Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism presents 2022 Black History Month Leadership & Service Awards

Annual Awards Ceremony Recognizes Excellence in Mentorship,

Engagement and Helping Others

Annapolis, MD – The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism today announced

the eight recipients of the 5th Annual Black History Month Leadership & Service Awards

at the Banneker-Douglass Museum. The awards ceremony recognizes Maryland-based,

African American (or of the African diaspora) individuals or organizations that are

founded upon and exemplify exceptional service to Maryland communities.

“The Black History Month Leadership & Service Awards honors individuals and

organizations who embody the spirit of community in Maryland,” said Governor Larry

Hogan. “We are so grateful for the incredible people who step up with their own time

and resources to help others.”

The eight honorees have made great contributions to Maryland, including inspiring a

new generation of entrepreneurs, giving children the opportunity to read through book

donations, and building upon generations of living history through teaching and art.

“This year, as we look back at the life of Harriet Tubman 200 years after her birth, we

can recognize that she forged a path to freedom, not only for enslaved individuals

during her time, but for the generations that came after,” said Lt. Governor Boyd

Rutherford. “The Black History Month Leadership and Service Awards highlight the

gifted individuals and groups that are building upon her courage and promises of the

American Dream, while leaving a legacy of their own. We applaud them for their

dedication to serving others, and impacting their communities in a positive way.”

The 2022 honorees are:

Luke Cooper (Baltimore City)

Mr. Luke Cooper is partner at Preface Ventures, Founder and CEO of Latimer, and an

entrepreneur-in-residence at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business. In 2021,

Mr. Cooper recognized a dearth of black entrepreneurs and founded Latimer to elevate

the experience of black tech entrepreneurs. Latimer provides training curriculum and

advisory services to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) founders.

Nicole Y. Drew (Montgomery)

Ms. Nicole Y. Drew is a labor and employment attorney for the federal government, but

her service to the public extends beyond her job. Ms. Drew actively serves on the

Montgomery County Commission for Women, the Silver Spring Chapter of The Links,

Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association. As

chair of the Montgomery County Delta Alumnae Foundation Inc. (MCDAF), Ms. Drew

led the foundation’s efforts to partner with the Montgomery College Foundation to create

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarships.

Food 4 Thought Community Outreach Services, Inc. (Anne Arundel, Baltimore,

Baltimore City)

The Food 4 Thought Community Outreach Services, Inc. (F4TCOS) mission is to

provide individuals and families with assistance in the following areas: homelessness,

nutrition, mental health, and job training. Over the last two years, F4TCOS has prepared

over 4,000 cold and hot meals for the community, serving more than 125 people each

week.

Four Generations of Copperville’s Moaney-Henry Women (Talbot, Wicomico)

The Moaney-Henry women represent the founding African American families of

Maryland. Mrs. Tissier Moaney, Mrs. Brenda Henry-Moaney, Mrs. Candace Henry, and

Ms. Gabrielle Henry continue to build upon their families’ legacies through the Water’s

Edge Museum in Oxford. They are also active in many organizations and programs,

including Head Start, disability services at Salisbury University, the Talbot County

School Board, the former Copperville AME Church and the Waters AME Church.

Shawnise G. Smith (Baltimore, Baltimore City, Howard)

Ms. Shawnise Smith created My New Book, Inc., in 2019 with the mission of inspiring

children with limited or no access to books and resources outside of school to use their

creativity, develop confidence and cultivate the love of reading by providing them with

new books. She also provides new books to Little Free Libraries in Maryland, California,

New Jersey, and Illinois, and continues to mail personalized book packages to children

across the USA.

Angela H. Spencer (Frederick)

Ms. Spencer serves through ministry, volunteerism, advocacy, career services and

advocating for change. As the former co-chair of the Frederick County Domestic

Violence Coordinating Council, Ms. Spencer was instrumental in initiating the “White

Ribbon” campaign and the “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” program. She also founded “The

Faith Striders,” which focuses on public health, cancer awareness, support and

education.

Carolyn V. Sterling (Washington)

Mrs. Sterling founded the senior group “Coffee, Chat & Bingo” after recognizing a need

for seniors in the community to come together and connect with one another. She

volunteers with and serves on the Board of Directors of the Robert W. Johnson

Community Center (RWJCC). Mrs. Sterling also volunteers with the Hospice DoveTales

in Hagerstown to help children who have lost their parents.

Victims’ Rights Foundation (Baltimore City, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s)

For the past 26 years, the Victims’ Rights Foundation (VRF) has worked on behalf of

domestic violence victims and child victims of sexual assault (sometimes by a family

member). The Victims’ Rights Foundation was established in response to the murders

of killings of three women: Tamika Black, 19; Tanji Jackson, 21; and Mishan Chinn, 23.

Their families were the first recipients of support, which includes assistance throughout

the perpetrator’s arrest, trial, and conviction.

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About the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism

The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism is dedicated to supporting the

mission of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to serve our neighbors in need. This

coordinating office funds AmeriCorps programs supporting disaster relief, economic

opportunity, education, veterans and military families, public safety, health, and the

environment in Maryland. A unit of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, it has

honored nearly 100,000 Maryland volunteers on behalf of Governor Hogan. Learn more

by visiting our website at gosv.maryland.gov and connect with us on Facebook and

Twitter.