The 4th Annual Uhuru N2U “Heart and Soul” Volunteer Appreciation party is coming up soon, Saturday, December 6th, 2025 at 3 pm CT. This year has seen a record-breaking number of volunteer nominees for the annual volunteer award categories. Over 50 nominations have been received and all reflect amazing work done by our incredible volunteers! Below we name each category along with pictures of the nominees and who nominated them. Click here to register for this event. Attend in-person in St. Louis, MO or St. Petersburg, FL, or attend remotely via Zoom.
Commitment to Excellence Award: They are always striving to make things the very best for the African working class self-determination.
Terron S. is an excellent photographer who brings his own equipment to meetings, volunteer workdays and events to capture the joy and humanity of everyone who is engaged in the process of transforming the black community as part of the strategy of the Black Power Blueprint. He has regularly covered NINA meetings in a style that is unobtrusive to the participants, while still managing to capture the people’s engagement. His work expresses the love he has for his community and he appreciates being able to contribute his skills to the Black Power Blueprint! He has set a new standard for Black Power Blueprint photos. His work shows the courage and lively spirit of our community fighting against the colonial system that manifests itself in every aspect of our lives. His photos of the NINA block party were the best!
David R. aka Redbeard has been a strong advocate for the African People’s Socialist Party for over four decades. This year as the membership coordinator for USM SF Bay, he has brought his infectious enthusiasm to the work. He contests the gloom-and-doom panic experienced by many in the SF Bay Area with a deep revolutionary self-confidence in being on the winning side of anti-colonial resistance. This year he set out with the goal to meet with every local member to convey our appreciation and to discuss how they would like to be involved in the work. He is someone to emulate when it comes to meeting the people where they are at and taking them to a new level of support. We deeply appreciate the stand Redbeard takes in the interest of African working class self-determination, from struggling that we have enough literature, to being out on the streets in unity with the anti-colonial struggle.
Daniel C. consistently writes a feature article each month for our Black Power Blueprint newsletters. He begins by interviewing a representative from the featured institution, then crafts a succinct, engaging, and well-written piece. The main points from his articles form the core content of our newsletters, which link directly to his full articles hosted on both of our website news tabs. Daniel has a brilliant way with language — he captures the spirit of the Black Power Blueprint through his deep understanding of and unity with its mission. His consistent commitment to excellence and dedication to the African working-class movement is demonstrated through every article he produces.
Simone D. has been an outstanding addition to the Black Power 96 team. As a new programmer, she quickly mastered station operations, followed protocols, and showed unwavering commitment to excellence. Simone embodies the mission of the African People’s Education and Defense Fund through her professionalism and passion for community empowerment. She jumped into the February Fund Drive with enthusiasm, meeting her fundraising goals in both February and July. Beyond her on-air presence, Simone actively promotes her show and the station on social media, expanding community engagement. She also brings in special guests from her family and professional network. Simone’s creativity, teamwork, and dedication continue to inspire others and strengthen Black Power 96 Radio’s mission.
La Crisha W. has been volunteering with the African National Women’s Organization since the start of ANWO’s Los Angeles Branch in 2022. Leading our Fit to Fight program. An innovative program designed to be a holistic approach to empower our members for self-sustainability and self-preservation. In a world where resilience is the key to survival. Leading the Black August Fit To Fight program for the last two years. Training us with workouts Every Sunday and leading a guided meditation every Tuesday and Thursdays through the month of August as we focused on Political Prisoners and building discipline that we need for the fight. Coach Crisha’s leadership reflects the belief that wellness is a weapon — one that protects the body, renews the mind, and uplifts the spirit. Her dedication continues to inspire a movement of healthier, stronger, and more purpose-driven women ready to serve their families, and communities.
On the Spot Award: They are always there when you need them and also when you didn’t know you needed them, to do whatever is needed to complete the task at hand.
Torryn has been helping with the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market since 2022, when he was just 12 years old. Now 15, he continues to be one of our most reliable and enthusiastic volunteers. Whether it’s passing out flyers, putting up posters, setting up and breaking down tents and tables, or phone banking to reach vendors and community members, Torryn is always ready to step in when needed. Balancing school, football practice, and family responsibilities, he still makes time to show up for the market with a positive attitude. Torryn doesn’t wait to be asked—he notices what needs to be done and takes initiative, often lending a hand before anyone realizes help is needed. His consistency, energy, and dedication embody the spirit of the Farmers Market. We can always count on him, and the market wouldn’t be the same without his quiet leadership and dependable presence.
USM met Steve at a “No Kings” protest in St. Pete, and he immediately jumped in to help with transportation and outreach for our Artists Against Genocide benefit show in August of 2025. He also immediately began attending our weekly USM Tampa Bay branch, helping to get the word out about events, and pitching in to help whenever needed. Steve has also become a regular fixture at the St. Pete Uhuru Foods & Pies booth, volunteering on a regular basis. Recently he offered to help us pass out flyers at local businesses for our upcoming Teach-In. USM is proud to nominate Steve for the “On the Spot” award!!
After seeing a social media promotion, Sue emailed us to volunteer with the Gary Brooks Black Power Community Garden. From the start Sue made herself available to do whatever needed to be done. She brought her adult daughter and a friend along to volunteer and they even brought their own tools. The day she first volunteered we had physically challenging goals that she did not back down from – she shoveled the heavy, rocky soil from previously demolished building foundations that the city of St. Louis leaves for the northside community to deal with. Additionally, her family and friends dug deep holes for the Redbud and Serviceberry trees in the garden. Sue contributes her knowledge of best methods and vast garden experience. She and her daughter contributed bricks for the decorative border in the garden. She also helped the garden team load the bricks that will be used for the new pollinator bed.
In the past 6 months Ameer F. has raised his level of political and organizational responsibility to expand the reach of Black Power Blueprint on multiple platforms. He is an instrumental force on the Promotions team. He taught himself new skills and now does video editing & production, produces the mailerlites, engages with the social media, sends the mass texts, updates the website news tabs and pushes the capabilities of the electronic sign further than anyone thought possible. Ameer truly shines on projects that draw on his strong technical and organizational skills. He is open to taking on new tasks, completes them very quickly, usually sooner than the deadline, and makes the process look effortless. Ameer played key roles in Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles for many years and continues to support in every way that he can from Philadelphia.
This is the second year that Talmadge has been nominated for the On-The-Spot Award, a recognition that perfectly reflects his dedication to Black Power 96 Radio. Talmadge steps up whenever the station needs support, often at a moment’s notice. Whether it’s producing, voicing, or editing PSAs and underwriting mentions, he handles every task with precision, frequently meeting tight deadlines. This year, Talmadge expanded his contributions by serving as post-production editor for the One Africa Worldview podcast, preparing episodes for broadcast with skillful attention to detail. He also joined Promotions Coordinator Mariah on location at major cultural events such as Essence Fest, delivering engaging coverage and reporting for the BP96 audience. Beyond production, Talmadge plays an active role on the Promotions Team, helping to engage supporters and grow the station’s online presence. His commitment, adaptability, and team spirit exemplify what it means to be “on the spot.”
Dedicated Service Award: They have contributed a lot of their time. Nothing in the world takes the place of persistence and determination.
Zoe, a skilled graphic artist, has produced social media graphics, flyers and short videos as part of the Black Power Blueprint Promotions Team since 2020. In 2025 Zoe produced a promotional piece every week which is critical in stabilizing and growing the promotions team. Based in Seattle, Zoe expresses her support for the importance of Black Power Blueprint and the quality of her work reflects that! Zoe continually develops her skills and creativity and she generously shares her knowledge with others. Zoe takes the work seriously, is extremely consistent and prolific, she regularly attends the Promotions Team meetings and has made a commitment to doing whatever needs to be done to get the word out about the groundbreaking work of APEDF and Black Power Blueprint!
We met Marge at an Uhuru Movement march 10 years ago. An expert baker and cook, having previously owned a restaurant, she began volunteering at the Uhuru Breakfast & Lunch booth. For the past five years Marge has been our head baker, dedicating her time every single week (sometimes twice a week) during the market season to mix, assemble and bake Uhuru Pies. She is a calm multi-tasker and offers positive encouragement to volunteers she helps to train. Marge is also the expert at Uhuru pie dough and produces beautiful pies every time!! Marge always goes above and beyond, working as long as needed to get everything done. And she has recruited about five other volunteers from her weekly corner political protest group! Marge exemplifies a deep commitment to African self-determination and to Reparations in Action.
Chris, a dedicated member of the Black Power Blueprint Promotions Team since 2020, is a self-taught film maker. Based in Connecticut, Chris attends the BPB promotions team meetings and shares his skills, resources and enthusiasm and helps move the promotions work forward. Chris’ short videos, produced weekly, have generated thousands of views on Black Power Blueprint social media sites. Chris has produced videos including clips on the true history of St. Louis including the destruction of the African community of Mill Creek Valley and poisoning the African residents of the Pruitt Igoe housing project. Chris has produced multiple video clips from local news media and City Hall recordings showing the influence of Black Power Blueprint and NINA in the aftermath of the May 16th tornado that devastated the black community. His unity with African self-determination comes through in his excellent sense of timing, creativity and going the extra mile in these productions.
KC M. has been volunteering with the Uhuru Movement for more than seven years and has shown unwavering dedication to the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market since its early beginnings. KC is also there to help with setup and breakdown, putting up posters, spreading the word about market events, and lending a hand wherever it’s needed. KC’s persistence and determination shine through her consistent presence and her deep belief in the mission of economic self-determination for African people. Rain or shine, busy weekend or quiet morning, KC is there—reliable, steady, and ready to work. Her years of commitment and genuine love for the community have made a lasting impact on the success and spirit of the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market.
Terrell is the epitome of dedicated service! If he says he’s coming to volunteer, you can always count on him! He is extremely reliable and always shows up on time, even when taking public transportation! Terrell has volunteered at a majority of the garden volunteer Saturday workdays during the 2025 season. Terell trained to work at the community free food give-a-way booth and not only anchors it, but trains others to do the work. This important work includes sorting, packaging and labeling the veggies and herbs as they are harvested and then distributing them to the community. Terrell promotes the Black Power Blueprint and signs people up to volunteer and receive the monthly newsletter. He keeps the community tied in!
