Melanin Magic: Black History Month Awards 2026
Melanin Magic: Black History Month Awards 2026
This Black History Month, we are proud to honor 10 extraordinary individuals who have made a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
Starting Monday, February 9th, and continuing through Friday, February 20th, we will celebrate a new honoree each weekday.
These remarkable individuals represent the spirit of resilience, leadership, and innovation, showcasing the profound contributions of Black excellence throughout Indianapolis and beyond.
From trailblazing activists and cultural icons to visionary entrepreneurs and pioneering scholars, each honoree has shaped history in meaningful ways and continues to inspire future generations.
Join us as we celebrate their achievements and honor their legacies.
Stay tuned each weekday to learn more about these incredible individuals and their stories of impact and inspiration!
ISAAC & CYNTHIA WILSON
Cynthia and Isaac Wilson are the co owners of The Kountry Kitchen Soul Food Place, the world renowned Indianapolis restaurant and catering brand celebrated for its Southern style cuisine and exceptional hospitality. As the face of the Kountry Kitchen brand, Cynthia oversees daily restaurant operations and leads a team committed to delivering excellence in guest experience. Together, the Wilsons have built a legacy business that continues to serve local, national, and international guests while generating meaningful community impact.
With deep roots in both corporate and entrepreneurial leadership, Cynthia brings a diverse professional background that includes healthcare, manufacturing, and operations management. Isaac, a longtime entrepreneur and community advocate, became managing partner of the business in 2001 and has helped guide its growth through hands on leadership and operational expertise following a distinguished career at Ford Motor Company. Known for their compassion and commitment to opportunity, the couple has consistently created employment and training pathways for individuals facing barriers to work.
Beyond business success, the Wilsons are dedicated to community service and giving back. Their annual Christmas tradition of feeding those in need has grown from serving 1,000 individuals to more than 3,000 people each year. Under their leadership, the Kountry Kitchen brand has earned national recognition on Food Network and in major publications while continuing to expand through ventures like the 910 Event Center. Married for more than two decades and proud parents of five sons, Cynthia and Isaac Wilson continue to lead with faith, purpose, and a deep commitment to the Indianapolis community.
GENO SHELTON
Geno Shelton, widely known as DJ Geno, is a concert promotions veteran with more than 40 years of experience shaping Indianapolis’ live entertainment landscape. He is the founder of Praise God Entertainment, the entertainment division of parent company G Entertainment. Through decades of work in radio, live events, and large scale productions, Shelton has built a reputation as one of the city’s most trusted and influential promoters.
Over the course of his career, Shelton has curated major live music and comedy experiences featuring some of the industry’s biggest names, including Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, The Isley Brothers, Mike Epps, Charlie Wilson, Babyface, DL Hughley, and many others. His resume also includes organizing the first major festival for Indiana Black Expo, securing A List talent for the Madam Walker Theatre, and helping keep Indianapolis’ entertainment scene vibrant for more than four decades.
Looking ahead, Shelton continues to expand his impact with a slate of events celebrating his 40th anniversary in the industry, culminating in a major finale at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Grounded in faith, resilience, and community commitment, Shelton remains focused on giving back and honoring the supporters who have fueled his journey while continuing to elevate Indianapolis’ music and comedy culture.
ALICE WATSON
Alice Watson serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Indiana Black Expo, Inc., a nonprofit organization with twelve chapters across Indiana. In her role, she oversees daily operations and leads signature events including Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic®, which collectively generate more than 28 million dollars in annual local economic impact and attract more than 400,000 attendees each year. Under her leadership, Indiana Black Expo continues to expand its programming, community engagement, and statewide influence.
Prior to becoming President, Watson served for more than 11 years as Senior Vice President of Operations at IBE, overseeing finance, marketing, human resources, chapter development, volunteer administration, and youth and family initiatives. She also previously served as Deputy Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration’s Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises Division, where she strengthened certification processes, increased participation goals, and helped implement systems to improve accountability and equity in state contracting.
A graduate of Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a degree in Criminal Justice, Watson brings both corporate and public sector experience to her leadership. She currently serves on several boards and committees, including Visit Indy, the 2024 NBA All Star and 2025 WNBA All Star Host Committees, Equity 1821 Ransburg YMCA, and GEO Academies. Through strategic leadership and community service, Watson continues to champion economic empowerment and opportunity throughout Indianapolis and across the state.
GEOFFREY A. GAITHER
The Honorable Geoffrey A. Gaither serves as the Presiding Judge in Marion County Family Division Court Room 9 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Appointed to the bench in 2020 after serving as Senior Magistrate at Indianapolis Juvenile Court, Judge Gaither oversees cases involving delinquency, child welfare, custody, guardianships, adoptions, protective orders, and dual status matters. A proud Indianapolis native and public school graduate, he earned his Bachelor of Urban Planning degree from the University of Cincinnati and his Juris Doctor with honors from Howard University School of Law, where he was an editor and published author on the Howard Law Journal.
Judge Gaither’s leadership extends far beyond the courtroom. Deeply committed to community engagement, he has served as an adjunct professor, youth mentor, motivational speaker, and legal analyst across radio, television, print, and podcast platforms. He created both the Young Women’s Empowerment Conference Series and the Young Men’s Empowerment Conference to support youth involved in the juvenile justice system, and he was the catalyst behind the Indy Mentoring Network, uniting citywide mentoring organizations for collective impact. He has also been instrumental in race equity initiatives and community forums addressing justice reform and youth advocacy.
