Honoring everyday people at the Chozen Awards

   The 3rd Annual CHOZEN AWARDS Hosts Erik Gordon (left) and Eva Fe (right) pose with Tastemake of the Year Shellane Pickett (center), owner of Apple-Butter Bakery & Custom Cakes at Blue Mark Studios

It takes the community to serve the community and on March 30^th, The Chozen Awards brought together grassroots leaders to acknowledge the contributions of the everyday people.  The awards are a culmination of a month long effort to raise awareness about the various individuals and nonprofit organizations who contribute to the city of Atlanta.               

Each year local community leaders and tastemakers pull together to make the awards ceremony a successful event. The Atlanta Credit Union sponsored the event after a representative attended the 2010 Chozen Awards and was moved by the mission. City Councilman Kwanzaa Hall gave Operation Chozen a proclamation declaring the month of March Operation Chozen Community service month.  The dedication was followed by a city clean up led by various community members from Spelman College, Garry-Harris Center of Sustainable communities, Real Atlanta Magazine and more.  Liberty Whyte, founder of the Chozen Awards, says if it wasn’t for the generosity of the community she would not be able to make it happen.

“Anything great has to be a labor of love,” Whyte says. “I’m not surprised the community comes together, because they feel what we are doing. It’s celebrating the unsung hero and that’s the first thing we hear.”

On March 28^th the host committee gave a Women of Distinction Brunch honoring five local women from various industries.  Jennifer Bonnett of Startup Chicks, Jacqui Chew of  iFusion Marketing, Celebrity Photographer Drexina Nelson and  Mary Wilson, executive director of East Point Community Action Team, Inc.; and Stacy Shuker Williams, Director/Researcher;

Bonnet, an honoree and  Founder of Startup Chicks, a community based organization providing women entrepreneurs with guidance and resources, says she is richly rewarded for giving back.

“We get more from them than we can give, Bonnet says. “We get so much out of of counseling and mentoring.”

Whyte says she receives e-mails throughout the year inquiring about the awards, but it is the pioneering spirit of those like Bonnett that inspire her to produce the event.

Sylvia Webb, founder of 40 girls and Some Shoes, a nonprofit providing shoes for underprivileged girls in Atlanta, says as this year’s beneficiary she was able to give shoes to The Housing Authority of Fulton County. Webb started her foundation after the death of her sister, who unbeknownst to Webb and her family was homeless. Webb says the Chozen Awards helps her reconcile her past and meet her goals.

“We want to have about 1,000 shoes and I think we have collected about 800,” Webb says. “I think our organizations being the beneficiary is a great fit because The Chozen Awards is about community outreach and honoring women and I give shoes to women in honor of a woman”

Whyte is touched by stories like those of Webb and says the event brings together people like Bonnett and Webb who are diverse in background, but passionate about providing for those who need help the most.

“You hear the heart behind why people do what they do,” Whyte says.” I am these people I know what it is like to call people and not getting an answer. Working for a nonprofit isn’t easy and this is a great environment for people to cross cultures and industries.”

To learn more about the Chozen Awards go to www.chozenawards.com

Pullout/side bar

3^rd Annual CHOZEN AWARD Recipients

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Taneish Leslie - J'Adore Magazine 

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Mary-Ellen Fulkus - Keep Georgia Safe 

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

Samara Michelle – Journey Performing Arts Center 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bruce Budd 
  
AUTHOR/WRITER OF THE YEAR
Tommie Jones 
 
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Lil'Duval 
  
NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR
Diamond In The Rough Mentoring 

NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR
Raphael Baker & Diaz Allen – Rags and Riches Magazine 
   
BLOGGER OF THE YEAR
Jia McClain - Miss Jia  

PARTY STARTER OF THE YEAR
Fadia Kader - Broke & Boujee  

MOTIVATOR OF THE YEAR
Edward Garnes, Jr. 

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
The Shadowboxers 
  
TASTEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Apple-Butter Bakery & Custom Cake Shoppe 

TRENDSETTER OF THE YEAR
Fantasy Faces Artistry 
  
STYLISTA OF THE YEAR
Love E. & Design 
  
HEALTH PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR

Dr. Nelson Bulmash - Health Matters