclesofpoverty;contributetothecreation ofanequitablesociety.