Courier to celebrate city’s young movers and shakers

This year’s reception, which will encompass a delicious menu, great entertainment and a variety of notable officials, will feature WPXI-TV Reporter Brandon Hudson as the emcee. What makes this even more special is that Hudson is also a former FAB 40 recipient.
Hudson, who mentioned that the FAB 40 award was the first award he received after moving to Pittsburgh years prior, said he is honored to be taking part in this year’s program and feels like he has come full circle.
“I still remember walking in to work that day, going into my mailbox at work and opening the (selection) letter and being very happy about it,” he said. “This award was very meaningful to me because a lot of times, especially in media, we come in and out of people’s lives and we don’t know how much of a difference we’re making or if anyone notices, so to be able to have gotten that letter I got (truly meant a lot).”
Like Hudson, Olivia Benson Gallina, a 2013 FAB 40 recipient, said the honor meant something special to her as well. “Personally, it was just, in a big sense, so wonderful to just be recognized for my work. But in a community sense, it was so fantastic to be around 39 other people who are goal-oriented, focused and giving back to the Pittsburgh community,” she said.
The distinguished 2016 recipients are: Aerion A. Abney, POISE Foundation; Baron Batch, Studio AM and former Pittsburgh Steeler; Jessica N. Brown, 5A Elite Youth Empowerment; Nathaniel M. Brown, 5A Elite Youth Empowerment; Corey Buckner, office of Mayor William Peduto; Brian R. Burley, Aesynt; Lakeisha Byrd, Communion LLC; Melisa Chipangila-Campbell, Bank of New York Mellon; Don Charlton, Jazz.co; Jason Flowers, Laurel Highlands Council, Boy Scouts of America; Dr. Tyra Good, Chatham University; Michelyn Hood, the Pittsburgh Spot; Teresa Renee Hunt, Truth2RenewHearts Enterprises LLC; Regina D. Hutson, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Thomas Jamison, Dream Cream Ice Cream; Wayman R. Jones Jr., Mini of Pittsburgh; Kevion Latham, Fort McIntosh Wealth Advisors; Devon M. Lyons, Beyond Phenom LLC; Kevin McNair, 1Nation Mentoring; Kyshira S. Moffett, MBA, University of Pittsburgh; Kheir Mugwaneza, Northern Area Multi-Service Center; James Murphy, FedEx Ground; Njaimeh Njie, Pop Up Premieres; Riean K. Norman, Chevron USA; Brigette Bethea Patterson, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Cheyenne L. Patterson, Shuman Juvenile Detention Center; Olivia T. Payne, The Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh; Brandon E. Phillips, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Leigh Solomon Pugliano, Straightforward Consulting; Regina L. Scott, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Allegheny County; Yasmin Shaheed, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh; Lola Sims, Lolasims PR; Eric A. Smith, CREW Productions LLC; M. Shernell Smith, Carnegie Mellon University; Shakita Trigg, FedEx Ground; Diamonte Walker, Hill Community Development Corporation; Thomas Wallace, Penn Hills YMCA; Anthony Williams, Attack Theatre; LaKeisha Wolf, Ujamaa Collective; and Sossena C. Wood, University of Pittsburgh.
When asked why awards like the FAB 40 are important, Hudson said, “One thing I was always taught growing up was, in any business, in order to be succeed, you have to be two to three times better than your White counterparts, or any other counterpart for that matter. I think a lot of times people in the Black community may not get that recognition that they think they deserve or are seeking, but I think the FAB 40, and other awards like it, goes a long way into helping people boost their morale and says, ‘Hey, you know what? Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re doing a great job.’”
As for advice for the new group of honorees, Gallina said, “Wear it like a badge of honor. You’re not just a FAB 40 one-time, you’re a FAB 40 for the rest of your life and beyond, so use this as an opportunity to make movements forward or comebacks; just always recognize that you are apart of something great and really just count that. Really count the excellence that this award promotes and the excellence in the community.
Both say this award should be used as a motivator, not only for continued success, but to excel to even greater heights.
(Tickets for the FAB 40 Reception are $75 and can purchased by visiting www.newpittsburgh­courieronline.com.)
 
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