Our gallery of Community Empowerment Leader Honorees include individuals who range from business professionals to local politicians to the everyday people that live in our community. These persons choose to speak up and speak out and their actions ensure that women and mothers are empowered to succeed in a variety of ways - and it's our sincere honor to acknowledge their efforts.
Meet All of the CEL Honorees
2023 Honorees 
Ms. Evelyn Knight, Long Beach City Legend
Ms. Tammi Mac, KJLH Radio​
Ms. Maxine Waters, U.S. Congress
2022 Honorees: 
  • Ms. Janice Hahn, LA County Board of Supervisors
  • Dr. "Sweet" Alice Harris,  Parents of Watts​
  • Dr. Gloria Willingham-Toure, The Village P.r.o.j.e.c.t.s.
​2020/21 Honorees: 
  • Ms. Lena Cole Dennis, Cole Dennis & Associates
  • Ms. Ivy Goolsby,  International Realty​
  • Senator Lena Gonzalez, 33rd Senate District
  • Dr.  Rosie Milligan, Black Writers On Tour
​2019 Honorees: 
  • Dr. Minnie Douglas, LBCC Professor Emeritus
  • Ms. Carolyn Smith Watts, LB-Wrigley Country Club
  • Honorable Doris Topsy Elvord, former LB Vice Mayor
​2018 Honorees: 
  • Dr. Farah Khalegi, Community Improvement League
  • Dr. Cherilyn Lee, Nu Wellness Healthcare
  • Ms. Gwendolyn Manning, Black Infant Health​
2017 Honorees: 
  • Dr. Lenore T. Coleman, Healing Our Village 
  • Dr. Kathryn Icenhower, Shields For  Families
  • Ms. Kim Anthony-Morrow, Urban Philanthropy, Inc.
  • Ms. Kiesha Nix, Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation​
2016 Honorees:
  • Ms. Pamela Davis, Skin Essence by Pam 
  • Dr. Karen Guinn, DDS, The Smile Agency ​
  • Mr. Don Knabe,  LA County Board of Supervisors
  • Ms. Jeanetta Phillips, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles ​