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- 2025 Women of Excellence
- 2025 Men of Excellence

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News
Election 2024
Shop Small Business
City. Life. Style.
Podcast
Classifieds & Archives
Events
- 2025 Women of Excellence
- 2025 Men of Excellence

Watch the 2021 Men of Excellence Ceremony

2021 Men of Excellence Honorees

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Interview Videos

Men of Excellence News

Voices of Influence: 120 Years of the Chicago Defender with Dyanna Knight Lewis
City.Life.Style.,Digital Daily,Events,Featured,For The Culture,News,Women of Excellence
Meet the 2025 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Honorees: Stories of Resilience, Leadership, and Impact
City,City. Life. Style.,Digital Daily,Women of Excellence
Calmetta Coleman: Chicago Urban League COO Honored as a 2025 Women of Excellence
City,City. Life. Style.,Digital Daily,News,Women of Excellence
Tonita Cheatham’s Journey of Resilience: A Two-Time Woman of Excellence Honoree
City,City. Life. Style.,Digital Daily,News,Women of Excellence
Meet Judge Chantelle Porter: DuPage County’s First Black Woman Judge and a 2025 Women of Excellence Honoree
City,Digital Daily,News,Women of Excellence
Christy George’s Inspiring Journey: From Bay Area Intern to 2025 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Nominee
City,Digital Daily,News,Women of Excellence
Introducing the 2025 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Honorees
City,Digital Daily,Women of Excellence
Meet Angela Martin, 2025 Women of Excellence Honoree: A Journey of Faith, Media and Ministry
City,City. Life. Style.,Digital Daily,Lifestyles,News,Women of Excellence

Congratulatory Messages

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR IN-KIND SPONSORS

Chicago Scholars
Haute Hosiery
L Warbington’s World of Fashion and Accessories

CHECK OUT THE CHICAGO DEFENDER MEN OF EXCELLENCE PHOTO GALLERY

Honorees Al Debonnett and Marc Pullins

Honoree Anthony Simpkins, Esq. and Emcee/Red Capet Correspondent Samantha Thomas

Honoree Mitchell Davis II and Emcee/Red Capet Correspondent Samantha Thomas

Honorees Jonathan McGee, Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr., Emcee/Red Capet Correspondent Samantha Thomas and Honorees Rodric Miller and Mitchell Davis III

Honoree William Andre Buchanan and Emcee/Red Capet Correspondent Samantha Thomas

Guests of PNC Bank

Honoree Vaughn Bryant, Metropolitan Peace Initiatives and guests

Honoree Al Debonnett

Honoree Hosea Sanders and Emcee/Red Capet Correspondent Samantha Thomas

Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith Jr., and Honoree Rev. Dr. Patrick Daymond

Guests of Chicago Scholars

Men of Excellence Honorees VIP Reception

Honorees and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Brothers Vaughn Bryant and Jeffery Beckham Jr.

Honorees and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Brothers

Chicago Defender 2021 Men of Excellence Induction Reception

Congratulations Gregg Arnold award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Jeffery Beckham Jr. award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Kevin Betton award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Jerry Brown Esq. award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Vaughn Bryant award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender presenting award to Honoree Kenneth Coles award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Alderman Derrick Curtis award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Mitchell R. Davis III award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Rev. Dr. Patrick Daymond award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Rev. Dr. Patrick Daymond award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Thomas Henderson award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Sean Howard award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Darryl Hughes award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations DJ Terry Hunter award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Gavin Jackson award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Rael Jackson award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Emmanuel Jackson award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Luther Lampkin award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Frank Latin award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Dr. Julius Lawson award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Dr. Cortez McCoy award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Jonathan McGee award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Rodric Miller award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Rick Nesbitt award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Pha’Tal Perkins award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Dwayne Pickett award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Shaka Rawls award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Anthony Simpkins award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Thurman Smith award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Damien Trimuel award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Williams Townsell award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Mark Walker award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Mayor Terry Wells award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Congratulations Michael Wilder, Esq. award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Keynote Speaker, Darryl W. Dennard, WVAZ-FM Host, Chicago Speaks

Honoree Hosea Sanders, ABC 7 Chicago welcomed with standing ovation from honorees from attendees

Congratulations Hosea Sanders award presented by Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher

Honoree Hosea Sanders, ABC 7 Chicago welcomed with standing ovation from honorees

Chicago Defender Class of 2021 receive Men of Excellence Creed from Keynote Darryl Dennard

Chicago Defender Class of 2021 listening to remarks from Emcee/Red Capet Correspondent Samantha Thomas

Guests of ComEd

Honoree Gavin Jackson with guests of Jackson Nuckolls Group

Honoree Thurman Smith and guest, Dyanna Knight Lewis, Chicago Defender Publisher and Honoree Gregg Arnold

Honoree Gregg Arnold with his mother, Margurite Matute

2018 Women of Excellence Honoree – Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin; Honoree Mayor Terry Wells; Honoree Shawn Howard; Honoree Mayor Darren Bryant; 2015 Women of Excellence Honoree - State Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

Honoree Mayor Darren Bryant and guest

2007 Inaugural Honoree Nathaniel Ward with 2021 Honoree Mayor Darren Bryant

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