Black Excellence: Lisa Tutman-Oglesby

https://celebrate-creativity.com/about-lisa

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed using my hands and heart to create beautiful things for friends and loved ones.  I’m Lisa Tutman-Oglesby and if you’ve spent any amount of time on this blog, you can see I’m pretty hooked on creativity.  I always have been.  I delight in the simple rewards that come from taking raw materials, applying a little elbow grease and imagination and making something wonderfully unexpected. I’ll bet you’re the same way.

As you explore Celebrate Creativity, you’ll notice I’m pretty passionate about many things including (but not limited to) yummy recipes, sewing, gardening, decorating and photography (just to name a few interests).

Black Excellence: Benjamina Ebuehi

https://www.benjaminaebuehi.com/about

Born and raised in South London, Benjamina has always had a sweet tooth and a fascination for all things baking related. She appeared on the seventh series of The Great British Bake Off in 2016 and finished as a quarter finalist, being praised for her approachable and creative recipes with unique flavour profiles. After taking part in the show, Benjamina entered the food world full time and now works as a food stylist, writer and content creator.

Black Excellence: Dr. Tsion Firew

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/10/06/g-s1-91435/virus-marburg-deadly-disease-rwanda

Tsion Firew had just finished running a first aid training when she glanced down at her phone — and then looked up confused.

The message she saw was about a colleague Firew had worked with a few days earlier in the emergency department at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. “She’s very young, full of energy, one of the smartest nurses I’ve ever worked with,” recalls Firew, who is chair of emergency medicine at Africa Health Sciences University in Rwanda.

Black Excellence: Robert Pierce

Robert Pierce has been practicing urban agriculture in Wisconsin for nearly four decades. During that time, he began growing
and providing organic produce to local communities on Madison’s south side.
In the last few decades, Pierce founded the essential Half-the-Forty-Acres Farm, which he still directs and operates. He has
also continued to spread the benefits of his expertise as the market manager of South Madison Farmers in addition to his
position as executive director of Neighborhood Food Solutions. Pierce said his desire to grow and distribute organic produce
was cultivated by not only his personal health needs, but out of recognition that
certain communities often lack access to affordable, natural, high-quality food.
He touched upon that in the following interview with Safe Wisconsin Produce
(SWP):

Black Excellence: Lubiana

Lubiana is a a female singer, songwriter, and musician. Originally from Belgian, Lubiana’s roots are in Cameroon, in Central Africa. She has become one of the few women playing a male traditional music instrument, Kora.

Black Excellence: Shoppe Black

SHOPPE BLACK is a Philadelphia-based multimedia company committed to amplifying the voices of Black entrepreneurs and business leaders across the globe.

Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Tony O. Lawson and Shantrelle P. Lewis, SHOPPE BLACK was created to connect Black-owned businesses with the customers, strategic partners, and resources they need to grow and thrive.

Black Excellence: Tobias Harris

NBA forward Tobias Harris is making a different kind of impact in Detroit—this time, off the court.

The Tobias Harris Homeownership Initiative (THHI), powered by Homium, is growing fast. It recently secured a major investment from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

This new funding allows the program to offer up to 40% in down payment assistance to more Detroiters. The tool? An innovative shared appreciation mortgage.

Black Excellence: Trina Bediako

Trina Bediako is the CEO of NHB Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries. Trina is the second-generation owner of the Company. Her father, Tim Brown, serves as the Chairman. The Brown family has owned the business for over 25 years and Trina is committed to its success and legacy. During her 19 years as an NHB employee, Trina has served in several corporate positions, including Director of Human Resources, Vice President of Sales, President, and now CEO. In her current position, she is the corporate leader responsible for managing full alignment with the Company’s primary customers’ Sales, Quality and Operations programs and initiatives. She has led the management team through record-breaking growth and earnings. Trina exemplifies strong leadership, decisive decision making, strategic thinking and successful achievement of cost savings, operational goals, and profitable growth.