Black is Excellence honors unsung local hometown heroes

By Marla Hurston Fuller Office of Human Relations City of Cincinnati In recognition of Juneteenth, the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Human Relations (OHR) is collaborating with Kai Stoudemire-Williams, community advocate and Black is Excellence founder, on the fifth annual citywide marketing campaign, Black is Excellence (BIE). The campaign celebrates the numerous contributions to the city of 15 of Cincinnati’s finest. The honorees will be featured on banners that will be on display downtown and in surrounding areas beginning June 1 through July 1. Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 2024’s Black is Excellence theme, “We’re not next. We’re now,” this year’s artistic direction is inspired by local photographer Ninamdot, BIE’s creative director, who designed the digital content and artwork on the street banners. Black is Excellence’s visual campaign aims to acknowledge and promote diversity, inclusion and representation, and to celebrate the achievements of local Black/African Americans. It’s also a way to ensure that Black/African Americans see themselves represented truthfully and accurately in print and digital media. Kai Stoudemire-Williams said, “Black is Excellence is committed to honoring local hometown heroes that are actively creating spaces for future generations to thrive.” She refers to Fannie Lou Hamer’s quote “We are to work...