Local Community Heroes

Honoring Local Heroes is our signature program through which we recognize everyday heroes and local leaders who are making a difference in the community. Each year nominations are accepted from community members and the TOWF Board of Directors vote on the awardees in the areas of Community Enrichment, Cultural Arts and Scholarship. The goal of the event is to recognize and highlight the amazing community work of our heroes and nominees and encourage them to continue to uplift the community.

In addition, special recognition may be given in the form of our Trailblazer and Icon awards. Past Trailblazer Award recipients include Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence. Past Icon Award recipients included Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist.

There is also a Rising Star recognition awarded to three nominees between 20-35 years-old who have made exemplary efforts in Community Enrichment, Cultural Arts and Scholarship.

The Torch of Wisdom Foundation, Inc. held the 12^th Annual "Honoring Local Heroes: Black No Tie Affair on Friday, April 5, at St. John's Armenian Church in Southfield MI.

Our 2024 Honoring Local Heroes:

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AWARDS

Hero Award: Dr. Portia Lockett, Founder, Azal Benne Lockett Foundation
At the age of seven, Dr. Portia Lockett was clear on her calling: teaching and encouraging others, which later evolved into her being a school teacher that inspired students to be their best regardless of their path. Eventually, she transitioned into speaking and training for major corporations and nonprofits which included but not limited to UAW GM, Chrysler, Goodwill Industries, McDonalds, State of Michigan Mental Health Conferences, and 3rd District Drug Court, later becoming a licensed and ordained Chaplain that allowed her to support and encourage individuals from the womb to the tomb.

Rising Star Award: Raphael Wright, Entrepreneur/Owner Neighborhood Grocery
Raphael Wright is a serial entrepreneur, and author from Detroit. Wright is the founder of Urban Plug L3C which is a social investment company designed to invest in Detroit's inner city. Urban Plug's first major effort has been to bring an inner city grocery store to Detroit. Wright, a 34-year-old entrepreneur, is the CEO of Neighborhood Grocery—the sole Black-owned grocery store in Detroit, Michigan, and the city's first in nearly a decade. After six years of dedicated effort, Wright realized his vision, emphasizing health and community.
 

CULTURAL ARTS AWARDS

Hero Award: George N’Namdi, Gallerist, N’namdi Center for Contemporary Art

George N’Namdi is a leading art dealer, with 30+ years experience as a gallery owner. N’Namdi began collecting art in 1968; with a partner, in 1981, he opened Jazzonia Gallery. In 1982 N’Namdi launched his family based G.R. N’Namdi Gallery; he later expanded his holdings to include galleries in Chicago and New York City.

Rising Star Award: Bakpak Durden, Visual Artist

Bakpak Durden is a self-taught artist from Detroit. Through extensive research, introspective examination, and an antidisciplinary approach, Durden fuses narrative and visual elements of the Baroque and Afro-Surrealist movements to create deconstructed films exploring human consciousness and Spiritual Existence. Durden is well known for creating large-scale murals that depict subjects in transitional states with an emphasis on connecting to the surrounding communities.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Hero Award: Candice Jackson, 2023-2024 Michigan Teacher of the Year Detroit Public Schools

Candice Jackson was born and raised in southeast Michigan and has worked for the Detroit Public Schools Community District for 22 years. She has taught everything from first to fifth grade, but found her sweet spot as a third grade teacher. Jackson has worked in a hybrid position at Mann Learning Community in Detroit for six years. She doubles as a third grade math and science teacher and an instructional coach. This position has allowed her to broaden her reach outside of the walls of her classroom into her school building and district. Jackson’s work in the classroom and the larger community earned her recognition as the 2023-2024 Detroit Public School Foundation’s Educator of the Year and 2023-2024 Michigan Region 10 Teacher of the Year.

Rising Star Award: Eboni R. Bell-Griffin, Assistant Principal, University Prep Art & Design School

Eboni R. Bell-Griffini is an experienced educator, spending more than 10 years in the classroom. She is currently the Assistant Principal at University Prep Art and Design, teaching Senior English and serving as the content lead. Other leadership roles she's held include Summer School Director and Grade Level Lead. Mentoring youth and seeing youth succeed is one of Eboni’s greatest passions. She has always prioritized student success as she has been inspired by others as she grew up.

ICON AWARD

2024 Recipient: Shirley Woodson Reid,  Visual artist, curator, collector

Shirley Woodson is an American visual artist, educator, mentor, and art collector who is most known for her spectacular figurative paintings depicting African American history. Her work that spans a career of 60 years and counting can be found in the collections of the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, among other institutions. Woodson was named the 2021 Kresge Eminent Artist.

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

2024 Recipient: Barbara Talley, Former Southfield, City Councilwoman

Barbara Talley was the first African American elected to the Southfield City Council, serving from 1983 until 1989. During her tenure on City Council, she initiated an affirmative action plan hiring minority police, fire, management personnel, and elevating women in city government. She founded the Southfield Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force in 1985 along with other charter members to promote peace, brotherhood, and non-violence.