Indiana Black Expo (IBE) will celebrate the achievements of Oscar-nominated actor Alfre Woodard, Grammy-winning singer Deniece Williams, acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce and ESPN analyst and former WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike at its annual corporate luncheon.
The Pacers Sports & Entertainment corporate luncheon, presented by Indiana University, is scheduled for July 18 in the Sagamore Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center. Doors open at 10 a.m., and the program starts at 11 a.m. Individual tickets cost $75, and tables are $750, and they are available at summercelebration.net. The event is one of Indiana’s largest luncheons, drawing nearly 3,000 attendees.
“Each of this year’s honorees represents the very best of excellence, impact, and cultural influence,” said Alice Watson, president of Indiana Black Expo. “From the arts and entertainment to sports and global engagement, these individuals have not only broken barriers in their respective fields but have also used their platforms to inspire, uplift, and create lasting change.”
Woodard, the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, boasts a decorated career with 17 Emmy nominations (four wins), a Golden Globe, three SAG Awards, nine NAACP Image Awards and an Oscar nomination. She recently starred in “Clemency” and appears in upcoming projects like Apple TV+’s “The Last Frontier” and Netflix’s “The Boroughs.”
Williams, a Gary, Indiana native, will receive the Living Legend Award. The four-time Grammy winner, known for her four-octave soprano, rose to fame with Stevie Wonder and achieved solo success with hits like “Free” and the #1 pop anthem “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” from “Footloose.”
Pierce earns the Screen Image Award. Best known for “The Wire,” he currently stars in CBS’s “Elsbeth” and appears in “Power Book III: Raising Kanan.” He received a Tony nomination for “Death of a Salesman” and stars in upcoming films “Thunderbolts” and “Superman.”
Ogwumike, honored with the Excellence in Media Award, transitioned from a two-time WNBA All-Star and Rookie of the Year to a prominent ESPN NBA analyst. She was the first Black woman to host a national daily sports talk radio show. In 2023, she was appointed to the White House Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement. She actively promotes youth sports in Africa.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
