2023 NBDA National Conference
Reconnecting to Thrive Together: Reconnect, Recharge, Thrive!
August 8-13, 2023
Sheraton Birmingham Hotel
Birmingham, Alabama
Online Nomination:
Awards Nomination Form
Deadline: Friday June 23, 2023
The National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) recognizes the recipients from the Black Deaf community by announcing and providing the awards during the NBDA Conference. The awards are
Linwood Smith Humanitarian Award
Andrew Foster Humanitarian Award
Bronze Hands Award
Advocate of the Year Award
Please see below with the details/descriptions of all awards.
The nominations must be made by chapter officers, community organizations, or other individuals who display active, continued support of the NBDA objectives as described in Article 11 of the NBDA By-Laws as follows as:
“Contribute to the Black Deaf community through personal involvement, leadership, volunteerism, civic awareness,responsibility, and advocacy; the promotion of Black Deaf awareness through emphasis on the positive aspects on our culture, heritage and accomplishments; the open and personal achievements in education and economic opportunities and general enhancement of living standards of Black Deaf people.”
An individual and/or organization must be nominated for their achievements/contributions in the areas but not limited to: technology, research, invention, social services, politics, economic, educational opportunities, advocacy, and others that are effective in the Black Deaf community.
NBDA highly encourages the community to consider about their nominations that fits the description of awards carefully. Please note that nominators are not able to nominate for themselves. Nominators must complete the Awards Nomination Form by June 23, 2023.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the award nomination or submission, please contact Kamili Belton at secretary@nbda.org.
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The Linwood Smith Humanitarian Award
This Distinguished Award is made for an NBDA Member who has demonstrated their active support of NBDA and the objectives of NBDA as described in Article 11 of the NBDA By-Laws.
Background
Linwood D. Smith was many things to the Black Deaf community. He can be described as a humanitarian, a poet, an educator, a community activist, an advocate for those with mental illness, or simply as a friend of Deaf people who
just happened to be Deaf, Gifted, and Black. Linwood Smith was a Black Deaf advocate long before the emergence of National Black Deaf Advocates as an organization. Before becoming one of the founders of NBDA, he was an active member
of the Black Deaf Community, and made invaluable contributions of his time, energy, talents, skills, and personal funds to the concepts of advocacy at a time when NBDA was just an idea. Linwood Smith was a Black Deaf person who dared
to dream, he aspired to inspire others to make a difference by initiating and participating in the positive actions needed to address those needs.
Nomination Requirements
Linwood Smith had a special relationship with NBDA, and the supported the need for valid Black Deaf role models. This award is a memorial to Linwood Smith, as well as a reminder of where we were yesterday, an awareness of where
we are today, and an inspiration to dream and aspire for a better tomorrow.
The Linwood Smith Humanitarian Awards Nomination Submission Requires:
A. Name of the BDA Member being nominated
B. Elaborate the background information on the person’s accomplishments for a NBDA Chapter
C. Describe why you feel this member should receive the Linwood Smith Humanitarian Award
This nomination must be typed and confirmed by the local NBDA chapter president and at least two other chapter officers.
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The Andrew Foster Humanitarian Award
This Distinguished Award can be given for either an individual achievement, or for group/organization efforts for the Black Deaf Community. Recipients need not be members of NBDA, nor do they need to be Black. However, they should have humanitarian accomplishments in working for the Deaf in the USA or Worldwide.
Background
Andrew J. Foster was an active, and very important, member of the Deaf community. He was the first Black person to graduate from Gallaudet University, and he devoted his life to making the world better for thousands of black deaf
people. It is because of him that so many students from Africa have been educated, and many have gone on to attend Gallaudet University.
Andrew Foster was a teacher, a Christian missionary, and a tireless fighter for human rights. As a result of Foster’s work, he was the founder of schools for deaf children in Africa. Andrew Foster set up his first school in Africa
for deaf children with 12 students, then the school grew quickly and after five years the school spread to 12 more African countries. He accomplished for Deaf Africans the same rights that hearing Africans have – employment, marriage,
and the right to be respected. Hundreds of Deaf Africans have a better life because of the dream and determination of this dedicated Deaf American.
Nomination Requirements
This award is a memorial to Andrew Foster as well as a way to recognize the accomplishments of members of the Deaf Community who have made similar humanitarian advancements for Deaf people in America or Worldwide.
