2025 Fresh Faces Project Awards Winners
DAVE BRADLEY
Veteran Comedian of the Year (5+ Years)
Musician of the Year
Dave Bradley, a Chicago-based comedian since 2019, has quickly garnered acclaim, highlighted by his 2023 Chicago Reader "Best Stand Up Comic" finalist nomination and numerous press features including a cover story on The World Times. He's toured nationally, created the "Corner Classic" showcase, and released his debut special, "Happy Birthday!" His notable performances include Zanies Chicago, The Laugh Factory (Hollywood), opening for Roy Wood Jr. at the Athenaeum Theatre, and features on WGN-TV. Currently, he's touring his show, "Truth Teller." He maintains a strong online presence with 25K+ followers and 100M+ views. Given that his style and pleasant voice are among his top compliments from fans, it isn't surprising that he also is a multi-instrumentalist musician who can sing and rap across various genres. His Spotify profile showcases a few samples of his music. One of his more recent features as the smooth baritone vocals on the chorus for "Roll Thru" can be listened to on Youtube.
ANTHONY STRONG
Event Producer of the Year
Humanitarian of the Year
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Anthony Strong is the founder of Elephant-N-Da Room Entertainment, a Chicago-based production company bringing high-energy, community-rooted comedy to the city's North Side. He is the creative force behind a trio of hit live shows—"Funny Azz Friday'z," "Silly Azz Saturday'z," and "WTF Wednesday'z" - known for their bold humor, raw authenticity, and unfiltered celebration of local talent.
Born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, he began his career in entertainment as the President and founder of Teflon Media and The Consortium, where he booked and promoted live shows for unsigned musical artists, giving a platform to voices often overlooked by the mainstream. Over the years he produced over 150 events throughout the Midwest, Atlanta and California.
His work extends far beyond the stage. As a dedicated member of DS Squad, he helps organize free community events that provide school supplies and mental health resources to youth in underserved neighborhoods across Chicago and its suburbs. A passionate advocate for recovery and wellness, he has spoken on addiction medicine at major institutions and conferences including IDPH, IPHCA, and AMERSA, educating thousands of healthcare professionals on the importance of holistic, community-based care.
He is also an experienced public speaker, having shared his story and insights at Loyola University, Northwestern, DePaul, and other Illinois universities and institutions. A lifelong mentor and coach, he gives back through youth basketball programs like FAAM, Powerhouse AAU, and the Evanston feeder system—using sports as a tool to teach discipline, teamwork, and self-worth.
Above all, he is committed to using his voice, his vision, and his platforms to uplift others, spark joy, and build stronger communities.
DR. ALEXANDRA ELINSKY
Entrepreneur of the Year
Dr. Alexandra Elinsky: (2X) #1 Best Selling Author, Celebrity Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Leadership / Empowerment / Ascension Coach, Mother, and 21X Business and Literary Award Winner with 15+ years’ experience coaching and training professionals globally. Her first book, GIRL GRIT: SAVAGE NOT AVERAGE, was released on November 8th, 2024. Dr. Elinsky is determined to spread her message of human empowerment and self-esteem globally, spreading her fire everywhere she goes. With clients in 20+ countries around the world, Dr. Elinsky has helped individuals achieve personal and professional excellence. Recognized time and again for business mastery and meritorious performance, she has been awarded numerous honors including (but not only): Top International Empowerment Coach of the Decade by IAOTP, Top International Empowerment Coach of the Year by IAOTP, Empowered Woman of the Year 2025 by IAOTP, Best Coaching Services in the USA by Stellar Business, Top 5 Coaches of the Year by Female Voice Awards, 5 Star Gold Book Review (Highest Accolade) by Infinite Generations / Positive Impact Book Review, Female Empowerment, Feminist Advocacy and Social Change Book Award by International Impact Book Awards, Top 5 Most Aspiring Businesswomen by CIO Today, and Global Recognition for Leadership Excellence by Global Awards. She was selected as part of World Magazine’s 40 under 40 Emerging Leaders to Watch in 2023.
COACH KAY (KRISTEN VAROS)
Community Volunteer of the Year
Coach Kay is a nationally award-winning Media and Communications Educator turned cultural changemaker, known for her transformative impact in education, media, and community healing. As the first and only Black woman to hold the title of Ms. Mississippi Petite USA 2024, she has used her platform to amplify underrepresented voices and advocate for holistic well-being through media literacy and public service.
In 2024, after competing in Chicago at the national Petite USA Pageant, she walked away with the coveted Ms. Congeniality Petite USA title—an honor recognizing her exceptional character, leadership, and care-centered impact across communities. That same spirit of compassion and advocacy drives her work as the founder of Heal, Sis! TV, a storytelling and advocacy platform that promotes healing through intentional media consumption, and Courtesy Classroom, a behavioral science and communications initiative.
Through Courtesy Classroom, she not only helps reshape classroom culture with emotional intelligence and respect but also empowers small businesses, nonprofits, and churches to find their voice online and strengthen their digital presence. Her mission is to make strategic media use accessible, authentic, and aligned with community values.
She also founded the Mr. and Miss Juneteenth Pageant Scholarship Program to restore opportunities stripped from youth in South Carolina, using cultural celebration and scholarship to fuel pride, purpose, and possibility. Most recently, her healing ritual and playlist project, Quiet Rage, Soft Heart: Healing in Motion, creates space for others to process pain, reclaim joy, and embody resilience through music, movement, and mindfulness.
Her work is a powerful testament to what it means to serve, lead, and heal out.
CAROLYN LEAR PALMER
Advocate of the Year
Carolyn, Ms. Elite Fresh Face Universal 2022, is 39 years young, mother to 4 and "yaya" to 2. She is a passionate person about many things as well as a widow, former sci caregiver, DV/SA survivor, fibro warrior and more. She advocates across the board for many things including being a young widow, the importance of medical advocacy, child bullying, assault, body positivity (which is a huge passion of hers as a tall, plus sized woman), and more. She also co-owns a storm team and they are building a nonprofit side as well for their local communities. They eventually hope to spread nationwide. She leads weather advocacy, disaster relief comms and public information efforts. Helping flood victims has been a recent mission where they held a donation drive as well as obtained a large donation of supplies to send in.
She loves helping others and is fortunate enough to volunteer doing just that. She's a firm believer that if you have lived it, you are the best option to help someone through. Personal experience helps people relate. So, she strives to do just that through her business and pageantry where she can be a voice and a physical representation that body size and disability isn't a reason to hide, but a reason to show up and show out!
THE CARE PLAN
First Responders of the Year
The Care Plan, founded by Jacqueline Boyd, was born out of a commitment to ethical care. They have diverse professional backgrounds in nursing, social work, occupational therapy and more! They care deeply about the wellness of our clients and strive to be of comfort to them. The Care Plan promotes healthy and dignified aging by providing comprehensive care navigation services to individuals and families, with a special focus on LGBTQ+ communities. They also promote wellness at work and inclusive, ethical business practices by offering trauma-informed facilitation, training, and consulting services to our organizational clients.
LATOYA GIPSON
Healthcare Worker of the Year
Latoya has worked in the non profit health care association field for 13 years! With a commendable dedication to improving the field, she continues to make pivotal strides in her career. She also uses her many talents to avail herself as an advocate and humanitarian, volunteering with disenfranchised group and helping to ensure a brighter today and tomorrow. You can also follow her lifestyle Youtube channel here.
ANGIE A.LOVE
Fashion Model of the Year
Angie A.love is a Model, Singer, Songwriter, Beauty Queen, Poet, and Stylist with over 2 decades experience! Born and raised on the south east side of Chicago, she started out as a teen designing her own clothes and had aspirations of fashion and modeling. As an adult, she's done runway, commercials, print, and numerous magazine covers such as Tiara, Luxia, Edith, Beauty Queen, ALM Magazine , Model Glow up, International Face Magazine, Buttered Cosmopolitan, and more. Some of her many pageant queen titles include Miss Infinity Midwest USA (2020), Ms. World Ambassador Tourism (2020), International Model Citizen (2021), Model Icon of the year, (2023) and more. She has also collected several awards for her work from organizations like the Chicago Oscars, Luxe Style Awards etc.
AMBER DANIELLE
Photographer/Videographer of the Year
Amber is the owner of Amber Danielle Photography. She specializes in creating stunning photographs that capture the essence of your special moments! With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she offers a diverse and comprehensive range of photography services to meet various needs. Whether you need portraits or event coverage, she's here to help you create lasting memories! Having captured many awe inspiring shots with enchanting visuals in her portfolio, it's no wonder that she is widely praised for her work! To top it off, she also has second-to-none customer service to match her talent.
CHERITA HOUSTON
Writer of the Year
Cherita Houston is the founder of Independent Living After The Storm Transitional Living Program, a nonprofit organization for women and children. What began as a passion and a fire burning from within has turned into a reality. She lives and continues to serve in the Chicagoland area with her four boys and is currently one of Kankakee County Training Center’s (for the disabled) CILA Residential Coordinators as well QIDP Certified. She recently obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology and graduated at the top her class receiving her Master’s in Psychology Education, all while maintaining her home, family life and career! Cherita is the praised author of “The Alpha Woman In Christ,” an empowering book for strong women of faith. She will release her sophomore book “Unconsciously Desperate For Love” soon!
LOCKREG BLACKWELL III (MISSTA LACRAIG)
New Comedian of the Year (Under 2 Years)
Lockreg Blackwell III, known on stage as Missta Lacraig, is a fast-rising stand-up comedian from the South Side of Chicago. He has been lighting up stages with his raw, relatable, and hilarious storytelling. By day, he's a dedicated paraprofessional with over seven years of experience. However, when the sun sets, he's all about the mic. In under a year, Missta Lacraig has hit countless stages, dropped viral skits, and built a growing fan base with his sharp takes on relationships, Chicago upbringing, and edgy commentary on turbulent current events. His grind is real, his punchlines hit, and he's just getting started! He has also recently been featured on the front pages What's Good Weekly and Millionaires in the Making, holding one of the top spots for most article reads in the past year!
CHECK OUT THE PRESS COVERAGE FOR THIS YEAR'S AWARDS
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