Brenna and Kelsey volunteered with the Black Power Blueprint following the May 2025 tornado. Every time they showed up, they worked hard, for hours and came back to help several times. Kelsey and Brenna always happened to volunteer on days when we only had one or two other people. They cleared heavy rough debris by hand out of neighbors yards, and hauled tons of bricks, even in the rain! Brenna and Kelsey deserve the dedicated service award. They were persistent, dedicated volunteers, even in the face of so many hard projects. Huge thank you to this duo!
Chris is a long-time technical engineering volunteer with Black Power 96 radio. He is highly skilled in radio operations. Chris travels an hour from his home to the studio to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems when needed. He recently worked to replace the station’s old Emergency Alert System with the new one and served as on-site eyes and hands during a tech support call with the manufacturer to configure the settings. He repairs equipment and ships equipment off as needed. He takes it upon himself to identify special items that are needed to improve studio operations and often donates items as well. He worked diligently to configure, test and monitor the station’s streaming service for the improved Black Power 96 mobile app. This year, Chris lost his wife after a long illness. That did not stop him from continuing to volunteer and contribute to Black Power 96. That’s dedication! We appreciate Chris!
Chris W. is an exceptional volunteer whose time and technical expertise have strengthened Black Power 96 Radio. His determination to improve the station’s technical operations have made a lasting impact. When Black Power 96 organized a webinar to raise funds for a new Emergency Alert System after the purchase was defunded by Pinellas County and the cancellation of FEMA/CPR grants, Chris reached out to local radio stations and organized a simulcast of the fundraising program. When Black Power 96’s broadcast mixing board died, Chris and Radio Free Gulfport donated a better one. He installed it and created braille labels for the equipment, which helps our volunteers with accessibility needs. Chris has donated and installed various pieces of studio and broadcast equipment. His willingness to step in whenever needed and share his expertise exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated volunteer. Black Power 96 is truly fortunate to have his knowledge, compassion and commitment.
Leadership Award: The sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have but how many leaders you create, making a lasting impact even in your absence. This category recognizes volunteers who step up to lead, train and bring in other volunteers.
USM met Jeminy in Jacksonville at a National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression Conference. They came to volunteer at our local Earth Day outreach, and began attending local USM meetings. They enthusiastically jumped into the role of Logistics Coordinator and Artists Liaison for our “Artists Against Genocide” Benefit. Jeminy organizes their friends and colleagues, and others in the community, to be a part of building USM events and filling needed roles. Jeminy is now Secretary of USM Tampa Bay branch, demonstrating leadership and holding things accountable. They are also part of the 2025 Reparations Telethon Committee. Thank you Jeminy!
Anthony is profoundly committed to the health and well being of the African working class community in North St. Louis! He has volunteered and organized others to volunteer in the Gary Brooks Black Power Community Garden; at the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers market; at the Grand Opening of the Basketball Court and more! He is a leader of a non collegiate African men’s fraternity, Kappa Psi Kappa Gamma Chapter. They are committed to giving back and making a difference and this season’s Gary Brooks community garden has benefitted. Anthony brought the whole fraternity for an early May planting day. He introduced them to the Black Power Blueprint and united them with the vision and goals to transform the conditions of the Northside through economic and political power in the hands of the African working class. He has unleashed his “brothers” who volunteered throughout the season and even took on leadership roles.
Erion “Prop-Man” is a life-long resident of St. Louis, father and advocate for the African community. He has dedicated many years working with young African women and men, teaching important trade skills, particularly in how to build tiny homes. He and his organization, Youth Builders, volunteered their time to set up and break down the Northside Community Block Party. They brought a bus to the Block Party outfitted as a house to show how they help the community find accessible housing. All Youth Build members gave moving testimonies about how deeply they appreciated Erion’s mentorship and training. They have learned new skills, confidence and pride working to benefit the African community. His commitment to the northside African community is strongly felt by his efforts to teach over 300 young people how to build tiny homes for free since the May 2025 tornado that devastated many areas of the northside. They donated several tiny houses to residents whose homes were destroyed by the tornado. He has received no recognition nor funding from the city government, still his unwavering commitment to teaching young Africans real world skills remains strong. There is no other organization that has taught more people trade skills for free.
David is the Business Development Executive from Built Solutions and organized his team of 6 volunteers to volunteer with the Black Power Blueprint campaign to “Bring Power Back to the North Side.” From the beginning, David showed interest, enthusiasm and genuine passion for participating in our mission and the work to rebuild the northside. Even when we had to make a last minute change to the work for the day, his response was so positive. The team he organized to participate was amazing and the joy and positive energy that David brings definitely sets the tone for any room he walks into! We are excited to nominate David for the Leadership Award because of the work that he did to organize the group and deal with so many changes and make it such an amazing day of service with the Black Power Blueprint. Thank you David!
