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Oakland County Seeks Nominations for Black Excellence Award

(Oakland County, Jan. 3, 2023)

Oakland County, MI – The Oakland County Board of Commissioners is seeking nominations for its 2023 Black Excellence Award. Commissioners will be honoring an outstanding Black resident of Oakland County who has taken strides to improve the community, made notable achievements or is otherwise worthy of recognition in honor of Black History Month. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, January 19, 2023.

“There are countless Black residents whose accomplishments have made Oakland County the unique and prosperous place it is,” Commissioner Angela Powell (D-Pontiac) said. “We are excited to present this award for a second year and help make sure that Black leaders in our region are receiving the recognition they deserve.”

​The Board is accepting living nominees of all ages and backgrounds. They must be residents of Oakland County, and they can be well-established or unsung heroes. Individuals must be nominated by someone other than themselves.

“‘Excellence’ can be defined differently by different people, and part of this award process is exploring what that means to those in our communities,” Commissioner Janet Jackson (D-Southfield) said. “We encourage community members to nominate someone in their lives who has made an impact in Oakland County, no matter how big or small.”

To nominate a Black Oakland County resident for the award, community members can complete the submission form at bit.ly/BOCBlckExcl23. Nominators are also encouraged to email supporting documentation (such as a CV/résumé, news article, link to a professional portfolio, etc.) to boc@oakgov.com with the nominee’s name in the subject line. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, January 19, 2023.

“The diversity of experiences and backgrounds among our residents is part of what makes our community so strong,” Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles (D-Southfield) said. “We stand by that belief, and one way to honor our commitment is to lift the stories that reflect the diversity throughout our beloved county.”

The winner will be notified of the award on or around January 30. They will be invited to attend (remotely or in-person) the full Board of Commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, where they will be publicly announced as the winner and receive their recognition.

For more information about the Board of Commissioners, please visit www.oakgov.com/boc