The Andrew Foster Humanitarian Awards Nomination Submission Requires:
A. Name of the individual or organization being nominated
B. Elaborate the background information on the person/organization’s accomplishments for the Deaf people in America or Globally
C. Describe why you feel this person/organization should receive the Andrew Foster Humanitarian Award
This nomination must be typed, and must be confirmed by at least two other nominators (for a total of three people making the nomination).
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The Bronze Hands Award
This Distinguished Award is given to an individual who is a role model in the Black Deaf Community, and has made an achievement in the grassroots advocacy or their professional endeavors (awards will not be given out to individuals with a drug conviction or felony record)
Nomination Requirements
This award is given to a Black deaf individual who possess the characteristics of:
1) A Black Deaf role model, who can be looked up to by both young people and adults
2) Achievement or recognition in their area, such as:
a. Advocacy
b. Grassroots volunteerism
c. Professional accomplishments
d. Active community leadership
e. Scholarship & excellence
f. Dedication to serving Black community and/or Deaf community
g. Innovative program implementations
h. Sportsmanship
i. Artistic contributions in any form
j. Religious involvement
k. Political involvement
l. Social Services, i.e. youth, senior citizens, people with disabilities, etc.
The Bronze Hands Award Nomination Submission Requires:
A. Name of the individual being nominated
B. Elaborate the background information on the person’s accomplishments
C. Describe why you feel this person is a role model and should receive the Bronze Hands Award
This nomination must be typed, and must be confirmed by at least two other nominators (for a total of three people making the nomination).
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The Advocate of Year Award
This Special Award is designed to recognize our unsung heroes and heroines, the people who are crucial in keeping NBDA thriving in the area of advocacy: its members and chapters.
Nomination Requirements
NBDA is proud to be an organization that has accomplished a lot in advocacy for Black Deaf Americans. However, none of these accomplishments would have happened without the people who are typically overlooked when praises are being
sung, and normally do not get any gratitude, or encouragement for their efforts.
This has been rectified with the Advocate of the Year Award, which goes to a NBDA Chapter or Member who has been accomplished in the area of advocacy.
The Advocate of the Year Nomination Submission Requires:
A. Name of the BDA Chapter or Member being nominated
B. Elaborate the background information on the chapter’s/member’s accomplishments
C. Describe why you feel this chapter or member should receive the NBDA Advocate of the Year Award
This nomination must be typed and confirmed by the local NBDA chapter president and at least two other chapter officers.
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Past NBDA Awards Recipients
2019 NBDA Conference (Oakland, CA)
Outstanding Senior Citizen Advocate of the Year Award: Emmie Brown
Charles “Chuck” Williams Award: Robert Jones
2017 NBDA Conference (Baltimore, MD)
Andrew Foster Humanitarian Award: Shirley Childress Johnson
Linwood Smith Humanitarian Award: Fred Beam
Bronze Hand Award: Dorothy Brand
Advocate of the Year: Samuel Holden
President’s Distinguished Service Awards: Betty Henderson
Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award: New Jersey Black Deaf Advocates
Outstanding Senior Citizen Award: Dorothy Nelson
Charles “Chuck” Williams Award: Thomas Samuel
2015 NBDA Conference (Louisville, KY)
Andrew Foster Humanitarian Award: Talila A. Lewis
Linwood Smith Humanitarian Award: Benro Ogunyipe
Bronze Hand Award: Stephanie Johnson
Advocate of the Year: Kari Cooke
President’s Distinguished Service Awards: Karen Anderson & Donald Tinsley
Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award: Alabama Black Deaf Advocates
Charles “Chuck” Williams Award: Willie Jenkins
Outstanding Senior Citizen Advocate of the Year Award: Dorthalia Owens
2013 NBDA Conference (New Orleans, LA)
Andrew Foster Humanitarian Award: Dr. Angela McCaskill
Linwood Smith Humanitarian Award: Claudia Gordon, Esq.
Iconic Bronze Hand Award: Kimberly Lucas
NBDA Advocate of the Year: Martina Moore
President’s Distinguished Service Award: Anthony Aramburo
Organizational Excellence Award: National Alliance of Black Interpreters of Washington, D.C. (NAOBI-DC)
NBDA Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Nathie Marbury