2016 One to Watch Award Recipients

 

Janiel Brown

Janiel Brown is a 2014 Teach for America Corp Member that teaches at Kinston High School. She is an advocate of the endless benefits of education. She ensures with every opportunity she is given she creates life changing experiences for her students and children within the community at large. She has organized field trips and tutoring sessions for students to have different educational opportunities outside of the classroom. She also tutor and mentor middle school girls at Kinston Promise Queen Street after school site and high school students at The Gate.

She believes deeply in the power of student expression and student voice. It is that belief that has inspired her to work to create a community theatre group for youths of Kinston. Children in the community will be part of a group that focuses on the art of theatre and literacy. Janiel believes that teaching and learning in theater develops confident learners who are better prepared to participate actively in their education, community and social lives.

Congratulations Janiel.  You are definitely one to watch in 2016!!!

Hernika Cannon

Hernika Cannon is the daughter of Herbert and Evernell Pittman.  She is married to Tah’Ron Cannon and has three beautiful daughters; Zy’Nia, Kayleigh and Morgan.  She earned her Associate in Arts in Elementary, Middle and Special Education from Lenoir Community College and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration:  Management and Organizational Development from Mount Olive College.  Hernika began her career at Kinston Housing Authority in 2006 and has been blessed to serve in several positions such as:  Receptionist, Housing Choice Voucher Specialist, Public Housing Property Manager and Executive Assistant.  She attends Koinonia Christian Center where she serves on the Habitat for Humanity and Personal Touch ministries.  She is a KHA representative on the Lenoir 2020 committee and serves as Treasurer on the Kinston Promise Neighborhood Board of Directors.  She has a passion to serve and help others.  She is currently in the process of completing a business plan for a nonprofit organization named A.C.T. Now Community Development Corporation, Inc.  The mission of the organization will be to help individuals recognize and develop their ability and potential to become self-sufficient with the hopes of improving their quality of life.

Janet Sutton Carter

Janet Sutton Carter is the first female African-American Chief Photographer in the 134-year history of the Kinston Free Press. A native of Teachey in Duplin County, she is the daughter of Gwendolyn and Willie Sutton. She is a 2003 graduate of Randolph Community College with a degree in Photojournalism and 2000 graduate of Wallace-Rose Hill High School.

Janet began capturing photos of Kinston and surrounding counties for the newspaper more than 12 years ago. Along with documenting news and sports, she delivers in-depth photo stories and feature photography highlighting the community. Her photos have been published in Our State magazine, national news publications such as USA Today, ABC News, the New York Times and dozens of news websites across the country.

She has won multiple individual photography awards in the North Carolina Press Association Excellence in Journalism contest, with numerous awards in 5 out of 6 categories. In addition to photography, Janet holds awards in profile feature writing and website breaking news. In 2014, she received a Young Professionals of Lenoir County “20 under 40” award. She was the 2011 Free Press Employee of the Year, a member of Christians in Photojournalism and former volunteer staff member of the Southern Short Course in News Photography.

Janet is the proud mother of a 3-year-old daughter, Alana and a toy poodle, Coco. For the last nine years, she has helped students with senior projects, spoken about photojournalism, including our Camp Promise summer enrichment program and to many social and youth groups and mentored young women in photography.

Ms. Janet, I know with your camera lens you are always watching us, but this year You are one to watch!  Congratulations, young lady!

Kentrille Lawson

Kentrille Lawson – In his own words, Mr. Kentrille Lawson shared, “I enjoy teaching dance.  It gives me my extra breath of why life is awesome. Kinston NC have so much talent here that’s is yet to be nurtured.

I’ve been coaching dance & cheerleading for over 14 years for the Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department at Holloway Center under Melisa Morgan.

Kentrille shared, “to me Coaching and taking leadership is a real life Dream for me, giving kids opportunity to express themselves and hope for their own future. Here in my Hometown things have changed and  kids don’t have anywhere to go which is one reason why I consider my service for these youth. It brings me excitement to see a change in our Community. I originally started from scratch with just  a couple of kids and watched our participants from 20 girls to 80 which was amazing at that time. From that day forward I knew my dream was real and that I’m where I needed to be.

At this moment my hands and thoughts are filled with excitement to make our hometown proud.  Kentrille’s Glamarous Girls dance team recently were First Place winners at our local “Showtime at the Apollo,” competition.  Now they head to the state with dreams of performing on the historic stage in Harlem New York.

Kentrille, claim it and it will yours.  Thanks so much for making us proud!

We admire your commitment and expect nothing but the best.

You will definitely be one to watch in 2016.

Congratulations!

Jeanene McBride

Ms. Jeanene McBride was born and raised in Kinston North Carolina. After high school graduation, she attended Livingstone College in Salisbury NC. While there, her African American Literature professor instilled in me the importance of bringing all the knowledge I gained back to my own community to create a better future for our youth.

