ADCOLOR, the US organisation dedicated to celebrating and promoting professionals of colour and diversity in the creative industries, has unveiled the winners of its 16th annual awards.
The organisation honoured Issa Rae with the 2022 ADCOLOR – ADWEEK Beacon Award for her change-making efforts in using her platform to advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the entertainment industry. It also honoured Grammy award-winning producer and musician Robert Glasper, as well as prominent figures such as Louis Carr, President of Media Sales at BET Networks; Marvin Chow, Vice President, Global Marketing at Google; and Kinney Edwards, Global Head of Creative Lab at TikTok amongst other industry titans.
Since 2007, the ADCOLOR Awards have highlighted and honoured the achievements of diverse communities in the creative industries. The awards recognise those who go above and beyond to make a difference and who embody the organisation’s mission of “Rise Up, Reach Back.” Those honoured not only excel in their own careers, but also give back to the creative community and support their peers through effective campaigns and ongoing initiatives.
RISING CHANGE-MAKERS
All nominees were carefully reviewed by more than 50 elected judges who represented a diverse range of industries, titles, levels and backgrounds. This year’s honourees in non-competitive categories were chosen by ADCOLOR’s highly esteemed Board of Directors and respective partners.
“Congratulations to this year’s esteemed honourees and winners, who not only exemplify this year’s ‘Still Rising’ theme, but also our organisation’s mission of ‘Rise Up, Reach Back’,” stated ADCOLOR Founder and President, Tiffany R Warren. “It’s been a challenging year filled with ongoing uncertainty and difficulty, but each honouree and winner has continuously displayed incredible perseverance and resilience. We are honoured to celebrate this inspiring group of industry veterans, change-makers, and rising stars and to continue highlighting their accomplishments and impactful work.”
2022 ADCOLOR WINNERS
The full list of this year’s winners by category include:
AD OF THE YEAR
The Ad of the Year is a single execution or ongoing campaign that pushes boundaries and promotes conversation by highlighting the lives and stories of multicultural, LGBTQ+ and/or other historically excluded groups.
WINNER: “The Myth” by Wieden+Kennedy
ADCOLOR IN TECH
The ADCOLOR in Tech Award recipient is a champion of diversity and inclusion in the tech industries, from digital platforms to programmers to educators to product innovators. By pushing boundaries and creating positive change, they set the stage for future generations to take the opportunities they develop even further.
WINNER: Annie Jean-Baptiste, Director, Product Inclusion & Equity, Google
ADCOLOR INFLUENCER
The ADCOLOR Influencer builds community and creates change through their creative content and/or strategic planning on social media platforms. By promoting inclusivity and accessibility on their personal platform, they embody innovative means of digital influence that leads to real-life action.
WINNER: Tony Weaver Jr, Founder, Weird Enough Productions
CHANGE AGENT
The ADCOLOR Change Agent uses their skill and power to enhance corporate culture and creates a more equitable and inclusive environment for everyone connected to it. They call attention to the talents and potential of others around them, putting plans into action that exceed the scope of their professional role.
WINNER: Mira Kaddoura, Founder, Red & Co.
DEI EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
The ADCOLOR DEI Executive of the Year not only inspires, facilitates and implements progressive change at their own company or organization, their innovation and determination influences the ways others integrate DEI into business models and corporate cultures.
WINNER: Jason Rosario, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, BBDO Worldwide
INNOVATOR
The ADCOLOR Innovator embodies progress and imagination. They stand out among their peers as a game changer when it comes to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. A pioneer in their goals and their strategies, they create breakthrough opportunities for people and organisations.
WINNER: Kamala Avila-Salmon, Head of Inclusive Content, Lionsgate
MOST VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP (MVP)
The ADCOLOR Most Valuable Partnership (MVP) occurs between people and companies that work together to provide exceptional, highly effective DE&I solutions that impact organisations and industries. The two partners can be agencies, marketers, entertainment and media companies, brands, individuals, non-profits or diverse suppliers with NMSDC or WBENC certification that team up for a short- or long-term project that furthers diversity and inclusion.
