The City of Las Vegas is gearing up for its 2026 African American Trailblazer Service Awards ceremony, and it's set to take place on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 9 a.m. in the Las Vegas City Hall Council Chambers. According to a recent bulletin released by the city, this event is a cornerstone of their Black History Month celebration, acknowledging the accomplishments of locals who have excelled in their contributions to the Las Vegas valley across various sectors.
Among the honorees this year, A’Esha Goins is receiving the Business and Economic Advancement Award for her work through Black Joy Strategies, a company that aids community and business development by leveraging policy advocacy and strategic outreach, meanwhile Dwayne Henderson is being recognized with the Community Activism and Politics Award, for his efforts to foster cooperative relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve through the Black Community Alliance, his work stretches over 19 years in law enforcement. Nominations were open to public submission until October 17, 2025, and the community took the opportunity to highlight these influential figures; however, the rules stipulated that each individual could only nominate one person and self-nominations were not permitted, as noted by the city's news release.
In the realm of education, Jennifer Young stands out with the Educator Award for her exceptional role as UNLV's director of Community Engagement & Community Affairs. She has evidently gone above and beyond in preparing her students to meet their potential. Moreover, the Tyrone Thompson Emerging Leader Award goes to Angel Lash, lauded for her dedication to the behavioral health field and her work coordinating law enforcement intervention for mental health and addiction issues.
The ceremony will honor Senior Chaplain Michael Thrower with the Spiritual Community Award. Thrower, an ordained chaplain, licensed minister, and founder of Adopt A Cop Nevada, works to connect spiritual guidance with law enforcement. The awards will be broadcast live on Las Vegas city TV and the city’s YouTube channel for the community to watch.
