The Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) is thrilled to announce that VoicesDMV, an initiative of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Sheila Brooks Community Impact Award. This award recognizes the community engagement initiative’s commitment to amplifying the voices and needs of underrepresented communities across the D.C. metropolitan area.
The WABJ Executive Board presents this award to a local business leader or organization that demonstrates outstanding dedication to community service in the Washington, D.C. region and beyond and whose transformative contributions have had a positive impact on disenfranchised communities.
VoicesDMV will be honored at the 3rd annual WABJ Special Honors & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Blackburn University Center, Howard University. Early-bird tickets for the gala are now available for purchase here.
For the last seven years, VoicesDMV has served as an advocate for disenfranchised communities in the DC area. Their VoicesDMV Community Insights Report has been an insightful tool for community leaders, donors, and philanthropists to learn more about how they can alleviate socio-economic disparities. The report conveys the concerns of people who are housing and food insecure due to the extreme wealth gap in D.C.
In addition, VoicesDMV empowers community members to use their voices to advocate for themselves and solidify their place in the communities where they work, live, and thrive.
This award was established in honor of Dr. Sheila Brooks, a longtime member of WABJ and the National Association of Black Journalists who has provided more than four decades of outstanding service in journalism, communications, and social impact in the community. The entrepreneur, author, and Emmy-award-winning journalist is the founder, president, and CEO of SRB Communications, a multicultural marketing and advertising agency.
“VoicesDMV has demonstrated a deep dedication to fostering community engagement, providing a platform for the lived experiences of marginalized populations, and promoting social justice through its data collection surveys and reports, the WABJ Executive Board said. “Its work not only informs but also empowers communities and stakeholders to take action, making a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals.”
“This acknowledgment of VoicesDMV’s efforts encapsulates the essence of advocacy and community upliftment, values Dr. Brooks herself championed throughout her illustrious career,” the board added.
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Founded in 1975, the Washington Association of Black Journalists is an organization of more than 300 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. WABJ was named the 2023 Professional Chapter of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. For more information, please visit www.wabjdc.org.
