The thread of social consciousness noticeably weaves its way through the stories of Liberian Awards' 2011 Honorees. From mentoring to medical mission trips, from poverty elimination and humanrights advocacy to the promotion of a unique culture, from business to community development, our honorees have lived the realization that giving back far exceeds mere individual achievements.
As a group, these honorees have over a hundred years of professional experience and decades of education in diverse areas. They have lived in over ten countries on three continents. These Liberiandescendants have all demonstrated applied education, shown career advancement, and committed to mentoring Liberian Awards' scholarship recipients.
This year we're excited about the addition of the "Business of the Year" category to our amazing honorees. We are sincerely pleased to introduce you to people who inspire excellence, live possibilities, and create opportunities. We invite you to, not only, read about these highly accomplished Liberian professional but to also join us in honoring them on Friday July 8, 2011 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware.
Dr. Iyabode F. Akinsanya-Beysolow, a Board Certified Pediatrician, works for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a Medical Officer in the Education, Information and Partnership Branch. In this role, she is responsible for the development and implementation of education and training materials for vaccine providers as well as the presentation of courses and lectures on vaccine-preventable diseases. Prior to joining CDC, Dr. Beysolow opened and operated a private practice in the Atlanta area and served as a physician at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory School of Medicine, and Decatur Pediatric Group. Her research includes Maternal and Child Health in Liberia and Hypertension in Immigrant Liberian males. She has organized and participated in three medical mission trips to Liberia in the last three years.
Dr. Anthony Barclay, Senior Advisor at World Bank, has contributed to the promotion of strategic engagements of African countries with the World Bank Africa Group in the areas of economic growth and poverty reduction. Having decades of experience with reputable international agencies, Dr. Barclay has served the continent of Africa through his work on several development-oriented issues. Formerly a United Nations Development Program (UNDP/Liberia) Consultant and Staff (Economic Specialist), a Program Officer at the African Capacity Building Foundation headquartered in Zimbabwe and a Poverty Alleviation Advisor at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Barclay's past work has extended beyond West Africa into Ethiopia, Namibia, Lesotho, and Kenya. He holds a doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from University of Wisconsin.
Dr. C. Patrick Burrowes is an Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University teaching and advising students in the communications program. With three decades of experience in journalism and education, Dr. Burrowes has developed the minds of students at majority and minority institutions of higher education throughout the United States and Liberia. The former Department Chairperson led 25 faculty members and managed over 500 students while at Morgan State University. He has also served on twenty thesis and dissertation committees and received multiple commendations including Dean's Award for Mentoring, Dean's Merit Awards, several Top Three Paper awards, and Distinguished Professor recognition. Dr. Burrowes is also the founder and director of liberiapedia.com and liberianrepatriates.com. He holds a doctorate degree in Communications from Temple University in Pennsylvania.
Judge Melvin "Action" Johnson is the Chief Judge of the City of Lithonia, Georgia. The youngest to serve in this role, he is also the first black and African-born individual to hold this position in the history of the City of Lithonia. Prior to becoming a Judge, Mr. Johnson founded a successful law practice, worked at respectable private firms and esteemed institutions including the Internal Revenue Service and KPMG Tax Consultants, and advocated for Liberians at home and in the Diaspora. Passionate about the development of youths, Judge Johnson runs the Liberians Integrated For Excellence (LIFE) mentorship program where he exposes youths to various areas of legal system while inspiring them to higher heights. He holds a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Georgia State University.
Mr. Vamba Sherif is a bestselling novelist who has penned multiple books and stories in Dutch. The linguistically gifted Mr. Sherif speaks English, Arabic, French, Dutch, and four Liberian tribal dialects. Through his writing, he shares the depth of Liberian experiences with the world, displaying our rich heritage. His first book, The Land of the Fathers, was a bestseller. Bound to Secrecy later followed and met striking success as raving reviews led to international acclaim and sales in Germany, France, England, and Poland. Mr. Sherif has written for every major newspaper and magazine in the Netherlands and has lectured across the globe about his books and life in the Diaspora. He holds a degree in international law from Catholic University of Tilburg in Netherlands.
