Class of 2011 Revealed for TheGrio's 100: History Makers in the Making

TheGrio kicked off Black History Month by revealing the 2011 class of TheGrio's 100: History Makers in the Making, which profiles African-American history makers and industry leaders selected by the editorial team from the NBC News-owned site, along with experts and NBC News affiliates. The United States Marine Corps and AT&T sponsored this year's class, and members will be profiled across NBC News platforms including NBC Nightly News, Today, MSNBC, CNBC, msnbc.com, theGrio.com, and local NBC affiliates including those in Atlanta; Cleveland; San Diego; Washington, D.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; St. Louis; Philadelphia; and Charlotte, N.C. TheGrio also teamed up with foursquare to create a Black History badge, which users can unlock by following TheGrio on foursquare and checking in at more than 100 locations across the country that are historically relevant to Black History Month. And more information on TheGrio's 100 is available on its Facebook page and via Twitter under the #thegrios100 hashtag. TheGrio.com managing editor David A. Wilson said: We are extremely excited about the 2011 class of TheGrio's 100. These are 100 individuals, all with inspiring stories that highlight the challenges African Americans face today. But moreover, these history makers give us great reasons for optimism for our community, and for the country's future. The complete list: Business: Amiya Alexander, 12, CEO, Amiya's Mobile Dance Academy Bernard Beal, 56, CEO, M. R. Beal & Co. Cheryl Dorsey, 47, president, Echoing Green R. Donahue Peebles, 50, real estate entrepreneur Jason Few, 44, president, Reliant Energy Rosalind Brewer, 48, president, Wal-Mart South John Rice, founder and CEO, Management Leadership for Tomorrow Kenneth Frazier, 56, CEO, Merck Lisa Price, 48, creator, Carol's Daughter Richard Bennett, 30, Iraq War veteran and CEO, Fidelis Health: Aaron Shirley, 78, founder, Jackson Medical Mall Carnell Cooper, 55, trauma surgeon and founder, Violence Intervention Program Eugene Sawyer, 58, creator, Joy-Southfield Free Clinic Hydeia Broadbent, 26,AIDS activist Linda Fondren, 55, founder, Shape Up Vicksburg Lisa Newman, 51, surgical oncologist Michelle Obama, 47, founder, "Let's Move!" Nia Froome, 19, vegan baker, entrepreneur Velma Scantlebury, 55, kidney transplant surgeon Winston Gandy, 50, cardiologist Sports: Cullen Jones, 26, Olympic gold medalist, safe swimming advocate DeMaurice Smith, 46, executive director, National Football League Players Association Jason Heyward, 21, baseball player, Atlanta Braves Kevin Durant, 22, basketball player, Oklahoma City Thunder Kyle Allums, 21, NCAA transgender basketball player Mariah Stackhouse, 16, golfer Mattie Larson, 18, artistic gymnast Myron Rolle, 24, NFL player and founder, Myron Rolle Foundation Natalie Randolph, 30, coach, Coolidge High School Football Terry Kennedy, 25, professional skateboarder The Arts: Angela Brown, 47, opera singer Edwidge Danticat, 42, author Joshua Bennett, 22, slam poet Kazem Abdullah, 31, conductor Kenny Leon, 54, founder and director, The Colors Theater Co. Monica Haslip, 45, founder, Little Black Pearl Workshop Robert Battle, 37, artistic director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Sujari Britt, 9, classical cellist Tanya Hamilton, 41, director, Night Catches Us Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, 24, jazz musician Popular Culture: Chanel Iman, 20, model and business owner Donald Glover, 27, comedian Isaiah Mustafa, 36, actor J. Cole, 25, rapper Janelle Monae, 25, singer Jay Pharoah, 23, comedian Michael Kenneth Williams, 44, actor Nicki Minaj, 26, rapper Rihanna, 22, singer, songwriter Viola Davis, 45, actress Media: Mark Luckie, 27, national innovations editor, The Washington Post Marve Frazier, chief creative officer, Moguldom Media Group Tristan Walker, director of business development, foursquare Bernal Smith, 66, publisher, Tri-State Defender Bill Burton, 33, White House deputy press secretary Gabi Gregg, 23, MTV Twitter jockey Hallerin Hilton Hill, 46, radio host Lolis Eric Elie, 47, writer and documentarian Samantha Fennell, 42, executive director, corporate sales and marketing, Time Inc. Tamron Hall, 40, anchor, MSNBC Science and Environment: John Dabiri, biophysicist Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO, Green for All Adriane Brown, 52, president and CEO, Intellectual Ventures Andre A. Fenton, 43, neural science professor, NYU Bernard Harris, 54, founder, The Harris Foundation Cora Marrett, 68, deputy director, National Science Foundation Donya Douglas, 40, engineer, NASA Faye Alexander Nelson, 57, president and CEO, The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy Monique Harden, 42, attorney Njema Frazier, 40, deputy director, Advanced Simulation & Computing, NNCA Education: Derrell Bradford, Excellent Education for Everyone Rehema Ellis, correspondent, NBC News Courtnay Tyus, 40, executive director, Charter High School for Architecture and Design Dominique Lee, 25, co-founder, BRICK Avon Academy Jill Scott, 38, musician and founder of Blues Babe Foundation John Silvanus Wilson Jr., 53, executive director, White House Initiative on HBCUs Kittie Weston-Knauer, 62, educator and BMX pro racer Robert Bobb, 50, emergency financial manager, Detroit Public Schools Tamica Stubbs, 37, teacher, E.E. Waddell High School Terry Houston, 52, principal, Roosevelt High School Politics: Che "RhymeFest" Smith, rapper and candidate for Chicago City Council Michael Blake, associate director of African-American outreach, The White House Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) Kasim Reed, mayor of Atlanta Rep. Cedric Richmond, 37, (D-La.) Rep. Donna F. Edwards, 52, (D-Md.) Erica Williams, 26, political activist Rep. Keith Ellison, 47, (D-Minn.) Rep. Terri Sewell, 46, (D-Ala.) Wyatt Cenac, 34, correspondent, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Service and Activism: Cpl. Christina Oliver, 25, U.S. Marine Corps Decker Ngongang, 29, vice president of programs, Mobilize.org Dale Long, 58, Big Brother Jwanza Karriem Lightfoot Colvin, 35, pastor Joshua Williams, 9, activist La'Shanda Holmes, 25, U.S. Coast Guard aviator Larry Camel, 58, pastor Shaun King, 31, pastor and founder, TwitChange Terrance Roberts, 34, founder and executive director, The Prodigal Son Initiative Inc. Tracie Washington, 47, president and CEO, Louisiana Justice Institute

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Class of 2011 Revealed for TheGrio's 100: History Makers in the Making

David Cohen

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