Las Vegas City Wire

In honor of Black History Month, the city of Las Vegas held the 10th Annual African American Trailblazer Service Awards ceremony on January 25, 2024. The community submitted nominees and a panel of community volunteers selected the honorees. The event was livestreamed from the Las Vegas City Hall Council Chambers. A recording of the program can be viewed here: https://livestream.com/cityoflasvegas/events/11073106.

The awards recognize trailblazers in the Las Vegas valley who have demonstrated superior civic engagement and made outstanding contributions to the community in various categories:

- **Business and Economic Advancement Award Winner** – Jessica “Jess Flo” Washington. This award recognizes local business professionals who have displayed entrepreneurial character, high standards, innovative professional practice, and committed support of their local community.

- **Community Activism and Politics Award Winner** – Kelvin Watson. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated, through achievements, the ability to advocate, organize and engage citizens, and inform public policy on issues that improve the quality of life for the community.

- **Educator Award Winner** – Melvin Valentine Jr. This award honors those who, as a teacher, instructor or school administrator, have demonstrated excellence in mentoring, guiding and preparing students to achieve their full potential.

- **Tyrone Thompson Emerging Leader Award Winner** – Dr. Keith Rogers. This award celebrates an up-and-coming individual who demonstrates a commitment to leadership and substantial potential for innovation, creativity, vision and positive influence.

- **Spiritual Community Award Winner** – Imam Fateen Seifullah. This award is presented to a spiritual leader who has transcended organizational boundaries to promote spiritual and religious growth, partnership, and engagement through inspired action and visionary leadership.

- **Impact Award Winner** – Lisa Morris Hibbler, DPA. This is the Trailblazer Awards' highest honor and recognizes a leader whose lifetime active engagement in our community has had a significant positive impact locally.

Download the Trailblazer Awards 2024 program here for background on each of the winners. Nominations were submitted in October 2023 with one nomination per person allowed. The city of Las Vegas has been hosting events in celebration of Black History Month for the past 45 years.

To learn more about previous African American Trailblazer Award recipients from 2023 click here.