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.

Black Excellence: Ari Lennox

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/25/763604571/ari-lennox-tiny-desk-concert

When Ari Lennox entered NPR Headquarters to perform at the Tiny Desk, we soon learned she was a little under the weather. Draped in a long, leopard-print coat, she greeted the band and approached the desk. I asked her if she was in any shape to sing, and she assured me she was. “Oh, I’m fine and I’m ready!” With that, she slipped off her coat, took her place behind the desk and began her warm up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26, 1991), known professionally as Ari Lennox, is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Washington, D.C. She signed with J. Cole‘s Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records as the former label’s first female artist in 2015. She started gaining recognition after the release of her second extended play (EP) and major label debut, Pho (2016). That same year, she made an uncredited guest appearance on Cole’s song “Change“. Her first full-length album, Shea Butter Baby (2019), was met with critical praise and commercial response.

Black Excellence: Kyle P. Walker

https://kylepwalker.com/about

Kyle P. Walker is a critically acclaimed pianist dedicated to using music as a catalyst for social change. His artistry bridges the traditions of Western classical repertoire with the voices of historically neglected composers from around the globe, creating performances that are both deeply expressive and socially resonant. Known for his commanding technique and compelling stage presence, Walker has appeared as a soloist at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has also performed as a featured soloist with orchestras across the United States. In 2023, he made history at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, becoming one of the first classical pianists ever presented on its stage. His international appearances include Switzerland’s Tibor Varga Festival and Australia’s Tantanoola Caves.

Black Excellence: Aicha Evans

Aicha Evans is one of the most accomplished and influential women in tech.

She is best known for leading Zoox—the autonomous vehicle startup—to a $1.3 billion acquisition by Amazon.

Her journey from Senegal to Silicon Valley is not just a story of personal ambition but of vision, resilience, and industry-defining impact.

Black Excellence: Brenda Marie Turner

https://www.brendamarieturner.com/about

Brenda Marie Turner’s vocal artistry seamlessly spans classical, jazz, musical theater, gospel, pop, and neo-soul. A featured soloist for opera, oratorio, art song, studio recordings, and television broadcasts, Brenda is in demand as a backing vocalist who is prized for her versatility, solid musicianship, and sheer, vocal beauty. Her performance credits extend to voice-over and on-camera work and can be heard and seen in national and international commercials and on social media spots for Facebook, IKEA, Vly foods, Koawach, and June’s Journey.