CINCINNATI — A series of banners on display in downtown Cincinnati this February aim to highlight some of the many local faces rewriting Black history every day.
What You Need To Know
- The Black is Excellence campaign is taking place in downtown Cincinnati throughout Black History Month
- Banners featuring notable African American leaders, quotes and historic information are on signs and LED boards for the next month
- The goals are to promote a positive image of African Americans and to create contemporary role models for Black children
For the fourth straight year, the city of Cincinnati is partnering with community activist Kai Stoudemire-Williams and Fifth Third Bank on the Black is Excellence campaign. The annual Black History Month celebration honors African American community leaders who’ve had a considerable impact on the greater Cincinnati region.
This year’s theme is “Our Work is Our Legacy.”
A selection panel picked 15 prominent leaders from a wide range of fields — nonprofit work, medicine, entrepreneurship, art, entertainment, community development, law enforcement, banking and education.
The full list of honorees is below.
As part of the recognition, the honorees’ pictures are featured on banners alongside quotes, facts and information related to Black history. The custom-designed art pieces are visible in areas throughout downtown and surrounding areas, including Findlay Market and Fountain Square.
There are other graphics on the large outdoor LED screens at Fountain Square, Kroger on the Rhine and the parking garage entrances at Washington Park.
The massive “Cincinnati” sign outside Duke Convention Center and interior LED screen colors will glow in red, black and green at points throughout the month. The color scheme mirrors the one used on the Pan-African flag and other prominent iconography in Black and African American culture.
“It’s important that we acknowledge those who continue to blaze trails to heal and advance their communities despite the history of disparity, inequity and inequality,” said Paul M. Booth, who heads the city’s Office of Human Relations.
“Their achievements are a testament to victories born from struggle,” the former Cincinnati City Council member added. “We are proud to recognize achievements and sacrifices with great expectations for the future. We acknowledge the important work that lies ahead and work to promote a better quality of life for all.”
The banners and signs feature 15 prominent leaders from a wide range of fields. (Photo courtesy of Fifth Third Bank)
One of this year’s recipients is Christie Kuhns, president and CEO of Urban League of Southwestern Ohio. She referred to the Black is Excellence recognition as a testament to Black people who’ve sacrificed and fought hard so that others could be positioned to do the same.
“If you’ve accomplished great things and done nothing to reach back and bring someone else along with you, you are not truly successful,” she added.
Stoudemire-Williams said she founded Black is Excellence to promote a more positive image of African Americans than the one often depicted in popular media. She first collaborated on the project with the city of Cincinnati in 2019.
The campaign intentionally runs during Black History Month, a time set aside to recognize the achievements the local African American community has made over the past 200-plus years, Stoudemire-Williams said.
While there’ve been a lot of tremendous feats and innovations brought to Cincinnati over the years, Stoudemire-Williams said she doesn’t want to focus solely on the past.
She views Black History Month as a 28-day platform to highlight all the great things Black and African American residents continue to contribute to Cincinnati.
Over the years, Black is Excellence banners featured bakers, crossing guards, pastors and engineers.
“These icons, many of which were overlooked at the time and continue to be sidelined today, transformed our country and our cities,” Stoudemire-Williams said. “While some groundbreaking heroes are well known, there are many unsung heroes worth celebrating.”
Kuhns described the award as “humbling.” She’s received several awards for her community work in recent months. One of those is earning a spot on the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s annual Making Black History list.
At first, Kuhns was hesitant to accept the awards, she admitted. However, the mother of two said she owed it to her children, Chloe and Kai, to show them there’s nothing wrong with taking pride in your successes.
Being considered a role model is an honor, Kuhns said, but one that comes with an incredible responsibility. Part of that is a willingness to reveal your flaws to those who look up to you, she added.
“There is an assumption that perfection is a requirement to be successful or feel accomplished, especially among Black women,” Kuhns said. “I believe the best way to help others succeed is to be honest and transparent about my imperfect path to success.”
Dr. Victor Garcia, MD, a pediatric surgeon and founder of the Trauma Center at Cincinnati Children’s, said being honored by Black is Excellence inspired him to do even more to address the worsening inequities that affect Black Americans.
“I am further motivated with this recognition to do not just what I can, but to do what is absolutely necessary to bring about racial equality in this generation,” he added.
The sentiments from Kuhns and Garcia are what Black is Excellence is all about, according to Kala Gibson, executive vice president and chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third Bank.
Gibson, an honoree last year, said the program serves as a public reminder of the importance of having mentors and professional heroes.
“This campaign… is a way to show others that they, too, can make a difference,” he added.
2023 Black is Excellence Honorees
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Tracey Artis — CEO, I Hear Music
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Lawrence Cain, Jr. — Financial coach, Abundance Academy
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Carla Cobb, VP — Director of supplier diversity, Fifth Third Bank
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Dr. Victor Garcia, MD — Pediatric surgeon and founder of the Trauma Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
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Russ Hairston — Executive director of Avondale Development Corporation
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Rev. Pastor Jackie Jackson — Program manager of Everytown for Gun Safety
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Christie Kuhns — President and CEO of Urban League of Southwestern Ohio
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Kevin Lavender — Head of commercial banking at Fifth Third Bank
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Glenn Meadows — Head of mortgage servicing at Fifth Third Bank
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Latisha Owens — Founder and president, Guiding Light Mentoring
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Karen Rumsey — Health programs manager witness advocacy for the Cincinnati Police Department
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Gloria Samuel — Director of Program and Project Management at Fifth Third Bank
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Isaac “Drift” Wright — Artist, Drifter Shoots
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Sole Bros — Founders Spencer Boyd II, Curtis Harrison IV and Kellen Newman, as well as board members Breiland Anderson and Jonah Karschnik
