Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the City of Bloomington. Bloom has republished it here with minor edits for style and clarity.

The City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Black Males (CSBM) is accepting nominations for its annual Outstanding Black Leader of Tomorrow Awards. Presented each year at the Black History Month Gala Celebration in February, the awards encourage the development of future leaders and recognize local contributions by young Black Americans. Nominations must be made by Tuesday, February 9, at the CSBM webpage, where there is more information and descriptions of past recipients. (Presentation of this year’s awards will take place at a virtual gala, being held Saturday, February 27, with details to be announced here.)

The awards recognize four young Black residents each year:  one male and one female high school student, and one man and one woman no older than 30. Nominees must have resided in Monroe County for at least one year and must have been involved personally or professionally in making meaningful contributions to the Bloomington community. 

The Outstanding Black Leader of Tomorrow Awards are part of Black History Month 2021, which kicks off Friday, January 29, at 6 p.m., with a free, virtual event presented by the City of Bloomington and the Indiana University Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Registration for the event, which will be streamed over the City’s social media pages, is available here.  More information about Black History Month 2021 is available here, and information about CSBM’s mission and activities is available here.   

For additional information, please contact Shatoyia Moss, City of Bloomington Safe and Civil City Director at [email protected] or by phone at 812-349-3559.