Hortense B. Perry Foundation, 3107 S. Crums Lane, Louisville, KY (2026)

09/16/2026

About our Emcee - DeAndria Turner, WLKY TV

DeAndria Turner is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and reporter at WLKY, where she’s been telling impactful stories there since January 2024. A proud Southern girl from Gautier, Mississippi, where the sweet tea is strong and the hospitality runs deep, DeAndria brings heart, authenticity, and purpose to every story she tells.

Before making her mark in Louisville, she reported in Hartford, Connecticut, and Huntsville, Alabama, where she served as the chief bureau reporter for the Shoals area. DeAndria is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism with minors in African American Studies and English. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., crossing Theta Psi in Fall 2017. When she’s not chasing a story, you can find her catching up on her favorite shows or exploring new restaurants around the city.

At her core, DeAndria believes storytelling has the power to create change, and she’s committed to using her voice to uplift, inform, and inspire.

Come out to meet her Sunday, September 20, 2026 at the HBP Salute to Women Awards celebration!

09/15/2026

Meet Shaun Spencer, Entrepreneur Award recipient

Shaun Spencer is the President and Lead Human Resources Consultant of Trimen Solutions, LLC, a company she founded in 2008. Trimen Solutions provides services through three divisions: Human Resources and Employee Training, Staffing, and recently added Printing Services under My HUB Printing. Prior to launching Trimen, Ms. Spencer developed onboarding and hiring processes for major franchise organizations, created employee benefit plan procedures implemented nationwide, established EEO compliance policies, recruited and placed candidates, and developed employee handbooks and job descriptions for businesses across a variety of industries. Under her leadership, Trimen Solutions received the Louisville Defender Business Achievement Award in 2009, was nominated for the Tri-State Minority Supplier Development Council’s Minority Supplier of the Year Award in 2017, and was recognized by the Louisville Independent Business Alliance as a West Louisville Trailblazer in 2023.

In addition to decades of human resources expertise, Ms. Spencer brings extensive experience in social services, management, and restaurant operations. In response to client feedback, she launched the PerfectPath Program in 2020, designed to support the employment, housing, and personal development needs of young adults ages 18–24.

A respected trainer and speaker, Ms. Spencer has delivered numerous workshops and presentations for individuals, entrepreneurs, and business owners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she conducted webinars for Fayette County Public Schools, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, and the Louisville Independent Business Alliance. Her presentations have included topics such as human resources best practices, job readiness, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. She has also presented for the Louisville Urban League Career Expo and Louisville Metro Government’s entrepreneurship initiatives.

Ms. Spencer is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Louisville Society for Human Resource Management (LSHRM), and the American Staffing Association. She serves on the boards of Wibby’s Foundation, Inc., the Greater Louisville University of Kentucky Alumni Club, Buy Local Louisville Foundation, and Louisville Grows. She is the Founder and President Emeritus of the West Louisville Dream Team and is also recognized as a Liv In Lou City Champ. Her previous leadership and community service roles include Vice President of Chapter Administration and Chair of the Networking and Placement Committee for LSHRM, committee leadership with the Tri- State Minority Supplier Development Council, membership on the Economic Development Committee of the Southwest Dream Team, and board service with the Louisville Independent Business Alliance.

Ms. Spencer’s honors include the Sam Watkins Jr. Light the Way Entrepreneurial Award, the Zeta Phi Beta Community Service Award, and the ECHO (Exploited Children’s Health Organization) Engel Heart Award. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Kentucky and maintains senior-level human resources certifications from both the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and SHRM. She is also a Certified Staffing Professional (CSP) through the American Staffing Association.

Come out on Sunday, September 20, 2026 to meet Shaun.

09/14/2026

Meet Evon Smith, recipient, Entrepreneur Award.

Evon Smith leads a community development corporation committed to elevating the entire city through commercial development growth in West Louisville. OneWest was formed in 2014 by a diverse group of professionals in Leadership Louisville’s Bingham Fellows Program who believed that the clearest path to an economic renaissance in west Louisville was an influx of private, philanthropic, and public capital.

She joined OneWest in 2018 as President and CEO. Before becoming President and CEO, Smith spent more than 20 years in real estate development. Her work focuses on implementing of OneWest’s five-year strategic plan, which includes commercial and mixed-use development efforts beginning at the 18th Street and West Broadway corridor. Continuing the work that the OneWest board and volunteers have already begun, Smith builds relationships with government, nonprofit, business, and community organizations and acts as an advocate for responsible investments, financial commitments, and policies that impact west Louisville.

Smith is a graduate of Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., and completed executive leadership programs at Duke University and Harvard University.

Join us Sunday, September 20, 2026 to learn more about Evon.

09/13/2026

Meet Caqueta King, Entrepreneur Award recipient.

Caqueta King is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, mentor, and community trailblazer whose life reflects resilience, determination, and service. Born to a teenage mother and becoming a mother herself at age 16, she transformed personal challenges into motivation, building a life dedicated to empowering others and creating opportunities within her community.

She is the founder and owner of Reign Events, a family-owned full-service event design company. After leaving corporate America in 2018 to pursue her passion full-time, she grew the business from a modest inventory into a thriving company known for excellence, creativity, and innovation. In 2020, Reign Events was recognized as Black-Owned Event Planner of the Year.

