By Terence Cullen
tcullen@actumllc.com

New York, New York – Jotaka Eaddy, a leading social impact strategist and the founder of #WinWithBlackWomen, receive the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors on February 21 in Los Angeles. Previously called the Social Justice Award, the recognition was renamed this year in honor of Dr. Mildred Bond Roxborough, a lifelong Civil Rights activist and the longest-serving staff member of the NAACP.

The NAACP Image Awards are globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural award ceremonies that uplift Black excellence and hold a standard of excellence, justice, equality, and progressive change, as exemplified by Eaddy’s career. She has focused her work on bringing together Black women in positions of power everywhere, leveraging over 20 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and movement building. Founded in August 2020 with a group of 90 women on its first Zoom call, #WinWithBlackWomen has grown into an intergenerational, intersectional collective of 200,000 Black women from across business, sports, movement, politics, entertainment, and beyond. Last year, the group made history in championing Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential bid, convening 90,000 women on the day of the campaign’s launch and raising over $3 million for the Harris-Walz ticket. Their work inspired more than 200 pro-Harris affinity groups that collectively raised over $20 million for the campaign.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award, especially after such a pivotal and challenging year. The work of Civil Rights pioneers like Dr. Mildred Bond Roxborough has paved the way for Black women like me to continue the fight for justice,” said Jotaka Eaddy. “To be named at the NAACP’s preeminent ceremony honoring esteemed colleagues and leaders, all of whom I deeply admire, is a tremendous privilege—one I don’t take lightly. Together, we’ve worked on crucial issues, from voting rights and education to women’s reproductive freedoms and building generational wealth, and only together will we continue this path forward.”

Eaddy is also the founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, LLC, where she leads transformative change and global impact for clients including advising Oprah Winfrey: OWN Network’s award-winning OWN Your Vote Campaign; supporting the expansion of inclusive policy and platform changes for some of the world’s largest tech companies and venture firms; and guiding the launch of Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women Initiative that created a historic $1 billion investment in Black women.

“Despite so much chaos and falsehoods around diversity, equity and inclusion, our mission is far from over. We will remain united, standing shoulder to shoulder, and continue working tirelessly for the justice and respect we rightfully deserve,” Eaddy continued.

Eaddy’s previous accomplishments range from her election as the University of South Carolina’s first Black Woman Student Body President and groundbreaking work to abolish the juvenile death penalty in America, to her pivotal leadership as Senior Advisor to the NAACP–all before her successful transition to the C-Suite of Silicon Valley. Described as the “Olivia Pope of Silicon Valley” by Forbes Magazine, Eaddy is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; was recently named the Associated Press’s No. 3 “People to Know” in its 2024 Guide to Democracy; and recognized in Marie Claire’s 2024 Changemakers, ESSENCE’s 2024 Power 40, and TIME Magazine’s 2025 ‘The Closers’.

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(NAACP/TriceEdneyWire.com) – The nominees for the 49^th NAACP Image Awards were announced today with Netflix and OWN leading the nominations in the television categories with 23 nominations and 17 nominations, respectively. In the recording category, RCA Records leads with 12 nominations, followed by Capitol Records with 6 nominations and Atlantic Records and Columbia Records both with 3 nominations. Universal Pictures leads with 10 nominations, followed by Annapurna and Open Road Films, both received 5 nominations in the motion picture categories. The Two-Hour LIVE TV special will air on TV One on Monday, January 15, 2018, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday with a One-Hour Live Red Carpet Pre-Show.

“The NAACP is thrilled for another great collaboration with TV One to create a momentous evening of entertainment culminating a day of volunteer service, citizen action, and celebration on the national holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as recognizing this year’s nominees for their hard work, perseverance and achievements in our community,” stated Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors.  “As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, we are reminded of the ageless principles of non-violence, truth and justice, humility, and service that he taught all Americans.”

“The NAACP Image Awards is the ultimate platform for artists and individuals of color who advocate for social justice to share their voices with millions, and to be recognized and celebrated,” stated Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP. “At a moment where there seems to be one tragic event after another in America, the NAACP Image Awards continues to be a beacon of light to the diversity reflected in television, music, film and literature that brings everyone together.”

The 49^th NAACP Image Awards production team will be returning including Executive Producers Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin, Tony McCuin as Director, Byron Phillips as Producer, and Robin Reinhardt as Talent Producer.

The NAACP Image Awards is the preeminent multicultural awards show celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event hosted by Anthony Anderson, which will be broadcast LIVE on TV ONE on Monday, January 15, 2018 at 9pm/8c, the federal holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A one-hour pre-show will air live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c.

NAACP members vote on the NAACP Image Awards winners from nominees in television, music, literature, and film. To become a member of the leading civil rights organization in the nation and immediately cast your vote go to http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

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