V-103 & News & Talk 1380-WAOK present
VOICES OF INFLUENCE
For Black History Month, and every day of the year, V-103 & WAOK takes pride in saluting past, present and future history makers within the African-American community! Join us in celebrating our 2016 roster of great men and women whose efforts of success are making a positive change in our community.
Ava DuVernay
Since becoming the first African-American woman to win the “Best Director Prize” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, Ava DuVernay has been on a steady rise to success and has made Hollywood pay attention along the way. Recently, the prolific writer, producer and director set the industry on fire with the riveting release of Selma, which chronicled the historic 1965 voting rights campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We salute the successful voice of Ava DuVernay!
Lee Daniels
Lee Daniels has forged his way to becoming an Academy Award-winning filmmaker whose work serves audiences an authentic and unique experience. He has released critically acclaimed, box office smash hits like Monster’s Ball, Precious, The Paperboy and Lee Daniels’ The Butler. In 2015, Daniels showed more of his versatility by lending his genius to television audiences with the debut of FOX TV’s hit primetime drama, Empire. Later this year, his contributions will return to the big screen with the untitled Richard Pryor biopic starring Mike Epps. We salute the authentic voice of Lee Daniels!
Taraji P. Henson
Beautiful, charismatic and authentic are just a few words to describe 2016 Golden Globe Winner Taraji P. Henson. Best known for her award-worthy roles as “Yvette” in Baby Boy, “Shug” in Hustle and Flow and “Queenie” in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Henson has successfully forged her way from her roots in Washington, D.C. to Hollywood! Now, starring as the ball-busting “Cookie” on FOX TV’s hit primetime drama, Empire, Taraji continues to wow audiences on both television and the silver screen. We salute the dynamic voice of Taraji P. Henson!
Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard has once again become the man of the hour! Laying the foundation of his success with notable big screen hits including Mr. Holland’s Opus, Ray, The Best Man and Crash, it was the 2005 critically acclaimed Hustle & Flow that garnered a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. In 2013, Howard reprised his role as the beloved “Quentin” in the highly anticipated The Best Man Holiday. Today, Howard plays the indomitable “Lucious Lyon” on FOX TV’s hit primetime drama, Empire. We salute the hustle and flowing voice of Terrence Howard!
Misty Copeland
Award-winning ballet dancer, Misty Copeland, is taking the world by storm through leaps and bounds! Considered a prodigy who rose to stardom despite not starting ballet until the age of 13, Copeland has captured the hearts of America with her untouchable glamour. As a soloist for the American Ballet Theatre, she is the first African American to dance the lead in Swan Lake. We salute the graceful voice of Misty Copeland!
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah was only 19 when she was anointed Hip Hop’s “First Lady of Rap.” Since then, Latifah has evolved into an award-winning actress, record label president, entrepreneur and CoverGirl spokesperson! She has been the executive producer of very successful television shows including, Living Single, and the fun and flirty, Single Ladies, which will air new episodes on the Centric network in 2015. Though The Queen Latifah Show will not return to daytime TV, Latifah is set to star in the HBO biopic of blues legend, Bessie Smith. Needless to say, we’ll stay tuned. We salute the evolving voice of Queen Latifah!
Robin Roberts
Emmy award-winning Television journalist Robin Roberts uses her journalistic prowess to keep the world informed. Roberts has served as the co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America since 2005. Roberts has done extensive reporting across the globe and her headline-making interviews with notables such as President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Mark Zuckerberg and other countless interviews with musicians, authors, athletes and celebrities helped her to secure her place in the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. We salute the influential voice of Robin Roberts!
Kierna Mayo
Kierna Mayo is a veteran content creator, journalist and respected media visionary who brings great depth to her new role as Editor-in-Chief, Vice President of digital content for Ebony Magazine. Mayo began her career in the 90’s as an early “hip hop journalist” exploring gender issues within the art form. She later catapulted to co-creator and founding Editor-in-Chief of the groundbreaking Honey magazine. Her writings have appeared in newspapers, academic texts and multiple books including And It Don’t Stop: The Best American Hip Hop Journalism of the Last 25 Years. For over two decades, Mayo has covered race, women and culture for leading national publications including Essence, Vibe, and Marie Claire among others. We salute the progressive voice of Kierna Mayo!
Dominique Wilkins
One of the NBA’s true marquee players for more than a decade, Dominique Wilkins earned the nickname “Human Highlight Film” with a plethora of spectacular individual plays dating back to his college years at The University of Georgia. Dominique Wilkins is a legendary professional basketball player who began his career playing for the Atlanta Hawks. Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star, and one of the all-time elite scoring machines in NBA history. In 2006, Wilkins’ career was immortalized and celebrated with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And, in 2015 the Atlanta Hawks unveiled a bronze statue in honor of Wilkins in front of Philips Arena. Dominique Wilkins currently serves as the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Atlanta Hawks. We salute the inspiring voice of Dominique Wilkins!