She received her Bachelor’s in English and moved back to Kinston, where she became a 7^th grade Language Arts Teacher at Rochelle Middle School.  She shared, “I learned quickly that education is not something that should be confined to the classroom; it needs to be in the home and the community as well.  I have been asked to host educational awareness workshops at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, as well as public schools and churches across eastern North Carolina.  I believe this holistic approach to education assists in developing a college going culture, which encourages all citizens to strive to reach their full potential.

As an ambassador for the Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce, and the Coordinator for Lenoir County GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs),  it is my responsibility to walk hand in hand with the families of students, down the road to a college education. It is my goal to bring awareness to the importance of having a vision, and setting goals to make that vision a reality.

Congratulations Jeanene McBride!!!

Shakeema Moore

Shakeema is obtaining her Master of Science in Administration degree with a concentration in Leadership and Public Administration with Central Michigan University.  She completed her Bachelor of Science Business Administration in Healthcare Management at University of Mount Olive.   She has 3 years’ experience with pharmaceuticals and 10 years’ experience with healthcare.

Shakeema possess a background in impacting organizational performance through execution of financial management, business development, strategic planning and project management.

Shakeema is also an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Rho Zeta Zeta Chapter in Greenville, NC. She represents finer womanhood, scholarship, service, sisterhood and participates in giving back to her community as well as others. She actively supports March for Babies, Elder Care (Nursing Homes, St. Jude, Adopt‐A‐School, Stork’s Nest and Social Action Projects.

Shakeema also have a passion for being an advocate for young women who have experienced early childhood pregnancy, planning for prevention and hope to one day collaborate with a great organization in her community.

Shakeema, we know that you will realize all of your dreams.

For that, we will be watching you in 2016.

Congratulations!!!

Imelda Pate

Ms. Imelda Pate is the senior assistant district attorney for the eighth prosecutorial district where she has worked since 1984.

She holds memberships in the North Carolina Bar: the Lenoir County Bar Association; the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.  Additionally she has been a member of the Kinston Evening Rotary since 1986.  She has served as President and currently is a Paul Harris Fellow.  Ms. Pate is a member of the Lenoir and Greene County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

In our community Imelda is a member of Queen Street United Methodist Church.  She has taken on numerous roles including Chair of the Finance Committee; Member of the Queen Street Choir; Secretary of the Board of Trustees and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

She a Board of Directors member for the Salvation Army of Lenoir and Green Counties; East Carolina Boy Scout Council and the Historical Association of Lenoir County.

She has served as a volunteer for the Quinton Coples Foundation Community Weekend and the Salvation Army / Quinton Coples Foundation Thanksgiving Meal Drive.

Imelda Pate we have already been watching you as you have shared photos of the many events held here in our community and beyond.

We appreciate your commitment to our Lenoir County community and we know that you are someone to watch in 2016.

Congratulations!!!

Amy Ward

Amy Ward is currently completing her B.S. in Christian Ministry with an Emphasis on Biblical Studies from the School of Religion at Grand Canyon University.  Amy  was born and raised in Kinston where she graduated in 1985 from K.H.S.

Her involvement in issues with the youth of this community started in 1992 when she began as the Director and Youth Minister at St. Joseph Church of Christ. It would be there that she would begin working with the former Mayor Buddy Rich and other community leaders to develop youth programs that enriched and motivated youth to Dream Big.

She’s passionate about building a better community through neighborhood empowerment, developing a strong community through efforts that involve each citizen, and “changing the story” of many of our at risk youth. She along with Jeffrey Ward, her husband of 24 1/2 years founded and pastor Living Faith Christian Center Church, Inc. Through this ministry she has established the “Community Connection Initiative”, “The Movement Youth Ministry “as well as the Eastern N.C. AREA RESOURCE Center which will impact the people of this community for positive change.

Amy believes that the church can make a powerful impact in the community when we connect with those whom we serve. She is a proud part of the team of Kinston Promise Neighborhood where she is actively involved with working with some of this communities’ youth.

Kinston Promise President’s Award

Glorious Williams Graham

There are so many names that I can call the recipient of this year’s President’s Award.

She is a friend, teacher, mentor, supporter, encourager and all around beautiful person both inside and out.

I can also call her sister and mother only because she got to boss me and my siblings around because she was born first.

She has had my back consistently since I returned back home to Kinston in 2006.

She has jumped eagerly into any of the projects I have started and to me is the hardest working woman in Kinston.

Although she retired from Lenoir County Public Schools two years ago, her love for children has kept her involved with the Kinston Promise 21^st CCLC programs.  She is the site coordinator for our new Kinston Promise Learning Center.

And even as I have faced medical challenges for the past five years, she has been the wind beneath my wings and for that I will always be greatful.

It is my honor today to present the Kinston Promise President’s Award to Mrs. Glorious Williams Graham.