Annie is the Director of Client Relations and Brand Development for Russell Co in St. Louis. Annie organized the workday of 6 volunteers from Russell Co for Black Power Blueprint’s campaign to “Bring Power Back to the North Side”. Not only was her team hard working, capable and generally amazing, but Annie also really wanted to make sure that volunteers with building skills were allowed to volunteer from Russell Co as well. She understood how valuable those skills are to a community devastated by a tornado and struggling to rebuild, and she made it happen! Two members of her volunteer team almost completely rebuilt a porch during their shift and also gave so much great advice. We are so happy to nominate Annie for this Leadership Award and for organizing this amazing team and making it all happen. Thank you Annie!
Volunteer Team Award: Group whose outstanding performance and accomplishments together warrant recognition. Or a company who values sending their employees out to participate in community work, really giving back to the community.
The volunteer group from Built Solutions were a huge help in finishing interior painting at a home that was severely damaged by the tornado. They were an amazing group of volunteers that were a joy to work with. They really went the extra mile including getting painting done in some very hard to reach places. They even repaired the exhaust hood over the stove after noticing it was loose. You can tell that they are all amazing professionals who really cared about doing their best to help the black community in north St Louis rebuild after the tornado. Thank you Built Solutions! You truly deserve this nomination for the team award!
This volunteer group volunteered with us on Sept 12th as part of the 4th annual Give Back Day event for IIDA Gateway Chapter! IIDA, International Interior Design Association, Gateway Chapter. They chose to spend their day with the Black Power Blueprint and we were lucky to have them. This hardworking group worked with the team at the soon-to-open Uhuru Bakery & Cafe to paint the newly built extension. This project, being built in what has long been a food desert, was seriously delayed by struggles with the city and then by the tornado. The work of this team helped to get this project back on track and closer to opening. The team worked in the hot weather, outside, painting very uneven surfaces. You can see the before picture and the “during” picture. The exterior wall that they painted was then used for a beautiful mural. Thank you for all your hard work and congratulations on your much deserved nomination!
The Russell Group Construction and Development team was really great! They were unique to us at the Black Power Blueprint because their team included two volunteers who had professional construction skills. Those two worked on building a community resident’s back porch that had been seriously damaged by the tornado. Not only were they very talented, they also consulted with the owner on the best plan, making some really important observations and changes to make sure the project could be completed. They were joined with more volunteers from Russell who worked on interior painting on some repaired walls. Their goal was to contribute to making a positive impact in the black community neighborhood where the tornado damaged people’s homes – and they really accomplished this goal. Thank you Russell Co for all your hard work, you really deserve the volunteer team award!
If you haven’t heard about Chicken N Pickle and you’re thinking that these volunteers work at a restaurant that serves chicken with pickles, you would be like me! But now I know that this amazing group of volunteers joined us from a popular restaurant and pickle ball venue in St. Charles. This was a bright and lively group of volunteers who had high spirits and were very happy to be contributing to the black community’s struggle to rebuild and stay in their homes following the tornado. Half of the group helped with interior painting in a home where the walls had been repaired following tornado damage. The other half of the group helped at Uhuru Bakery where we had to load and unload kitchen equipment. Thank you Chicken N Pickle for helping us bring self-determination back to the northside of St. Louis!
United Healthcare contacted us in July to do a volunteer day! This was a big group who were passionate about making a difference through their volunteering and they really delivered. One team did interior painting in a home seriously impacted by the tornado. The roof and walls had been repaired so they went to work on painting including in the kitchen and the front rooms of the home. The other team helped at one of the buildings slated to become a cafe and training kitchen. This building had roof damage from the tornado. It was dusty work but the team was up to the challenge. They also helped trim back foliage outside the building. Everyone contributed so much and made such an impact on these projects. We hope to see you again and you all truly deserve to be recognized for the volunteer team award!
The volunteer workday with the volunteer from Arcturis ended up being a great example of serendipity. The Black Power Blueprint had been collecting donations of clothing, food, toiletries, as well as building materials. Our trucks were full of donations and we tasked these volunteers with unloading the trucks, inventorying the materials and get us ready for another community giveaway the next day. Not only did this team do an amazing job, it turned out that because they are an architectural firm, they actually knew what all the building materials were and could accurately inventory it all and tell us what the materials would be used for! This was incredibly helpful! And the team working on the clothing and toiletries and other donations for the giveaway made the next day’s giveaway very smooth and successful! Thank you Arcturis – your nomination for this award is so deserved!
The volunteer team from the United Methodist Church in Kirkwood meant business! Even though they were a smaller team, they clearly had the passion to give their time and energy to supporting self-reliance in the African community. Their goal was to complete the painting in two rooms of a home that had been seriously damaged in the tornado. And they took that goal very seriously saying that even if they had to cancel other plans, they were staying until that goal was done! This group was also very creative, developing a system of preparing and handing off a loaded paint roller to the painter, so they didn’t have to waste time getting down off the ladder to reload! It is not surprising that this team met their goal and they ended on time to boot! Thank you Kirkwood United Methodist Church volunteer team!
