C.B. HANIF PHOTOS / SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES

West Palm Beach, Fla. – The Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County’s new officers, above, were sworn in by Judge Bradley Harper during the 13th annual Ascension Awards dinner program Saturday at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The 2025 board members, above from left, are Dominique Ricketts, treasurer; Kenyon Link, secretary; Keely Gideon-Taylor, president; Jervonte Edmonds, president-elect; Joseph Sanches, immediate past president, and Leontyne D. Brown, not shown, Advocacy & Social Justice Committee Chair. Keynote speaker Andy Henriquez, The Master Storyteller, below left, advised the entrepreneurs gathered to “show up,” despite the inevitable turbulence and doubts encountered in pursuing their dreams. He also shared an inspirational story regarding his mother Marie, to his left, who he said arrived from Haiti with $150 to her name, yet overcame trials to purchase a $76,000 property worth $1 million today. Announced during the event were the 2025 Ascension Award honorees: Distinguished Black Business of the Year winner Mario Dickerson, CEO of M.D. Home Health LLC; Emerging Black Business of the Year winner Niesha Wood, founder/CEO of We’re No Different; Nonprofit of the Year winner Jacoby Waters, president of We’re No Different; Dicky Sykes Social Justice Advocate of the Year winner Dr. Debra Robinson, below right and bottom right, for championing high-quality education and opportunities for minority-owned businesses during her tenure on the county School Board; and President’s Award winner Bobby Powell Jr., middle row, newly elected to the County Commission. Other attendees included local business advocates and professionals such as Palm Beach County Manager Verdenia Baker, bottom center, and Klemie Christie, with Palm Beach Post Executive Editor Rick Christie, middle row right. Visit blackchamberpbc.com.