Service Award
Winners
Frederick Douglass
Leadership Award
Harriet Tubman
Leadership Award
William Wells Brown
Leadership Award
Ida B. Wells
Leadership Award
Chairperson’s Award
AWARD
WINNER
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Chair, Task Force on Reparations
Attorney Joseph D. Feaster, Jr. is a distinguished legal and civic leader with over 45 years of experience practicing law. Appointed by Mayor Michelle Wu to serve on Boston’s Task Force on Reparations, Attorney Feaster brings decades of expertise in corporate, real estate, employment, and public-sector law, as well as deep experience in community engagement and public administration.
He has held leadership roles across city and state government, civil rights organizations, and community health initiatives. His longstanding commitment to justice and equity makes him a vital voice in shaping reparative solutions for Boston’s Black residents.
HARRIET TUBMAN
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Steve Williams, Juneteenth Advocate and Multitalented Changemaker
Steve Williams is the President of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, the chief advocate and subject matter expert of the National Juneteenth Independence Day legislation. Board member Project 1619, Chairman of the National Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Program, Past President of Internet Society of Washington DC, Father, Technology Engineer Director of IT Services at NetSecurity Corporation, Principal Consultant at Micro Information Services—and, wait for it, trumpeter leader of the Funkativity the Wave of Freedom Band.
He has held leadership roles across city and state government, civil rights organizations, and community health initiatives. His longstanding commitment to justice and equity makes him a vital voice in shaping reparative solutions for Boston’s Black residents.
WILLIAM WELLS BROWN
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Bryan Sheffey, Genealogist, Historian, and Cultural Storyteller
Brian Sheffey is a nationally recognized genealogist, author, and television host dedicated to uncovering African American family histories. As Director of the Center for Family History at the International African American History Museum, he leads groundbreaking research on enslaved communities and their descendants, with a focus on the early British American colonial period.
He is also the co-host of Genealogy Adventures, a popular show exploring African American genealogy and culture. His work has supported institutions like the University of Virginia Foundation and has made a lasting impact through his bestselling books and public scholarship.
IDA B. WELLS
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Dr. Cheryl LaRoche, Voice for Freedom through History and Preservation
Dr. Cheryl Janifer LaRoche is a renowned historical archaeologist, author, and scholar whose work centers on the Underground Railroad, escape from slavery, and the legacy of free Black communities. She began her career preserving artifacts from the African Burial Ground in New York City and has since contributed to major institutions, including the Smithsonian and the National Park Service.
An associate research professor at the University of Maryland, Dr. LaRoche is also the author of Free Black Communities and the Underground Railroad and the newly released Apostle of Liberation. Her career reflects a deep commitment to uncovering and preserving Black history through archaeology, scholarship, and storytelling.
CHAIRPERSON’S AWARD
Judge Anita Laster Mays, Voice of Legacy and Legal Leadership
Judge Anita Laster Mays is a trailblazing jurist, genealogist, and community leader dedicated to honoring the legacy of her ancestors. A judge on Ohio’s 8th District Court of Appeals, she has spent decades uncovering her family history, inspired by stories from her grandmother and great-uncle, and driven by a deep desire to preserve and share her lineage.
Judge Laster Mays regularly speaks to youth and community groups about the importance of ancestry, representation, and resilience. Through her public service, storytelling, and advocacy, she uplifts the history of enslaved people and instills pride in their descendants.
An associate research professor at the University of Maryland, Dr. LaRoche is also the author of Free Black Communities and the Underground Railroad and the newly released Apostle of Liberation. Her career reflects a deep commitment to uncovering and preserving Black history through archaeology, scholarship, and storytelling.