House Democrats re-elect Hakeem Jeffries as House minority leader

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday was re-elected by House Democrats to lead the minority party amid a Republican sweep in both Senate and House chambers along with the White House.

Jeffries, D-N.Y. will serve as minority leader in the 119th Congress to start in January.

Leader Jeffries posted the following on social media:

Honored to be re-elected as House Democratic Leader for the upcoming Congress.

We will never give up the fight for the people.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) November 19, 2024

Congressional Black Caucus Holds Ceremonial Swearing-in for U.S. Representative Erica Lee Carter

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued a statement following the ceremonial swearing-in of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's daughter Rep. Erica Lee Carter (TX-18):

“The CBC was proud to welcome U.S. Representative Erica Lee Carter to our ranks to continue the legacy of her mother, and our beloved friend and colleague, the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. An advocate for children and community empowerment, Rep. Lee Carter joins our caucus with extensive experience in federal, state, and local government, and the nonprofit sector. We are confident that Rep. Lee Carter will serve the people of Texas and our nation honorably for the remainder of the 118th Congress and beyond.”

ADCOLOR Announces Winners of the 18th Annual ADCOLOR Awards

ADCOLOR, the premier organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting diversity in the creative industries, unveiled the winners of its 18th Annual ADCOLOR Awards at its awards show held in Los Angeles, California at the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles LA Live. The prestigious event marked the culmination of ADCOLOR 2024, which also included the ADCOLOR Conference and the organization's two talent programs, ADCOLOR FUTURES and ADCOLOR LEADERS.

Winners for the 2024 awards spanned a variety of industries and professional levels, from newcomers to entrepreneurs to executives. The companies represented included Microsoft, Wieden+Kennedy New York, Landor and more. A full list of winners can be found below.

At this year's ceremony, Founder and Chairwoman of The Garcia Companies Dany Garcia was honored with the prestigious ADCOLOR | ADWEEK Beacon Award, which recognizes individuals who use their platform to break barriers and create opportunities for underrepresented communities in the creative industries. Dany was celebrated for her incredible work across entertainment, sports, fashion, and lifestyle and for her unwavering commitment to inclusion.

Other notable guests included the honorees of the organization's ADCOLOR in Music category, which recognizes those who champion diversity, equity and inclusion in the music industry. This year's ADCOLOR in Music | Corporate recipient was 88rising, accepted by the company's Chief Revenue Officer, Michael Chuthakieo. Actress, producer, artist and entrepreneur Queen Latifah received the first-ever ADCOLOR in Music | Icon award for her trailblazing career in music. GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter Shaboozey was awarded with the fourth annual ADCOLOR in Music | Artist of the Year award, following previous honorees of H.E.R., Robert Glasper and D-Nice.

Other 2024 honorees represented a diverse array of prominent companies, including MAKERS, Parkwood Entertainment, Taco Bell, Translation and more.

"Those honored tonight exemplify our mission of 'Rise Up, Reach Back' by using their platforms to inspire, uplift, and create pathways for the next generation of changemakers," said ADCOLOR Founder and President Tiffany R. Warren. "They know what it means to be 'Off Mute' and to keep pushing for equity even when there is resistance. We're proud to give them the recognition they so richly earned through their efforts to speak up and speak out for the communities they represent."

Since 2007, the ADCOLOR Awards have celebrated the achievements of diverse communities across the creative industries. This year's winners were selected by a panel of more than 60 judges from a variety of industries, roles and backgrounds. Honorees in non-competitive categories were chosen by ADCOLOR's esteemed Board of Directors and respective partners.

The full list of 2024 ADCOLOR honorees and winners is below:

2024 ADCOLOR WINNERS

• CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
  The Campaign of the Year pushes boundaries and promotes conversation by highlighting the lives and stories of historically excluded groups. The campaign of the year can run on any platform (linear, print, digital, social, etc.), in any format.
  WINNER: 
  Campaign: "Translators"
  Client: U.S Bank
  Agency: McCann Detroit
  
  
• ADCOLOR IN TECH
  The ADCOLOR in Tech Award recipient is a champion of diversity and inclusion in the tech industries, from digital platforms to programmers to educators to product innovators. By pushing boundaries and creating positive change, they set the stage for future generations to take the opportunities they develop even further.
  WINNER:  Nandita Gupta: Accessibility Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation
  
  
• ADCOLOR INFLUENCER
  The ADCOLOR Influencer builds community and creates change through their creative content on social media platforms. By promoting inclusivity and accessibility on their personal platform, they use innovative means of digital influence that leads to real-life change.
  WINNER: Gabby Beckford: Creator & Founder, Packs Light
  
  
• CHANGE AGENT
  The ADCOLOR Change Agent uses their skill and power to enhance corporate culture, and create a more equitable and inclusive environment for everyone connected to it. They call attention to the talents and potential of others around them, putting plans into action that exceed the scope of their professional role.
  WINNER: Sonia Bisono: Broadcast Traffic Director, Wieden+Kennedy New York
  
