Awards to honor black women working to improve communities

Listen to this article

The second annual Enduring Spirit Awards, which recognize achievements of black women in the Midlands working to improve their communities, will be presented by the Friends of African American Art & Culture at the Columbia Museum of Art on Sept. 27.

The awards are named in honor of Columbia artist Tyrone Geter, whose work celebrates the relationships between mothers, daughters and sisters and who credits his mother as the inspiration for much of his work.

“The Enduring Spirit Awards are the FAAAC’s way of honoring the rich history of leadership by African-American women across the Midlands,” said Robert Greene II, FAAAC board president, in a news release. “Without their hard work, our region would not be the culturally rich place it is today.”

The community nominated award recipients in the following categories:

• Community champion: Someone who identified a local need and dedicated time and resources to that cause.
• Business: Someone whose professional leadership and excellence has made a significant difference in her field.
• The arts: An artist or art enthusiast whose efforts have increased community engagement in the arts.
• Education: Someone who led or promoted initiatives that enriched students’ academic experiences and lives.

Two additional category winners will be recognized by the FAAAC board. The Emerging Spirit Award recognizes up-and-coming young professionals, while the Legends Award honors the longevity of its recipient’s contributions.

Advance tickets are $25 and $20 for FAAAC members. Tickets are $30 at the door.

The deadline for award sponsorship is Sept. 14. More information is available online.