Art & Style

(PHOTOS) L.A. Reid, Robin Thede, Kendrick Sampson and More Honored at the Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards

Published on July 10, 2022

L.A. Reid, Robin Thede and Kendrick Sampson were among the honorees at the sixth installment of the Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards, held this year during the BET Awards week.

The brunch is designed to celebrate, edify, and highlight those in the culture who continue to produce excellence.

This year’s honorees included legendary producer/record executive L.A. Reid, who was presented with the Icon Award by Usher, a star of Reid’s LaFace label. Robin Thede, creator of the comedy series “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” received the Innovator of the Year Award for her accomplishments in television as well as her influence on the next generation of Culture Creators.

Many other accomplished individuals were honored as well for their contributions to the culture, including Shari Bryant, the co-president of Roc Nation; Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of Earn Your Leisure; Nicole Lynn the president of football operations for Klutch Sports Group; CEO and founder of Harlem’s Fashion Row +Brandice Daniel and visual artist Flo Ngala. Actor-activist Kendrick Sampson and entrepreneur Kenny Burns were also honored.

“Our honorees share in our collective experience that is sometimes met with doubt, frustration, and unnecessary complication,” Culture Creators founder Joi Brown said at the event. “Yet we march on as a collective village that continues to produce excellence because experience has taught us that we don’t get to quit.”

The Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch was hosted by R&B singer Tank and actress Coco Jones from Peacock’s Bel Air reboot. Guests were also treated to a live performance from Amber Riley.

The 2022 Culture Creators Brunch was sponsored by Netflix, Ciroc, and Lexus.

Among the celebrity guests in attendance included Stephen Hill, Justin Combs, Chante Moore, Jacquees, Porscha Coleman, Jermelle Simon, Torrei Hart, Bridget Kelly, Bre-Z, Loni Love, Kosine, Queen Naija and more.

See photos from the 2022 Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards below.