Cathy Hughes to Receive 2025 BWFN Sheryl Gripper On Her Shoulders Preservation AwardMedia pioneer Cathy Hughes will be honored with the 2025 BWFN Sheryl Gripper On Her Shoulders Preservation Award at the 10th Annual Black Women Film Network (BWFN) Summit on March 22 at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta.
Hughes, founder and chairwoman of Urban One, will be recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to media and her role as a First, Only, or Different (FOD) trailblazer in the entertainment industry. She became the first Black American woman to chair a publicly held corporation in 1999 and has since built Urban One into the nation’s largest Black-owned, diversified media company, reaching more than 80% of the Black American audience through Radio One, TV One, CLEO-TV, iOne Digital, Reach Media, and One Solution.
“We are ecstatic to honor Ms. Cathy Hughes, especially in Women’s History Month and during our 10th BWFN Summit,” said BWFN Chair Chiquita Lockley. “She is a pioneer, a living legend, and a shero who embodies this year’s theme, Plot Twist: The Art of the Pivot. It is our privilege to recognize her contributions and celebrate her legacy.”
A Star-Studded Lineup of Honorees and Events
Hughes will be honored alongside previously announced award recipients:
- Aja Naomi King – Star of NBC’s Grosse Pointe Garden Society (How to Get Away with Murder, Lessons in Chemistry)
- Angi Bones – President of Original Content, Tyler Perry Studios
- Denise Williams Watt – Global Head of Original Content, Apple Music
- Felicia Joseph – Senior Vice President of Casting, Disney Branded Television
- Katori Hall – Creator and Showrunner, P-Valley (Starz)
The BWFN Summit, now in its 10th year, will feature thought-provoking discussions centered on how Black women are redefining the future of film, TV, and entertainment. Fireside chats will include Kat Graham and Meagan Tandy, stars of Tyler Perry’s Duplicity (streaming on Prime Video on March 20), and Sonay Hoffman, co-showrunner of NBC’s Found. Panels will cover topics such as funding, marketing, PR, representation, and costume design.
Event Details & Ticket Information
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Location: Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tickets are available at blackwomenfilm.org, ranging from $25 to $50, with luncheon-inclusive tickets at $75.
Follow BWFN on Instagram (@blackwomenfilm) and Facebook (Black Women Film Network) for updates.