  
• DEI EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
  The ADCOLOR DEI Executive of the Year not only inspires, facilitates and implements progressive change at their own company or organization, their innovation and determination influences the ways others integrate DEI into business models and corporate cultures.
  WINNER: Judith Harrison: Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Weber Shandwick
  
  
• INNOVATOR
  The ADCOLOR Innovator embodies progress and imagination. They stand out among their peers as a game changer when it comes to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. A pioneer in their goals and their strategies, they create breakthrough opportunities for people and organizations.
  WINNER: Lachi Music: Recording Artist and Founder/CEO, RAMPD
  
  
• MOST VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP (MVP)
  The ADCOLOR Most Valuable Partnership (MVP) occurs between people and companies that work together to provide exceptional, highly effective DE&I solutions that impact organizations and industries. The two partners can be agencies, marketers, entertainment and media companies, brands, individuals, non-profits or diverse suppliers with NMSDC or WBENC certification that team up for a short- or long-term project that furthers diversity and inclusion.
  WINNER: Canadian Down Syndrome Society &  FCB Canada
  
  
• RISING STAR
  The ADCOLOR Rising Star is an up-and-comer in the creative industries with less than seven years of experience who is under the age of 30. Their brilliance, determination and shining personality makes them stand out as a leader. In their short time of rising up, they are already reaching back.
  WINNER: Ivan Delgado: Designer, Landor
  
  
• ROCKSTAR
  The ADCOLOR Rockstar reveals their brilliance as a visionary leader, through their professional role or their efforts outside it. They have a track record filled with successes, and the potential to accomplish much more. Landing between the Rising Star and the Legend, this individual rocks their own singular path as they encourage others to shine.
  WINNER: Chloë Davies: Founder & CEO, It Takes A Village Collective (ITAV)

2024 ADCOLOR HONOREES

• ADCOLOR | ADWEEK BEACON
  The ADWEEK | ADCOLOR Beacon award celebrates an executive and/or media creative who is helping to transform and move the culture forward, specifically with regards to diversity and inclusivity, by rising up while reaching back.
  HONOREE: Dany Garcia: Founder and Chairwoman, The Garcia Companies
  
  
• ADCOLOR | ONE CLUB CREATIVES
  The ADCOLOR | One Club Creative Award is given to a professional in a creative field from a historically excluded community who has demonstrated extraordinary talent and achievement within the media, creative, digital and traditional advertising disciplines. This honor is presented by The One Club for Creativity.
  HONOREE: Ashley Henderson:  Founder and CEO, Legend Twenty Two
  HONOREE: Jason Campbell: Chief Creative Officer, Translation
  
  
• ADCOLOR IN MUSIC
  The ADCOLOR in Music Award recipient is an artist, creative, executive or technician who champions diversity, equity & inclusion in the music industry. Whether a bold-faced name or a player behind the scenes, they use their voice and power onstage and off to fight for change that reaches beyond the world of music.
  CORPORATE HONOREE: 88Rising
  - Accepted by Michael Chuthakieo: Chief Revenue Officer, 88Rising
  ICON HONOREE: Queen Latifah: Actress, Producer, Artist and Entrepreneur
  ARTIST OF THE YEAR HONOREE: Shaboozey: GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter
  
  
• ADVOCATE
  The ADCOLOR Advocate is an LGBTQ+ a professional in the creative industries who increases awareness of issues that affect members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Their efforts to create progress within the creative industries reverberate into the culture at large.
  HONOREE: Brian Anthony Moreland: President, B More Now Productions
  HONOREE: Geena Rocero: Author, Director, Founder, Street Pageant Productions
  HONOREE: Adrienne Hayes: VP of Global Marketing, Google
  
  
• CATALYST
  The ADCOLOR Catalyst uses their platform to serve as the voice of a cause or community, educating and inspiring current and future generations of advertising, marketing, media, PR and entertainment professionals.
  HONOREE: DIVE Studios
  - Accepted by Eric Nam: Co-Founder & Artist, DIVE Studios
  - Accepted by Brian Nam: Co-Founder / CEO, DIVE Studios
  HONOREE: MAKERS
  - Accepted by Alicin Williamson: Diversity and Culture Officer, Yahoo!; President, MAKERS
  - Accepted by Ja'Nay Hawkins: Chief Partnerships Officer, MAKERS
  HONOREE: Monica Ramirez: Founder & President, Justice for Migrant Women
  
  
• LEGEND
  The ADCOLOR Legend is a seasoned industry veteran, a trailblazer who has pushed boundaries leading to positive and long-lasting change. By opening doors for others – and showing them how to turn around and build their own entryways – they have developed a template for future change makers to elevate the opportunities they have created.
  HONOREE: Carla Serrano: Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis Groupe
  HONOREE: Sean Tresvant: Chief Executive Officer, Taco Bell
  HONOREE: Justina Omokhua: Senior Vice President, Parkwood Entertainment
  
