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(BALTIMORE – December 7, 2022) – Today, BMORENews announced the list of honorees receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from BMORENews at the 20th Anniversary event, “Black Press Matters”, set for Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 3 to 5 pm at Nancy by SNAC located at 131 W. North Avenue in Baltimore.
RSVP to https://blackpressmatters.eventbrite.com/.
The event will feature the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards and the “Dear Black Girl” art exhibit by local artist extraordinaire, Tamara Payne.
Joe Manns Black Wall Street honorees include Zy Richardson.
Who is Zy?
Zy Richardson is an energetic and relentless advocate for equity, using her influence for good and speaking up for all things just and right. Known for her tenacious and collaborative approach to public affairs, Zy is a communications expert and skilled advisor with more than 15 years of experience managing public relations and media around high-stakes matters.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Zy followed her dream to attend Morgan State University and is proud to call Baltimore her home. As a champion for social justice and diversity, Zy directs communications and media relations for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office under the leadership of Marilyn J. Mosby, Esq. As spokeswoman, she has secured hundreds of stories and has developed a demonstrated track record for advancing Baltimore’s criminal justice reform efforts on the national scene. She serves as a trusted advisor to the State’s Attorney and leads messaging strategy around undoing racial inequities and several important initiatives including; high-profile police accountability cases, the opening of a sentencing review unit to review harsh sentences, and a new policy rollout for the release of low-level offenders during COVID-19.
Recently, she crafted a sensitive message around the release of three wrongfully convicted individuals that showed their humanity as newly freed men, and her media prowess meant the story landed on the front page of the Washington Post, as well as global outlets. Credited as one of her proudest professional moments, “Watching these men walk out of prison with child-like smiles, uncontrollable tears… able to hug their families for the first time in nearly 40 years helped me to recognize my own gifts and reaffirmed my commitment to amplify the good work in and around my city.”
Prior to joining the State’s Attorney’s Office, she led communications and customer service at the DC Department of Public Works where her job was to apprise DPW’s nearly 1,430 employees, and DC’s 658,000 residents, of happenings in one of the district’s largest government agencies. She transformed the team from a small, reactive unit into a strong collective of highly motivated professionals. Prior to this role, Zy served in varying communications and public relations roles in the private, non-profit and public sectors.
She is a woman of firsts, with a vivacious and infectious energy that is unparalleled. Single mother to a college student and a high school senior, Daily Record’s“40 under 40” award winner, and profiled by American Magazine for her accomplishments, Zy is a tenacious leader, a champion, and a symbol of strength and courage in a city that needs heroes.
She received her B.A. degree in history from Morgan State University in 2003 and her M.A. degree in public
communications in 2011 from American University.
