FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 10, 2025 

PRESS CONTACT: Jai-Leen James  info@wabjdc.org

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Washington Association of Black Journalists announced that Natalie Wilson, co-founder and director of public relations for the Black and Missing Foundation, is the recipient of the 2025 WABJ Excellence in Communications Award. This award recognizes outstanding achievement in communications and public relations by a Black professional in the Washington, D.C. area.

Wilson, a dynamic media strategist with over 20 years of experience, will be honored at the WABJ 4th Annual Special Honors & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. Tickets for the gala can be purchased here.

As Co-Founder and COO of the Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. (BAMFI), Wilson drives strategic outreach and public awareness campaigns that spotlight missing persons of color. Under her leadership, BAMFI has been featured on nearly every national talk show. She has built powerful partnerships with newsrooms nationwide—collaborations that have helped bring hundreds of missing individuals home.

A Howard University alumna with a Master’s from Trinity University and executive education from Harvard Business School, Wilson’s honors include CrimeCon’s Crime Fighter of the Year, L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth, and Black Girls Rock! Community Change Agent.

“Our goal is simple yet profound: to make sure that our missing are household names too,” said Wilson. “This award belongs to every journalist, newsroom, and PR professional who uses their platform to make the invisible visible.”

“Natalie Wilson’s work has literally saved lives,” said WABJ President Phil Lewis. “She exemplifies the power of communications to drive meaningful social change.”

The awards gala supports WABJ scholarships, professional development programming, and the Urban Journalism Workshop, now in its 39th year.

###

Founded in 1975, the Washington Association of Black Journalists is an organization of Black journalists, educators, public relations professionals and student journalists in the Washington, D.C., metro area. WABJ provides members with ongoing professional development opportunities and advocates for newsroom diversity, equity and inclusion. For more information, please visit www.wabjdc.org.