WashU St. Louis Fellows was one of the first groups that contacted us to volunteer following the tornado and they came out in force. They organized 50 volunteers, team leaders, a bus to charter the volunteers as well as lunch for their whole hard working team. And this team really worked hard! They were responsible for clearing significant tornado debris from the community, including roof debris, bricks, downed tree debris and more! They repaired fencing and used chainsaws to cut trees into manageable pieces to carry away. Everyone worked really hard, split up into separate teams throughout the area. These young adults made a huge impact in helping to clean up after the tornado really devastated the black community on the northside. We appreciate every single volunteer as well as everyone that helped to make this event happen!
Siteman Cancer Center volunteered as part of the Black Power Blueprint’s campaign to bring power back to the north side. We hosted them for a really productive workday on June 20th. It was just a month since the tornado, so we worked with part of the group to clear fallen tree debris while the rest of the group took on interior painting at a community member’s home that sustained intense roof and water damage. Siteman’s volunteers carried the cut up tree pieces out of the yard and across the alley. They also trimmed back foliage, swept and got rid of other debris blown into the yard. The interior painters did an amazing job getting walls and ceilings, edges and all the tight spots. Thank you Siteman Cancer Center volunteers for all your hard work!
In June, the “In St Louis, For St Louis” initiative team at WashU emailed informing us they were organizing WashU volunteers to support tornado recovery and community efforts across the region and did we have anything they could plug into? We responded YES, how about joining our volunteer workday this weekend? They organized an amazing group of 20 WashU volunteers to join the workday. They boarded up buildings, repaired fences, worked in the community garden, cleaned up tornado debris and so much more. There were so many things to solve on this workday and all the volunteers worked together and got all the jobs done! Our appreciation to the In St. Louis, For St. Louis initiative team volunteers! You are all very deserving of this award!
Members of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement—Virginia, Indigo, and Dylan—joined the Black Power Blueprint ad hoc Promo Team to urgently spread the word about our tornado response and relief resources. The committee existed for one month and started only days after the May 16th tornado. They worked to mobilize the community and demand real relief and accountability from the city government. Virginia coordinated social media efforts, posting twice a day—nonstop—for an entire month and was our project manager. Dylan and Indigo collaborated to create and edit dozens of videos, update the news section of our website, and track coverage from the mayor and city officials to expose the many ways North St. Louis was left to fend for itself during this life-and-death disaster. The contribution of this highly skilled, politically united team was an invaluable contribution to promoting and claiming the importance of the Black Power Blueprint at a critical time in the midst of a highly volatile situation with repression and resistance unfolding daily.
The Diasporic Music Show team embodies teamwork, creativity, and consistency in volunteer broadcasting. Led by host and music historian Jalali, with co-host Malinda, the team delivers engaging weekly episodes featuring curated playlists, meaningful discussions, and insightful guests. DJ Assata enriches each show by researching music tied to significant dates, honoring artists’ birthdays, anniversaries, and cultural milestones, and keeping the program timely and educational. Their dedication has built a loyal, supportive listener base. This year, Malinda expanded the show’s reach through strategic promotions, launching a website, and sharing episodes across multiple platforms. United by a shared passion for music, history, and community, the Diasporic Music Show team stands as one of Black Power 96 Radio’s most inspiring and impactful volunteer collaborations.
Allan and Consuelo are a remarkable husband-and-wife team whose creativity, generosity, and leadership make them invaluable members of the Black Power 96 family. Allan, an author and Local Going Global contest-winning musical artist, and Consuelo, owner of Exquisite Touch Beauty Salon, have founded nonprofits that serve local families and youth. They partnered with Black Power 96 for a back-to-school event, bringing the station to DJ and engage the community. Allan also produced a touching mini-documentary about DJ Eddie, highlighting his story and contributions. Beyond that, they have donated during fund drives and spoken at Pinellas County meetings and press conferences in support of the station’s mission. Their partnership embodies unity, purpose, and unwavering community commitment.
The recently formed Puget Sound USM Branch led by Elliot M., Mads A., Janet V., Peter R. and Sandra F. did outstanding work coming together to put on a successful Dine for Reparations event in October as part of the Days of Reparations campaign. Peter utilized the Guadalupe house space for the dinner and organized people affiliated with the Catholic worker. Janet organized members of the Green Party to attend and donate. Mads served as the head cook and organized volunteers Finn and Felix and food donations from the farm. The new branch chair Elliot served as a sous chef with Mads to prepare an African peanut stew, fried plantains, salad and vegan key lime and berry pies. The dinner included a political presentation and a fundraising pitch. The dinner raised over $1700 and was a delicious coming together of members, supporters and people new to the movement!
Raven and Jordan are a perfect example of Heart and Soul. When the Black Power Blueprint reached out to them after the tornado devastation on the Northside, they immediately opened up their event space, Work & Leisure, as a collection site for donations of food, water, and supplies for the Black Power Blueprint to distribute to community members. Then they donated their space to be used as the venue for the Reparations Legacy Benefit for the Black Power Blueprint that raised over $17,000. They helped to promote the event through their network of friends and contacts. They met with us to develop the plan for the event and brought creative ideas and recommendations and opened up new relationships with the community. Both Raven and Jordan believe in the right of the Black community to be self-determining. Their stand of solidarity with the African community is testimony to the Heart and Soul that they embody!
