The Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) announced that VoicesDMV, a community engagement initiative spearheaded by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Sheila Brooks Community Impact Award.
This award celebrates the work of Dr. Sheila Brooks, a longtime member of WABJ and NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists), who has contributed over four decades of exemplary service in journalism, communications, and social impact in the community. Brooks, an entrepreneur, author, and Emmy-award-winning journalist is the founder, president, and CEO of SRB Communications, a firm specializing in multicultural marketing and advertising.
The award will be presented at WABJ’s 2024 Special Honors and Scholarship Gala on Dec. 7 at the Blackburn Center on the campus of Howard University.
This award recognizes a local business leader or organization’s commitment to amplifying the voices and needs of underrepresented communities across the Washington area.
For the past seven years, VoicesDMV has served as an advocate for disenfranchised communities in the Washington area.
VoicesDMV’s Community Insights Report has been an insightful tool for community leaders, donors and philanthropists to learn more about how they can alleviate socio-economic disparities. The report conveys the concerns of people who are housing and food insecure due to the extreme wealth gap in the District.
In addition, VoicesDMV empowers community members to use their voices to advocate for themselves and solidify their place in the communities to which they work, live and thrive.
“VoicesDMV has demonstrated a deep dedication to fostering community engagement, providing a platform for the lived experiences of marginalized populations, and promoting social justice through its data collection surveys and the Voices DMV Community Insights Report,” the WABJ Executive Board said in a statement. “Its work not only informs but also empowers communities and stakeholders to take action, making a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals.”
