I’m soooooooo excited—and I just can’t hide it!”

Those lyrics, sung by the Pointer Sisters, the celebrated and mega pop vocal group, fit me to a tee.

Why? Well, because I’m one of the honorees of the 2026 PrideIndex.com Esteem Awards! The in-person ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 18, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. My award is for Artistic Expression.

The Esteem Awards is an organization dedicated to celebrating and honoring individuals and organizations within the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ communities. Established in 2007, the awards aim to promote fair, accurate, and positive images of these communities and to address challenging issues through the arts and other disciplines.

According to Phil Esteem, Executive Director of the awards, “We are pleased to announce the selection of eleven individuals and four organizations to be honored at the nineteenth annual Esteem Awards. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of community members.

“It also highlights the positive impact these awards have in affirming community leadership and service, ensuring that every voice is heard and every effort acknowledged. We share this announcement with great pride and hope it serves as a source of inspiration for others.

“Since 2007, PrideIndex.com’s Esteem Awards have recognized local and national organizations, as well as individuals, for their sustained support of African American and LGBTQ+ communities across the fields of entertainment, media, civil rights, business, and the arts.”

This free event is open to the public, and everyone is invited to join us in celebrating community achievements and the work of those who continue to make a meaningful difference.

Mr. Esteem, thank you for this incredible honor! It inspires me to continue doing the impactful work that I do.