  
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
  The ADCOLOR Lifetime Achievement Award goes to an industry icon whose longtime professional and personal successes exemplify ADCOLOR's mission of Rising Up and Reaching Back.
  HONOREE: Judy Jackson: President, JLC Ventures
  HONOREE: Sandra Sims-Williams: Chief Business Inclusion, Impact & Belonging Officer, Nielsen
  HONOREE: General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. & Sr.: America's First Two Black Generals
  - Accepted by Doug Melville: Author, "Invisible Generals"; CEO, JodieAI
  
  
• Mr. & Ms. ADCOLOR
  Mr./Ms./Mx. ADCOLOR are two individuals selected annually who not only carry out the ADCOLOR mission, but can stand in as ambassadors to the ADCOLOR organization. Through their service to the industry and to ADCOLOR, they demonstrate and showcase what it means to truly Rise Up and Reach Back.
  Mr. ADCOLOR: Sean Choi: Owner, The Culture Whisperer LLC; Adjunct Professor, Parsons University
  Ms. ADCOLOR: Mimi Minoz: Global Creative Producer, Wieden+Kennedy 

ABOUT ADCOLOR
ADCOLOR® is a not-for-profit 501(c) (6) organization whose mission is to celebrate and champion diversity in the creative industries. Our process is twofold. First, we help individuals and organizations RISE UP, letting their accomplishments and ideas shine. Then we teach these new leaders and would-be-mentors how to REACH BACK and find others who deserve to be noticed and promoted. Our goal is to create a community of diverse professionals who are here to support and uplift one another. Learn more by visiting www.adcolor.org.

Dr. Jerry Wallace to serve as next president of WVU Potomac State College

An experienced servant leader and higher education administrator with ties to the Mountain State has been named the next president of West Virginia University Potomac State College.

Dr. Jerry Wallace, president of Danville Community College in Danville, Virginia, will begin his term as PSC president on Dec. 1.

“I am excited to welcome Jerry Wallace to West Virginia University,” President Gordon Gee said. “He brings with him a unique blend of experience and leadership that will position WVU Potomac State College to grow and better serve students and communities across the Mountain State.”

Wallace has led Danville Community College since 2022. During his tenure, the college has experienced six consecutive semesters of enrollment growth, increased community engagement activities and launched multiple workforce training programs.

Previously, Wallace served as the Nebraska Central Community College Hastings Campus president, leading programs to develop employee-community volunteer programs and an apprenticeship program to provide community members and employers an alternative workforce solution.

“We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Jerry Wallace joining WVU to lead Potomac State College,” said Paul Kreider, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “He is a proven, recognized leader among community college administrators and a passionate community supporter as well. His commitment to building meaningful campus-community connections and improving the student and employee experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow.”

In addition to his roles as a campus president, Wallace served the New River Community and Technical College in Beckley as dean of Workforce, Technical and Community Education from 2017-19. Before that, he was a resident director at WVU Institute of Technology.

“It’s an honor to join WVU Potomac State College and engage with faculty, staff and students,” Wallace said. “I’m excited to be selected to lead PSC and have the opportunity to bring my family back to West Virginia. The PSC culture of a tight-knit learning environment and student-centric programs continues to provide students access to success.”

In 2023, Wallace was named one of the Top 100 People to Meet by Virginia Business Magazine and received the Young Professionals PACE award from the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, Wallace traveled to New York to receive the 2024 Rising Star Award from the Rural Community College Alliance.

Wallace holds a doctoral degree in leadership and management, a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science. He also completed a second master’s degree, earning his MBA in human resource management with a minor in marketing.

Kreider will end his term as interim campus president at PSC, effective Dec. 1, and will continue to serve WVU as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in a full-time capacity.

Chester Higgins work part of Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now at Metropolitan Museum

Photographer Chester Higgins a friend of African American Reports will have two of his works displayed at an exhibition, Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876-Now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.

Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now examines how Black artists and other cultural figures have engaged with ancient Egypt through visual art, sculpture, literature, music, scholarship, religion, politics, and performance. In a multisensory exploration of nearly 150 years of artistic and cultural production—from the 19th century to the Harlem Renaissance to the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s to the present day—the exhibition includes nearly 200 works of art in a wide range of media.

Higgins told African American Reports that the exhibition ‘Flight Into Egypt’ embraces our agency of sacred heritage and examines the history of African people before slavery and Genesis. It’s an awesome starting point to consider our amazing sojourn and uniqueness as a people.

He also suggested that those who attend check out the catalog and a copy of his book ‘Sacred Nile' as a gift worthy of ourselves.

Higgins’s work has been the subject of many international exhibitions, and is held in notable collections, such as The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco; Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, and The Brooklyn Museum of Art. Higgins lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

The exhibtion runs November 17, 2024–February 17, 2025. The location is at The Met Fifth Avenue, The Tisch Galleries, Gallery 899 Floor 2.