The volunteer group from SSM Health helped on tornado recovery workdays did an amazing job. This group included physical therapists as well as office administration professionals. This group had a shorter timeframe to work with but they came ready and did not mess around! They helped us clean the home of a community resident displaced by the tornado after serious damage. The cleaning they did helped to make the space ready to be lived in again. Not only did they take on some really intense cleaning jobs, including cleaning ceiling fans, getting paint and dried dry wall mud out of the sinks, getting paint spills off the wood floors, cleaning blinds, dusting drywall dust off of every surface, and bringing a stove back to life. This team also had to go back to work after their shift! Now that is dedication! Thank you for all your hard work SSM Health volunteers – you were amazing and truly deserve this nomination for the team award!
Spirit and Positivity Award: This category recognizes individuals whose positive attitude impacts those around them and is contagious, motivating and enhancing the confidence of everyone around them.
Laronda B. is a member of NINA, business owner and community member who worked with Debra Perkins to procure donations of gifts for the children at the very successful Northside Community Block Party held in August, 2025. Laronda participated in all the block party planning meetings and distributed flyers and posters in the community to let everyone know about the event. Laronda’s hard work to secure the donationed gifts demonstrated her unity in making the event the best for the African working class. Her desire to organize positive activities for the children of the northside community was a huge part of the inspiration to build the block party. She was also a lively addition to our block party vendors with her booth that displayed beautiful bags and jewelry. This is why NINA nominates Laronda Braxton for the Spirit and Positivity Award.
Debra P. is a mother, grandmother, NINA member and long-time St. Louis resident who played a critical role in organizing the “Northside Community Block Party” in August, 2025. Debra attended weekly planning meetings, organized donations of gifts for the children and adults attendees, coordinated the Children’s Area inside of Karibu Outdoor Space that included face painting and the ever popular bouncy house, and had a lemonade booth that was a big hit! Debra’s work ensured that neighborhood children were celebrated at the block party. Her efforts supported NINA’s goal of upholding the welfare, safety and wellbeing of the community by making sure the children were safe and everyone had a good time at an event that celebrated the strength and resilience of the African community. Therefore, NINA nominates Debra Perkins for the Spirit and Positivity Award!
Matthew R. is a father, husband and master cabinet and furniture maker with tremendous skills, creativity and vision. In 2024, he worked with Paul Breslin-Kessler to build beautiful display cases for the Uhuru Bakery Cafe. At the time, we thought the bakery would open in a few months. But due to the struggle with the City, it took 18 months before the bakery was ready to receive and install the beautiful cabinets. In spite of the delay, Matthew stayed committed to ensuring that the cabinets were beautifully and professionally built and installed! On installation day in 2025, Matthew came to the bakery with a van full of professional equipment. Matthew worked closely with Sealli Moyenda to install the display cases- it was a dance of teamwork, problem solving, redesign and flawless execution. This was real solidarity in action. The bakery is uplifted by Matthew’s gift, spirit and positivity!
Jenae has been a friend and volunteer in the Gary Brooks Black Power Community garden for several years and even took the initiative to connect with us to make sure we knew how to contact her after her contact information changed! Jenae is dedicated to making positive change in her community and volunteers every Saturday that she is not working at her regular job! Jenae’s enthusiasm is infectious. She is strong and skilled, but also very humble. She engages positively with any and all tasks, whether weeding, planting or harvesting in the garden. Jenae puts a smile on your face every time she walks into the garden!
Loria J. is both the heart and helping hands of Black Power 96 Radio. Her positivity, reliability, and willingness to serve make her an essential part of the team. She volunteers at concerts taking tickets, ensures The Weekly Challenger receives event listings, and assists with tasks like burning CDs and organizing materials. Whenever the Station Manager calls, she’s there, ready to help. Loria often donates bottled water, soda, and snacks for webinars and community events, always bringing warmth and encouragement. Recently brought on as part-time Administrative Support, she continues to volunteer extra time, demonstrating true dedication and teamwork. Her cheerful attitude and steady commitment uplift everyone around her, making her a shining example of volunteer excellence at Black Power 96 Radio.
USM SF Bay met Kate over a year ago at the monthly Bear Witness for Palestine where her passion and spirit for solidarity with the Palestinian people were palpable. Kate took an active interest in USM, immediately showing a keen desire to learn about African Internationalism and soon embraced Uhuru Solidarity’s anti-colonial stance and drive for reparations to African people. She has enthusiastically contributed and volunteered at USM events, USM meetings, and our USM yard sales, where she donated many wonderful items. Not only has she been a stellar member, but she has also enlisted her adorable children and husband, who have contributed their time and energy this past year. Although we have only known Kate for a little over a year, she has been such a bright light, affecting everyone around her with her eagerness to learn and her strong desire for all colonized people to be free.
James P. positive energy, sense of humor and can-do attitude lift the spirits of everyone around him. No matter the circumstances, James brings joy and encouragement to the task, reminding us that community organizing can be both powerful and full of laughter. He takes on any task—from setting up tents and tables to loading and unloading the truck—with patience and enthusiasm. One unforgettable day, the garage doors to our storage unit broke, forcing us to park the U-Haul on the street and carry every item by hand into the elevator and up to storage. While others grew tired, James never complained—he worked the entire time with a smile on his face and words of motivation for everyone else. James’s positivity is contagious. He embodies the spirit of teamwork and commitment that keeps the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market moving forward with joy, strength, and unity.