WINNER: Google & WNBA Changemaker Partnership
RISING STAR
The ADCOLOR Rising Star is an up-and-comer in the creative industries with less than seven years of experience who is under the age of 30. Their brilliance, determination and shining personality makes them stand out as a leader. In their short time of rising up, they are already reaching back.
WINNER: Rosalina Jowers, Director of Communications & Marketing, Participant
ROCKSTAR
The ADCOLOR Rockstar reveals their brilliance as a visionary leader, through their professional role or their efforts outside it. They have a track record filled with successes, and the potential to accomplish much more. Landing between the Rising Star and the Legend, this individual rocks their own singular path as they encourage others to shine.
WINNER: Devin Baker, Global Creative Director, 72andSunny
2022 ADCOLOR HONOUREES
This year’s honourees by category include:
ADCOLOR IN MUSIC ARTIST OF THE YEARThe ADCOLOR in Music Award recipient is an artist, creative, executive or technician who champions DE&I in the music industry. Whether a bold-faced name or a player behind the scenes, they use their voice and power onstage and off to fight for change that reaches beyond the world of music.
HONOUREE: Robert Glasper, Grammy Award-winning Producer and Musician
ADCOLOR | ADWEEK BEACON
This ADWEEK | ADCOLOR Beacon award celebrates an entertainment and/or media creative who is helping to transform and move the culture forward, specifically with regards to diversity and inclusivity, by rising up while reaching back.
HONOUREE: Issa Rae, Writer, Producer, Actress & Entrepreneur
ADCOLOR | ONE CLUB CREATIVES
The ADCOLOR | One Club Creative Award is given to a creative professional from a multicultural background who has demonstrated extraordinary talent and achievement within the media, creative, digital and traditional advertising disciplines. This honour is presented by The One Club for Creativity.
HONOUREES include:
- Kinney Edwards, Global Head of Creative Lab, TikTok
- Rony Castor & Anthony O’Neill, Creative Directors, Goodby Silverstein & Partners
ADVOCATE
The ADCOLOR Advocate is an LGBTQ+ a professional in the creative industries who increases awareness of issues that affect members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Their efforts to create progress within the creative industries reverberate into the culture at large.
HONOUREES include:
- Alana Mayo, President, Orion Pictures
- Leanne Pittsford, CEO & Founder, Lesbians Who Tech & Allies
CATALYST
The ADCOLOR Catalyst uses their platform to serve as the voice of a cause or community, educating and inspiring current and future generations of advertising, marketing, media, PR and entertainment professionals.
HONOUREES include:
- Diego Scotti, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon
- Marvin Chow, VP Global Marketing, Google
- Oriel Davis-Lyons, Founder, ONE School
LEGEND
The ADCOLOR Legend is a seasoned industry veteran, a trailblazer who has pushed boundaries leading to positive and long-lasting change. By opening doors for others, they have developed a template for future changemakers to elevate the opportunities they have created.
HONOUREES include:
- Jill Kelly, US CEO, EssenceMediaCom
- Neal Arthur, CEO, Wieden+Kennedy
- Shawn Martinbrough, Artist & Author
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
The ADCOLOR Lifetime Achievement Award goes to an industry icon whose longtime professional and personal successes exemplify ADCOLOR’s mission of Rising Up and Reaching Back.
HONOUREES include:
- Aaron Walton, CEO, Walton Isaacson
- Louis Carr, President of Media Sales, BET Networks
- Raúl Alarcón, CEO, Chairman, Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS)
MR/MS/MX ADCOLOR
Mr/Ms/Mx ADCOLOR are two individuals selected annually who not only carry out the ADCOLOR mission, but can stand in as ambassadors to the ADCOLOR organisation. Through their service to the industry and to ADCOLOR, they demonstrate and showcase what it means to truly Rise Up and Reach Back.
Mr ADCOLOR: Aaron Francois, Senior Connections Strategist | Founder, R/GA | Black Visionaries
Ms ADCOLOR: Ivy Phan, Art Director, Grey NY
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Check out last year’s winner’s here.
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