Mr. Kimmie L. Weeks, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Action International, has been committed to alleviation of poverty and human suffering globally since his early teens. Exposed to war at an early age, Mr. Weeks' work has benefited nearly 150,000 people in six post war African countries and has yielded the education of thousands in West Africa and the disarmament of over 20,000 child soldiers. In 2007, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf bestowed upon Mr. Weeks Liberia's highest honor of the Knight Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption. This Golden Brick Award recipient serves on the Board of Directors of DoSomething and is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council. He holds a Masters' degree from University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Samuel Kofi Woods II, Minister of Public Works in Liberia, is an experienced leader in development, human rights, and labor relations. Before joining the Government of Liberia, Min. Woods founded the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) to provide legal assistance, capacity building, and leadership development for indigents and victims of human rights abuse in multiple African countries. This avid human rights advocate has also worked with refugees and immigrants in the U.S. An honorary member of the American National Bar Association, Min. Woods has received the Reebok's Human Rights Award, Columbia University's Newman Recognition, and the Benemerenti Medal awarded by Pope John Paul II. Globally educated in three continents, Min. Woods holds a Master of Laws degree from University of Leiden in Netherlands.
A mixture of tenacity, determination and perseverance helped two childhood friends, Richelieu Dennis and Nyema Tubman, turn adversity into a highly successful and unique business.
Richelieu and Nyema were born in Liberia, but fled civil war after most of their families' possessions were destroyed. They both immigrated to the United States, but the situation was not much brighter, as they suddenly found themselves without resources or employment.
Remembering his roots and deep family tradition, Richelieu realized his vision was to offer culturally authentic, high-quality skin care products for underserved communities. He decided to use his experience helping his grandmother create shea butter soaps, and began to incorporate four generations of recipes into his handmade natural bath and body products. In 1992, Richelieu and Nyema began to sell their wares along the sidewalks of Harlem. Their routine was to make the soaps and shea butters in the wee hours of each morning, load them up into a rickety van, set up the products on tables on the street at sunrise, and sell until the sun went down.
By the second year, their hard work came to fruition when they formed Sundial Creations and the Nubian Heritage and SheaMoisture brands, with Richelieu, as Founder and CEO, and Nyema, as President and COO. They began manufacturing in a 3,000 square foot plant, with the products sold through a network of street vendors, convenience stores, health food shops and beauty supply retailers.
Emmet Dennis came onboard as a Partner and Chief Branding Officer, to help grow the Nubian Heritage brand. Prior to working with Sundial Creations, Emmet worked with entertainment tycoon, Sean Diddy Combs, building Combs' brand and merchandising.
Nubian Heritage and SheaMoisture products soon became synonymous with high quality, organic skin treatments with beautiful, one-of-a-kind all-natural fragrances. Richelieu has remained true to his vision of a brand that serves people of all ethnicities by addressing specific skin care issues, which have traditionally been ignored by mass market skin care companies, such as hyper-pigmentation and dark spots. He remains a pioneer in his research, testing and utilization of rare, natural ingredients from all over globe into his skin care formulations.
Nubian Heritage's products are carried all over the United States, in retail outlets such as Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe and Wegmans. SheaMoisture products are carried in Target, Duane Reed and WalMart, as well as will be carried in Walgreens in April 2011.
In 2008, Sundial Creations received the Black Enterprise "Emerging Business of the Year Award", which recognizes businesses that have poised themselves for growth by carving out a special niche and adopting creative marketing techniques. Both brands have garnered much attention from the media, having been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Allure, GQ, Vibe, Essence, The New York Times, Newsday, TimeOut New York , BET, and iVillage.
Sundial Creations strives to make a positive impact in local communities as well as throughout the world.