Heart and Soul Award: This category recognizes a volunteer who always gives their all, solves problems with creative ideas and makes others better as a result of their presence.
Daddy Pop first connected with Black Power 96 as a rap artist but soon became one of the station’s most dedicated volunteers. After learning about the mission, he jumped in wholeheartedly, from photographing concerts, to accompanying DJ Eddie to events like Music Biz 2025 and The Legends Ball, and helping represent the station in the community. He is also reviving the In Nem Streets segment, which amplifies community voices on air. Daddy Pop volunteered to attend oral arguments in Jacksonville on November 6, showing his commitment beyond creative work. Traveling from Clearwater for every engagement, he brings energy, creativity, and heart to every project. His drive and passion make him a rising star and a valued member of the Black Power 96 family.
Gregory was nominated by two organizations!
He is valued for all his volunteer contributions across so many areas of the Uhuru Movement, which makes his volunteer times in the Gary Brooks Black Power Community Garden all the more appreciated! Gregory sees the whole picture of African self-determination and economic and political power as interconnected. Gregory has volunteered in the garden on weekdays, which is so helpful as the garden needs daily and weekly tending, watering and harvesting. He is there for whatever needs to be done! He contributed to harvesting veggies and gleaning the tomato beds and loading up bags of soil, chrysanthemum plants and tools to be delivered to the bakery and cafe. Saluting Gregory!
Gregory R. has been with the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market from the very beginning, bringing knowledge, culture, and community to every market. Rain or shine, Gregory shows up—not only to vend, but to help with breakdown, loading the truck, and supporting the market team. His consistency and positive energy make him an essential part of the market’s rhythm and spirit. Beyond his role as a vendor, Gregory contributes thoughtful ideas to improve the market’s operations, often attending vendor meetings and offering creative solutions rooted in experience and care. Recently, he joined the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) as the Economic Coordinator, deepening his commitment to building African economic power. At every Sunday rally, we are reminded of his gift for storytelling—uplifting, teaching, and inspiring those around him. Gregory truly embodies the heart and soul of our community, making everyone better through his presence, wisdom, and dedication.
Willie W. has contributed so much to the African community and to NINA’s work to bring together the northside neighborhoods and revitalize the community. He brought his bar-b-q kitchen and booth on wheels to feed the community at the August Block Party and everyone raved about his food! Recently, he was a guest speaker at a NINA meeting and gave heartfelt testimony about growing up in a vibrant northside community with stores, restaurants, and amenities within walking distance. He has lived in this neighborhood his whole life, and represents the true genius of the African working class. He’s self-trained in carpentry, mechanics and many other skills. He built his own successful business and his mobile outdoor kitchen which he continues to upgrade, to bring delicious food to the community and be a model for black owned self-determining businesses. He encourages others to join with NINA, the Uhuru Bakery & Cafe and the Black Power Blueprint!
At the beginning of September, Deputy Chair Ona Zene’ called Halley M. to come to the Uhuru Bakery & Cafe 3719 W. Florissant to see the progress to get it open and to propose how to paint murals on the building to make it pop even more. Halley proposed what would represent the more than 10 month struggle against the city to open a restaurant in an African food desert. Simply and elegantly paint the logo on both sides of the building! She made a plan, presented it to APEDF, and outlined the number of people, the paint and tools needed. Four nights before the 12 volunteers showed up to paint, Halley, Sealli and Ruby outlined the logos in the dark of night. On Saturday, October 25, the volunteers arrived, some of whom Halley herself had won to be there. Within four enjoyable team-building hours Uhuru Bakery and Café shone up and down West Florissant brighter than anticipated. Halley ensured beauty, professionalism and a volunteer experience so wonderful that each new volunteer wants to return!! And Uhuru Bakery is already a landmark!
Ileana has played a great role in the 6th season of the Gary Brooks Black Power Community Garden! By trade and nature, Ileana is a “foodie.” She gravitates to critiquing, growing and cooking food. And once Ileana volunteered with the community garden that is part of ending food apartheid through African self-determination and power, she became a dedicated volunteer. She has participated in a number of Saturday Volunteer Days in 2025 and brings joy to every task! You can see her amongst the greenery harvesting the ripe veggies and herbs and making them available for community distribution. She was also on the team using pix axes and shovels to prepare the bed for planting tulips around the flag pole, and an additional pollinator garden! She strategizes and solves problems while collectively working with the group!
Volunteer of the Year Award: Individuals whose performance demonstrates extraordinary efforts above and beyond the “call of duty”, who demonstrate enthusiasm and who promote pride, teamwork and a positive image throughout the organization should be recognized for their contributions.
