who exemplify the National Urban League mission through their professional and personal contributions to
community and service. This class of YP Honors recipients represent a diverse field of industries and backgrounds,
but share the common value of excellence in service.
“This inspirational group of young professional men and women exemplify the mission of NULYP. We are proud to
honor their vast accomplishments and dedication to community service and empowerment,” said NULYP President
Carlos Clanton.
Beginning 2016, the first class of NULYP Honors was named. This class included 30 dynamic young
professionals across the country. In 2017, the program has become even more exclusive, recognizing only 10
recipients. The following individuals will be awarded as the NULYP Honors 2017 class:
• Christopher Bruce – Atlanta, GA: Attorney, Advocate & Exemplary Peer Leader
Christopher Bruce, Esq. is the Policy Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. He
is also the managing partner of The Bruce Firm, LLC which focuses on defending young African
American males charged with their first criminal infraction. He was appointed to the DeKalb
County Board of Ethics during a very tumultuous period in the county. He continued to advocate
for change by founding the DeKalb Young Professionals, an organization focused on retaining and
recruiting young professional leaders through social, educational and networking events.
• Samantha Davis – Washington, DC: Black Youth Motivator & Women’s Right’s Advocate
Samantha Davis is Founder of The Black Swan Academy (BSA), a non-profit organization
dedicated to creating a pipeline of black youth civic leaders, committed to improving themselves,
as well as, the communities in which they live. She is also the Field Engagement Manager for
YWCA USA where she leads the development of state-level advocacy initiatives, and strategically
mobilizes their over 220 associations to move federal legislation around issues of racial justice
and women’s empowerment.
• Jason Grove – Newark, NJ: Rising Democratic Leader & Entrepreneur
Jason Grove is Founder of BrickLine Management & Consulting, and President of the Urban
League of Essex County Young Professionals. In 2015, The New Jersey Young Democrats of
America Black Caucus listed Jason among New Jersey’s 50 most powerful young Black
Democrats. As an affiliate staff member and consultant at the Urban League of Essex County,
Jason worked to assist hundreds of city residents in obtaining long-term job placement and
career opportunities.
• Sandra Morgan – Las Vegas, NV: Attorney & Corporate to Community Connector
Sandra Douglass Morgan serves as the Director of External Affairs for AT&T Nevada for Las Vegas
and all of southern Nevada. Morgan is responsible for managing AT&T’s legislative and
community affairs activities working closely with community leaders, legislators, and other policy
makers to help meet AT&T’s objective of connecting people with technology everywhere they
live and work. Morgan is a multiple award-winning community servant and she most recently
served as the City Attorney for the City of North Las Vegas, and served as Litigation Attorney for
MGM Mirage, one of the largest gaming corporations in the world.
• Stephen Pace – Detroit, MI: Engineering Innovator & STEM Mentor
Stephen Daniel Pace, Ph.D. is an Advanced Battery Algorithm Engineer at General Motors, where
he develops the propulsion systems of the industry’s top electrified vehicles. He is also a member
of the leadership team of the General Motors’ African Ancestry Network (GMAAN). Pace mentors
several high school students in Metro-Detroit. His passion for mentoring stems from a desire to
help young people achieve success in both their personal and professional lives.
• Tereance Puryear – Atlanta, GA: Technology Champion & Leadership Role Model
Tereance Puryear is a Logistics IT Product Analyst with XPO Logistics. He is also President of the
Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals and Assistant Secretary for the Urban
League of Greater Atlanta Board. Puryear also serves as Scout Leader with Boy Scouts Troop 100
at Best Academy, he is an advisory board member of The Scholarship Academy, and a member of
the Emerging 100 of Atlanta. He is a 2017 graduate of LEAD Atlanta, a 2013 Fellow of New
Leaders Council Atlanta and a 2011 alumnus of United Way V.I.P. (Volunteer Involvement
Program).
• Adrianne Slash – Indianapolis, IN: Diversity and Inclusion Expert & Revered Civic Leader
Adrianne Slash joined Community Health Network as Diversity & Inclusion Consultant in early
2017. Prior to the newest endeavor, she served as Program and Event Director for Leadership
Indianapolis where she was helping to build the pipeline for the next generation of civic leaders.
She is President of The Exchange at the Indianapolis Urban League and President of the Heritage
Alumni Association Board at The Orchard School. Slash was honored as a member of the 2017
Indianapolis Business Journal Forty under 40 class and she is an Indianapolis Foundation Fellow.
• Roy Tatem, Jr. – Phoenix, AZ: National Political Consultant & Entrepreneur
Roy Tatem worked as Regional Coordinator for Hampton Roads (VA) for Obama in 2007 and as
Deputy Director for African American Outreach for the Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign. The East
Valley NAACP elected Roy to serve as President of the Branch and newly elected Sheriff Paul
Penzone of Maricopa County appointed Tatem as Chairman of his African American Advisory
Board. He also recently opened his own political consulting firm, Vanguard Strategies and
Consulting, LLC, where he will develop plans, strategies and advice prospective and current
political office holders.
• Jasmine Twitty – Greenville, SC: Judicial History Maker & Empowerment Leader for Young Women In
2015, 25-year-old Jasmine Twitty was historically sworn in as an Associate Judge of the Easley
Municipal Court and is currently also employed by the Greenville County Bond Court. She is
currently President of Urban League Upstate Network and founding member of LeadHER
Greenville. LeadHER Greenville is committed to empowering young women through professional
development and outreach to the Greenville community. Twitty has been recognized by Amy
Poehler’s Smart Girls, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, Essence and numerous other media
outlets.
•Michelle Williams – Dallas, TX: Entrepreneurial Mentor & Outstanding Texan Michelle Williams is Executive Director for The Dallas Entrepreneur Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start, build and grow their businesses through education, mentorship and access to an entrepreneurial community. In 2013, Williams worked with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. Recently, she was honored by Texas State Senator Royce West and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus as a recipient of the Outstanding Texan award.
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The National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) is a National Urban League volunteer auxiliary that
targets young professionals ages 21-40 to empower their communities and change lives through the Urban League
Movement. The mission is to support the Urban League Movement through volunteerism, philanthropy and
membership development.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Kerline Jules, Communications Chair
National Urban League Young Professionals
954.300.2230 | communications@nulyp.org