Beyond entrepreneurship, Caqueta has established herself as a catalyst for community change. She founded Loving Others Through Giving (LOTG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women, young mothers, children, and families through outreach, education, and empowerment initiatives. Through LOTG, she has led community health fairs, HIV testing events, school supply drives, resource distributions, and programs that have served hundreds of families throughout Louisville.

A visionary leader, Caqueta founded Ladies of the Gridiron, one of the area’s pioneering women’s and girls’ flag football programs, creating opportunities for mentorship, teamwork, healthy living, and community engagement. She later launched the Shut Up and Vote Campaign to promote voter registration and civic participation within underserved communities, encouraging citizens to use their voices and exercise their right to vote.

Continuing her commitment to uplifting others, Caqueta founded TEEN MOM, a mentoring and empowerment program for teenage mothers, and launched I Am the Table, an initiative that celebrates, connects, and elevates women entrepreneurs throughout the community.

Her contributions have earned numerous honors, including the Black Girls Rock Humanitarian Award and the proclamation of July 29 as LOTG Day in Louisville, Kentucky. Through entrepreneurship, philanthropy, advocacy, and mentorship, Caqueta King continues to leave a lasting legacy of service, leadership, and community transformation.

Come out on Sunday, September 20, 2026 to meet this phenomenal woman!

09/12/2026

Meet Dr. Christine Cosby-Gaither, Entrepreneur Award recipient!

Dr. Christine Cosby-Gaither is an educator, serial entrepreneur, stroke survivor, and sought-after national speaker dedicated to advancing Black health equity. She is the Founder and Executive Director of A Stroke of Grace, an award-winning nonprofit organization that supports Black stroke survivors and their families across the country through education, advocacy, and community support.

After surviving a life-changing stroke in 2019, she turned her pain into purpose by creating trauma-
informed resources and leading large-scale community festivals focused on stroke prevention and awareness. She currently serves as the Director of Urban Health Equity at Simmons College of Kentucky, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Dr. Cosby-Gaither is the author of Beyond the Stroke: A Survivor’s Quest for Courage and
contributed the chapter “Strength and Courage” in the book Coaching Gurus. She also contributed to the 2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke, published by the American Heart Association
and American Stroke Association.

She serves on the American Heart Association’s national Brain Health Task Force, the Kentucky Heart
Disease & Stroke Prevention Task Force, and several patient-focused organizations. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she is married to Langston and is the proud mother of two daughters, MaLay and Zuri.

Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026 to hear more about her story of resilience!

09/11/2026

Meet Avery Tandy, recipient of the Exceptional Youth Award!

Avery Tandy is a recent graduate of duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where she distinguished herself as a scholar, servant leader, and community advocate. She maintained a 4.3 weighted GPA and earned numerous academic honors, including the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, the Global Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and the University of Rochester’s Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award.

Avery served as Teen President of the Derby City Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and as President of duPont Manual’s Black Student Union, where she expanded membership to more than 100 students. She was also an active member of the National Honor Society, the Jefferson County Public Schools Student Advisory Board, the duPont Manual Culture and Climate Committee, and Y-Club. A dedicated athlete, Avery competed with the MidAmerica Volleyball Association and completed more than 80 hours of community service.

Avery currently attends Vanderbilt University as a Chancellor’s Scholar, a distinction reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and service. She plans to major in Psychology with dual minors in Business and Spanish and ultimately hopes to establish her own clinical psychology practice.

Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026 to celebrate Avery!

09/10/2026

Meet Mrs. Margaret Wright, the 2026 recipient of the Elmer Lucille Allen Lifetime Achievement Award!

Mrs. Wright began her career as an elementary school teacher in 1954, spending twenty years in the
classroom before serving Jefferson County Public Schools as a mentor, principal, and Head Start director. Her impact was so profound that the district called her out of retirement twice to lead schools through periods of transition—a testament to the trust and confidence she inspired throughout her career.

Rooted in a lifelong faith at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Mrs. Wright has been an equally transformative force in Catholic education. She served on the Catholic School Board, was a founding principal of All Saints Academy, and in 2010 became a founding board member of Nativity Academy, a Catholic school for students of color in West Louisville. As the only African American Catholic woman on the board, she ensured the community’s children were always the priority, and in 2025 she was inducted into the Nativity Hall of Fame in recognition of her enduring leadership. She also served on the Board of Multicultural Ministries for the Archdiocese of Louisville, where she taught Black Catholic history.

A member of Eta Omega Chapter since 1954, Soror Margaret organized the incorporation of the Hortense B. Perry Foundation and served as its first president. In 1979, she founded the “Misty Sophisties,” a social club that prepared high school seniors for life on newly integrated college campuses and helped them secure scholarships for higher education.

Now 95 years old, she remains a passionate advocate for education, social justice, and equality for
women—a living embodiment of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s call to service and commitment to serving all mankind.

Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 3 p.m. to learn more!

09/10/2026

It's almost time! Next week we will celebrate six phenomenal women in our community! Please join us over the next six days as we feature each one! Then attend HBP's Salute to Women on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 3 p.m. we hope to see you there!

Hortense B. Perry Foundation

09/16/2026

09/15/2026

09/14/2026

09/13/2026

09/12/2026

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

09/10/2026

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