Mariah has taken Black Power 96 promotions to a new and inspiring level. She obtained credentials that allowed Black Power 96 to be recognized as a professional media outlet at important festivals in the Southern region. Mariah produced and shared powerful reports from each festival across our website, social media platforms, and the One Africa Worldview podcast.Mariah also joined the One Africa Worldview podcast team. She writes, researches, proposes topics and has become a popular host.Mariah set ambitious new goals for Black Power 96’s social media presence. She provides thoughtful reports and clear recommendations that contribute toward measurable growth.Mariah’s dedication, creativity, and leadership exemplify the spirit of service. She consistently demonstrates a profound love for Black Power 96 Radio, the Uhuru Movement, and African people worldwide. Her contributions this year have strengthened the station’s reputation and deepened its connection to the community we serve.
Camille saw the USM reparations banner at the Earth Fest booth in April and enthusiastically declared, “Sign me up!” Since then, Camille has risen up as a profound and remarkable volunteer-leader. After the tornado hit the northside, Camille was there on the ground as part of the teams organized by APEDF, removing debris from the streets and painting houses. Shortly after, Camille volunteered to coordinate a raffle for the Northside Solidarity Benefit, winning local businesses and others to donate raffle items that raised thousands of dollars! Camille volunteered to lead outreach for the Reparations March, where she also led the chants. Camille also coordinated a Garage Sale as a fundraiser for the Uhuru Solidarity Center! Camille has volunteered on drops, staffed and coordinated outreach tables, phonebanking, social media, graphic design, held a reparations fundraiser where she led a jewelry-making class–and this is all within the past 8 months! Camille deserves to be recognized as the volunteer of the year!
Jan was nominated by three organizations! She has been an amazing volunteer with Uhuru Foods and Pies in 2025. She has jumped into many aspects of the work with tremendous enthusiasm and dedication. Jan has worked in the kitchen with us on many occasions, including making a huge batch of jerk sauce with Sealli for the Earth Day booth, and she also staffed that booth. She worked with Uhuru Foods for 5 days straight on the Tower Grove Pride booth, prepping in the kitchen, staffing the booth, and coming to unload the equipment at Jiko kitchen! Jan joined the painting brigade to put the murals on the bakery too! What tremendous dedication and “doing what needs to be done”. Jan is also a mother and grandmother and is very active in Uhuru Solidarity Movement in STL. She takes on whatever is needed with such political unity with solidarity with African self-determination, a plethora of skills and great stories.
From the moment Jan W. signed up to join USM in 2024 she has been an exemplary volunteer whose solidarity with African self-determination has inspired others. Whether she is planting produce on Saturdays in the community garden, hitting the streets to drop literature for the Days of Reparations, putting up posters all around town, staffing outreach booths at local farmers markets, making phone calls to win donors and supporters, or taking notes in meetings, Jan takes on every volunteer activity with enthusiasm. In the aftermath of the tornado Jan was on the ground volunteering in solidarity with the Black Power Blueprint’s rebuilding campaign. She is persistent, dedicated and always brings a warm and optimistic spirit to every event. Jan keeps the organization informed of opportunities to build relationships and win more support. Jan’s love for the movement and for reparations to African people is expressed beautifully, both in her words and in her actions.
Jan has a love for gardening. But it’s the mission of the Gary Brooks Black Power Community Garden that drives her! Jan volunteers in solidarity with African working class self determination and political and economic power. Jan takes full responsibility for every garden bed’s health and growth. She brings a lot of experience and knowledge that she shares in the development of the plant beds from pruning, trimming and staking up the tomato plants to investigating and carrying out solutions to organic pest control! Jan joined in the planting of the new butterfly pollinator garden and gathered all the walnut seeds dropping in the garden area for planting elsewhere. Jan promotes the garden and takes responsibility to lead a team during large group volunteer Saturdays as well as volunteering on weekdays! If there is gardening to do, Jan is there!
The N2U Volunteer Committee is proud to nominate Maggie B. for Volunteer of the Year for the outstanding service she provided to the Black Power Blueprint during the “Bringing Power Back to the North Side” campaign. She reached out to us in June because in her position at Washington University she has the ability to organize large groups of people to volunteer. She reached out to us on June 10th and organized a group of 20 people to work with us in just 4 days! And then a mere week later she had organized a group of 50! People are the heart of soul of the Black Power Blueprint and Maggie made so many people accessible to the Black Power Blueprint! Maggie, your work and your support of self-determination in the hands of the black community is really appreciated and your nomination as the Volunteer of the Year is much deserved!
Brandon contacted us in August and said he was a handyman and wanted to volunteer. He didn’t know this at the time but we were up to our necks in projects that needed handyman skills! He is a very skilled, generous, kind and respectful problem solver. He generously worked with us for almost a complete month, taking on project after project, bringing his skills to fix, paint, build, and more. He also often brought his own tools and materials. And he trained anyone who was willing! Because of his efforts we were able to meet deadlines with projects in our community including Uhuru Bakery and repairing damage done by the tornado. Brandon deserves this award because when he knew how much we needed him, he was right there, and stayed with us even longer than he originally committed to. Thank you Brandon!
56 amazing nominees! Don’t miss out – attend the 4th Annual N2U Heart and Soul Volunteer Appreciation Party! Click here for more details and if you’re in St. Petersburg, FL, click here. We hope to see you there, Sat. Dec 6th at 3 pm CT!