Honored by the Tavis Smiley Foundation

Tavis Smiley and comedian Guy Black with Anthony A. Phillips after receiving the 2008 Emerging Youth to Leader Honoree

From Anthony: On Saturday October 4th, 2008 I flew to Los Angeles California to accept the 2008 Emerging Youth Leadership Award from The Tavis Smiley Foundation at its 2008 Salute to Youth Leadership Benefit. This award is given to “alumni member of the [Tavis Smiley] Youth to Leaders program who has demonstrated drive and determination toward becoming a leader.” I’m extremely humble to receive an honor from such a great foundation and from a individual whose contributions to our nation’s social fabric, I greatly admire, Tavis Smiley. During the benefit I met actress Jurnee Smolett who starred in the Great Debaters, singer and song writer Raheem DeVaughn, Wendell Pierce who stars in the hit HBO sitcom ”The Wire” and another extraordinary young activist Angela Groves who is currently a freshman at Princeton University were among the many people I met at the ceremony.

Thank you Ms. Vonda Paige, Tavis Smiley and the entire Tavis Smiley Foundation for granting me with such a honor. To learn more information about the award and the Tavis Smiley Foundation please visit http://www.youthtoleaders.org/styl.asp

Yours in the struggle, I am

Brother Phillips