Nationally recognized for his work in juvenile justice, Judge Gaither serves on multiple state and national advisory boards, including the National Board of Directors for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He leads Indianapolis’ Dual Status Court and has traveled across the country providing guidance on best practices for supporting youth navigating both child welfare and delinquency systems. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. and the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, Judge Gaither continues to inspire and influence young people through mentorship, education, and public service alongside his wife, Attorney KiKi Gaither, and their three sons.
PASTOR KENNETH SULLIVAN
Dr. Kenneth E. Sullivan Jr. serves as Senior Pastor of New Direction Church in Indianapolis, where he has dedicated nearly two decades to guiding, mentoring, and empowering individuals and families. A native of Indianapolis, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Crossroads Bible College with a double major in Pastoral Ministry and Theology and is currently completing his Master of Divinity at Indiana Wesleyan University. Through dynamic preaching, teaching, and community engagement, Pastor Sullivan has made it a priority to pour into the lives of youth and young adults while communicating faith in a way that resonates with this generation.
Beyond the pulpit, Dr. Sullivan is a published author and community advocate committed to strengthening families and reducing violence in surrounding communities. He is the author of “Rules of Engagement,” a relational guide rooted in biblical principles, and co founded S.A.V.E.S., a nonprofit organization focused on developing programs, camps, scholarships, and initiatives that provide alternatives to violence and create pathways for growth and success. His work and ministry have also been featured nationally, including appearances on the reality television show It Takes A Church.
As a husband, father of three, business owner, and civic leader, Dr. Sullivan serves on multiple advisory boards supporting economic empowerment, community engagement, and youth development. His leadership reflects a deep belief in the power of faith to redirect lives and inspire purpose, continuing to make a meaningful impact across Indianapolis and beyond.
MARSHAWN WOLLEY
Marshawn Wolley is President and CEO of Black Onyx Management, a Black owned applied research and evaluation, management consulting, and managed services firm focused on turning insights into measurable impact. Nationally recognized as a thought leader in stratification economics, public policy, and small business development, Wolley has contributed widely to conversations on community economic growth. He has served as an award winning syndicated columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder, authored a monthly column for the Indianapolis Business Journal, and frequently speaks at national conferences focused on economic development and small business finance.
Wolley’s leadership extends across both public and private sectors. He has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Advisory Council for Small Business and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Presidents and CEOs Circle. He previously served on the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee, where he strengthened supply chain strategies and partner relationships. His impact has earned him numerous honors including IBJ’s Forty Under 40, National Hero in the Movement by the National Urban League Young Professionals, and Forward Thinker recognition from the Governor of Indiana.
A scholar and civic leader, Wolley holds multiple advanced degrees from Indiana University, including an MBA from the Kelley School of Business, an MPA from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies, and a Master of Science in Economics. He is currently part of the inaugural Philanthropic Leadership doctoral program, where his research focuses on community development financial institutions serving Black owned businesses. Named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year in 2024, Wolley continues to champion bold leadership and community impact while raising his son, Alexander, with a deep belief in creating opportunities that have never existed before.
BEATRICE BEVERLY
Beatrice Beverly is a nationally respected mental health advocate, community leader, and child mental health worker with decades of experience advancing trauma informed, family centered, and community rooted mental health support. She is the President and Owner of Genesys Solutions, a certified agency through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, serving youth and families across Indiana with diagnosed mental health needs. Through her leadership, she delivers wraparound services, child mental health interventions, life skills development, and clinical support that strengthen resilience and long term stability.
As a mother with lived experience navigating complex behavioral health systems, Beverly brings authenticity, empathy, and compassion to every space she serves. She holds numerous certifications including Certified Child Mental Health Worker, CAMS Provider, Parent to Parent Peer Support Specialist, and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer. Her work bridges professional expertise with lived experience to create healing centered and equity focused solutions for individuals and families.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Beverly serves as Co Founder of Stop the Violence Indianapolis, Board President of Brightwood Forest Manor Community Center, and serves on multiple boards including The Women’s Fund and Family Care Champions. A published author, speaker, and Six Sigma Black Belt, she is widely recognized for translating lived experience into systems level change that centers healing, hope, and human dignity across Indianapolis and beyond.
CARLOS TAYLOR
MAGGIE LEWIS
Councilor Maggie A. Lewis, MPA, an Indiana State University alum, began her career in public service after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education and her Master of Public Administration following her graduation from Columbus East High School. Since completing her studies, she has remained committed to improving the well-being of the Indianapolis community through leadership in both government and nonprofit sectors.
Lewis made history during her time on the Indianapolis City-County Council, where she served six years as president, becoming the first woman to hold the position. During her tenure, she also became the first woman elected as majority leader and was later voted by her colleagues to return once again to the presidency, continuing her legacy of civic leadership and impact.
In addition to her public service, Lewis currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, where she works to expand opportunities for youth across the city. Her previous nonprofit experience includes leading fundraising initiatives and building collaborative partnerships to strengthen organizational missions. She is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the Circle City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and is married to Indiana State University alum Leroy Lewis III, with whom she shares one son, Leroy Lewis IV.