Joni Taylor
Joni Taylor has redefined what it means to be a Trailblazer in the world of Women’s College Sports. In April, 2015, Joni Taylor succeeded Andy Landers as The University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs Head Coach. Taylor, a member of the Georgia Basketball Staff for the past four seasons, including the last three as associate head coach, was appointed just the second full-time head coach and the first African-American woman to lead the illustrious program. Taylor sports 13 seasons of coaching experience at the Division I level, the last seven within the Southeastern Conference. We salute the trailblazing voice of Joni Taylor!
Barack Obama
After making history in 2009 as the first African American to become the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama continues to be an example of public service and leadership. Since acquiring position in the White House, President Obama has put Americans back to work, reformed Wall Street, delivered affordable healthcare, and ended the war in Iraq. He embodies the dream of all Americans who strive for social and racial equality in our country and allows all Americans to dream in color. We salute the historic voice of President Barack Obama!
Cory Booker
Cory Booker made history in October 2013 by becoming the first African American U.S. senator to represent his beloved state of New Jersey. The former mayor of Newark, Booker has remained a consistent public servant and continues to make strides in setting national standards in urban transformation and economic abundance. Walking in the tradition of grassroots activism and pro-business sensibility, Booker strives to inspire our nation. We salute the innovative voice of Senator Corey Booker!
Marilyn Mosby
When Baltimore’s young Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby filed charges against police officers in the death of Freddie Gray, she leaped onto the national stage as heroine and lightning rod just 100 days into her new role. Marilyn Mosby is Baltimore City’s newly elected State’s Attorney and the youngest chief prosecutor of any major city. Many thought Mosby was an unlikely candidate to indict police officers because five generations of her family were in law enforcement. However, Mosby is committed to the belief that applying justice fairly and equally is what our system is built upon. We salute the courageous voice of Marilyn Mosby!
Shirley Franklin
From 2002 to 2010, Shirley Franklin served as the 58th mayor of Atlanta. Best known for advocating and tackling major government operations and ethics reform, Franklin launched the Atlanta Beltline and partnered with many local and regional leaders in addressing policy challenges in urban planning, economic development and infrastructure. Today, she serves as the chair and CEO of Purpose Built Communities and is visiting professor of ethics and political values in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. We salute the courageous voice of Shirley Franklin!
Andrew Young
A minister, U.S. Congressman, Atlanta Mayor and U.N. Ambassador, Andrew Young has held many titles throughout his amazing life. In the Civil Rights Movement, Ambassador Young was an active voice who served as a top aide and confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presently, he serves on several boards including the MLK Center for Non-Violent Social Change, the United Nations Foundation, the Atlanta Falcons, Morehouse College and more. Ambassador Young has certainly done his part to institute change in the world. We salute the active voice of Ambassador Andrew Young!
Reverend Joseph Lowery
Civil rights leader, social activist and minister, the outspoken Reverend Joseph Lowery has fought prejudice and discrimination against African Americans for more than 60 years. He began his work with civil rights in the early 1950s and was instrumental in leading the famous 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. He became a founding member and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) as well as the co-founder and former president of the Black Leadership Forum. Today, Rev. Lowery still remains active in the community. We salute the instrumental voice of Dr. Joseph Lowery!
Phillip Agnew
Phillip Agnew first came to community activism as a student at Florida A&M University after 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson was beaten to death at a Florida boot camp. Seven years later, in response to teen Trayvon Martin being killed, Agnew formed the Dream Defenders, which brought vigor and national attention to the Martin case from the start. The black-and-brown-youth-led Dream Defenders now has chapters on nine college campuses in Florida and highlights racial and social economic-justice issues like prison privatization, racial profiling and “zero tolerance” policies in schools — which many believe lead students of color straight into the prison system. We salute the outspoken voice of Phillip Agnew!
Ralph Gilles
Ralph Gilles has been passionate about cars since the age of six. By eight, he was drawing concept vehicles and by 14, his aunt shared his sketching skills with former Chrysler Chairman, Lee Iacocca, who admired his talent and made recommendations to his creative development. After attending the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan and earning an Executive MBA from Michigan State University, Gilles joined Chrysler in 1992. There, he styled the 2005 Chrysler 300 and became the boss of the design team that created the 2014 SRT Viper. Today, he is the Head of Design for Fiat and Chrysler. We salute the creative voice of Ralph Gilles!
Kimberly Bryant
Kimberly Bryant is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Girls CODE, a non-profit organization dedicated to “changing the face of technology” by introducing girls of color, ages 7-17, to the field of technology and computer science with a concentration on entrepreneurial concepts. Bryant has enjoyed a successful 25+ year professional career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries as an Engineering Manager. Since 2011 Kimberly has helped Black Girls CODE grow from a local organization to an international organization with seven chapters across the U.S. and in Johannesburg, South Africa. Black Girls CODE has currently reached over 3000 students and continues to grow and thrive. We salute the intellectual voice of Kimberly Bryant!