Forget Awards Season...This has been Awards Year for FKB Media
When I looked ahead to 2024, I never imagined it would be a year of recognition. I knew in 2023 that I would be receiving the Rogers/IABC Communicator of the Year and I thought it was a great, positive way to kick off the year. Who knew it was only the beginning of the awards and accolades for myself, my company and all the hard work I have put into it since I launched FKB Media Solutions six years ago.
In May, I received Dejardin Good Spark Grant of $20 000. Four thousand entrepereneurs applied, 150 were chosen, and I was one of them. I was in shock. I had applied in 2023 and actually forgot about it until I received that magicial phone call telling me I had been selected. I could barely breathe. I have never received that much money for my business, but more importantly, it gave me a confidence boost about my business plans and what I am trying to do. Entrepreneurship is a lonely road. Sometimes filled with self-doubt. Especially when you encounter pitfallls or things don’t go exactly as planned. Support is important. Cheerleaders are very important. And when someone puts money behind that support, it shows they believe in your success.
After a stellar first half of the year, I thought that would be it for 2024. I mean, I was humbled and happy with what I had received. Then in August, I got an email that I was chosen for the University of Toronto Scarborough Alumni Inclusive Excellence Award. My mentor and job coach Donovan Dill nominated me for the award. I have a soft spot for UTSC. It’s where I got my first degree (Bachelor of Arts - English Major), it’s where I was inspired to become a journalist (I wrote for the The Underground, The Varsity and had a radio show), and it’s where I have come back to as a media consultant, working and inspiring entrepereneurs in The Hub, now known as the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership. I was surprised and honoured that my alma mater was giving me this award for my work in bringing diverse voices, viewpoints and expertise to the media landscape.
As if that wasn’t enough summer excitement, I then received an email from Tonya Williams, Executive Director and Founder of the Reelworld Screen Institute: On behalf of the Reelworld Board of Directors and myself, we are delighted to inform you that you have been selected to receive this year’s Reelworld Visionary Award…This award is in recognition of your long and distinguished career in media as a news producer and journalist, and now as a media consultant. You have made a significant impact on the Canadian industry, by facilitating the accessibility and comprehension of media and by amplifying the voices of Black and other racially diverse media professionals. I was floored. And I come back to what I said in my Communicator of the Year speech, you never know who is watching you. I did not even know I was being considered for this award. I work hard and do the work that I do because I believe in equality and that everyone should have the same media opportunities. I also love what I do.
What’s interesting to me, and what I have been reflecting on this year, is that in my 25 plus years being employeed for big media companies, I never received an award for my work. It was when I bet on myself, when I went out on my own with my own vision that people really saw what I could do and the impact that I make in media. As a producer of both local and national shows, I was doing that all along. For 6 years, I was instrumental in setting the news agenda for the day for the country - yet very few people knew that. During my journalism careeer, I didn’t even give awards a second thought. I was too busy raising my children, working two jobs and trying to survive. But I can honestly say, I am enjoying this moment with some difficulty. As a person who is used to being behind the scenes, the spotlight is a big adjustment. I’ve said before, when you feel discomfort, that’s change and growth. That’s a good thing. So, I am embracing this shift in my life and this beautiful awards year I have been having. It’s with grace and genuine gratitude that I thank everyone who has supported me on this journey. And this is just the beginning.
