From LA to Atlanta, Miami to Grambling, we recognize Black communities built by leaders changing our world – one neighborhood at a time.
Honoring Black Excellence is an adidas initiative celebrating the achievements of Black individuals, and Black culture as a whole. Through the year, we highlighted four honorees from different sports offering a platform to give back and share their stories.
For HBE ’23, we continued our efforts in giving our honorees their flowers while they are still here by telling the story of Honoring Black Excellence: Create with Purpose. This series showcases our HBE honorees leading with purpose to create new narratives of the Black community and how they’re playing it forward to support the next generation of Black excellence. These stories also feature people within their communities whose lives they've touched – like bandmates, basketball players and mentees.
When Wanda’s youngest, Ahmaud – a kind, fun-loving young man with dreams, hopes, and aspirations – was murdered in the Brunswick, Georgia community, she began a campaign with fierce love to exact justice for her son. The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation was founded in the summer of 2021 with the mission of empowering, serving, and affirming Black boys on their journey towards mental wellness through running. With HBE, Wanda and the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation will continue to provide programming and support for the next generation of Black athletes and leaders.
For 50 years, the Drew League has been using the court to build camaraderie in the LA neighborhood of Watts. And with mother-daughter duo Stephanie and Chaniel Smiley at the helm, the Drew League continues to provide basketball-centric programming aimed at building self-esteem for youth in their community. Through the help of HBE, Stephanie and Chaniel are working to expand the Drew League programming.
Dr. Nikole Roebuck is the first woman Director of Bands in the 97-year history of Grambling State University’s band, and has been leading the next generation of musicians, and her community, with her slogan: “On Time In The Right Frame of Mind.” Dr. Roebuck will be working with the Grambling State Foundation to continue their efforts to provide a foundation in music education for the next generation with HBE.
These five footwear designers from Miami, Florida have come together through mentorship and knowledge sharing to build a community for the next generation of Black designers and artists. These women have showcased the meaning of HBE and how to Create with Purpose. Through HBE and together with the Black Talent Design & Fashion Fund, they will work to help educate and provide a foundation for future designers and artists from South Florida.