Our Story
About Black Excellence Group
We exist to shine a light on the extraordinary — to name, celebrate, and amplify the Black leaders, innovators, educators, and community builders who are shaping a better world every single day.
Our Mission
The Black Excellence Group is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the outstanding achievements of Black individuals across Hampton Roads and beyond. Through our three signature award programs, we honor those who exemplify excellence in leadership, service, education, faith, arts, business, and community impact — and inspire the next generation to reach even higher.
Our Vision
We envision a world where Black excellence is not the exception but the expectation — where every Black child grows up seeing their community celebrated, their potential affirmed, and their future filled with possibility. We are building a movement of recognition, investment, and legacy that will endure for generations.
What We Do
Our Three Award Programs
Black Girl Magic Image Awards
Celebrating extraordinary Black women whose brilliance, resilience, and impact illuminate every space they enter.
Black Men Rock Image Awards
Honoring Black men who lead with integrity, uplift their communities, and redefine excellence in every field.
Black Kids Rock Image Awards
Recognizing the next generation of Black youth who are already making their mark through achievement, character, and community.
What Guides Us
Our Core Values
Excellence
We hold the highest standards for the individuals we recognize and the experiences we create.
Community
Every event, every honoree, every sponsor is part of a larger family committed to lifting each other up.
Representation
We believe in the power of seeing yourself celebrated — in print, on stage, and in the world.
Impact
Beyond recognition, we invest in scholarships, mentorship, and programs that create lasting change.
Legacy
We are building a record of Black excellence that will inspire generations to come.
Integrity
Our honorees are chosen through a rigorous, community-driven nomination process rooted in authenticity.
Leadership
Meet Our Founder
Latrese B. Carter
Founder & Executive Director
Latrese B. Carter is a counselor, life coach, playwright, director, producer, author, motivational speaker, event designer, and community advocate whose life's work centers on healing, empowerment, creativity, and service.
A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, Latrese is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and studied Criminal Justice and Political Science at Old Dominion University. Her professional journey began as a domestic violence advocate with the H.E.R. Shelter, where she provided individual counseling, court advocacy, transitional support, and community education on domestic and teen dating violence. It was during this work that Latrese discovered her calling to the counseling profession after witnessing how deeply self-esteem, self-image, and self-worth influence an individual's ability to heal and move forward.
In 2008, Latrese founded Faithwalk Productions, combining her counseling background with her creativity to develop what she calls "EDUTAINMENT" — using entertainment as a vehicle for education, awareness, healing, and transformation. As a playwright, director, and producer, she has created theatrical works addressing homelessness, PTSD, domestic violence, addiction, recovery, relationships, and other emotional and social issues.
She is the author of I Come With Scars (2015), which challenges readers to release the emotional weight that prevents them from moving forward into their God-given purpose. Her honors include the 2013 757 Gospel Music Award for Playwright/Actress of the Year, the 2017 Feminine Freedom Award, the 2022 ACHI Magazine Orator of the Year, and the 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2026, she was selected as a Virginia's 100 Black Women Honoree.
At the heart of everything she does is a commitment to helping people recognize their worth, confront what has wounded them, and understand that their past does not have to determine their future.
Join the Movement
Whether you attend, sponsor, nominate, or simply spread the word — you are part of something bigger. Together, we celebrate Black excellence.