13th Annual Ascension Awards
Nominees
The Ascension Awards Program celebrates excellence in Black business by recognizing outstanding businesses, visionary leaders, and individuals who have achieved the pinnacle of success in their chosen professions within Palm Beach County.
We’re proud to announce the exceptional nominees for the 13th Annual Ascension Awards. These individuals and organizations exemplify excellence and have made outstanding contributions to our community:
DISTINGUISHED BLACK BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Nominees
GRAPESEEKER
GRAPESEEKER MULTIMEDIA
CAR ACCIDENT REFERRAL SERVICES
CAR ACCIDENT REFERRAL SERVICES
C.A.R.S. Car Accident Referral Services is an Attorney & Medical Referral Service through the entire state of Florida. We help Clients that are injured in car accidents, slip & fall, & workers’ comp, Uber, Lyft, Motorcycle, Pedestrian, Cruise, Bicycle, etc….. We cover the entire State of Florida
We are with the Clients from the start of their Injury claim to the end when they get their Settlement Check. We make sure everyone negotiates or writes off their bills. The client has to walk away with most money not the attorney or the doctor..
At CARS we show our clients what customer service really is and that we are a 24/7 business and our clients can call us anytime any day. It does not matter. We will be there for them. At CARS it is always about the client.
We are all about the clients. Our motto is let our family help your family.
MD HOME HEALTH, LLC
MD HOME HEALTH, LLC
EMERGING BLACK BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Nominees
WE’RE NO DIFFERENT
WE’RE NO DIFFERENT HOME CARE
GEORGIA MAE’S
GEORGIA MAE’S
FIX MY FLYER
FIX MY FLYER LLC
THE OPTICAL EXPERIENCE
THE OPTICAL EXPERIENCE
NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR
Nominees
YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION
YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION
SEVEN HILLZ
SEVEN HILLZ PRODUCTIONS FOUNDATION
SHAS COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, INC
SHA’S COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Sha’s Community Initiatives is committed to serving its community as Shenetria has served her country. Sha’s has two niche products focusing on the veteran’s community, through its All-Things Veterans initiatives and minority males through Project 12.
All Things Veterans uncovered needs in the minority veteran community and created a platform to resolve them. Annual comprehensive symposiums are hosted four to five times a year throughout the county bringing together VA-approved vendors and department heads from the VA, a hot lunch and open panel discussion. Project 12 is an initiative that highlights positive Black males leadership encouraging the next generation of men.
SOJOURNERS WITH HEALING HEARTS
SOJOURNERS WITH HEALING HEARTS
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Nominees
DESTYNEE TURNER-FIELDS LDO
DESTYNEE TURNER-FIELDS LDO
JASMINE GOVAN
JASMINE GOVAN, MS
Community Relations Specialist Florida Power & Light Company
Jasmine Govan is a passionate and dedicated change agent in Palm Beach County, driven by her commitment to community service and STEM advocacy. At Florida Power & Light Company, she manages programs that introduce K-12 students to coding, robotics, drones, and more, shaping the future workforce. Her efforts have successfully connected numerous FPL initiatives with local schools, leaders, and community stakeholders, reflecting her deep investment in enhancing student knowledge and exposure.
Jasmine also gives back through mentoring, consulting, and volunteering with various local and national organizations, often holding leadership positions. Her impact is further evidenced by the community programs she has developed through sponsorship and stewardship initiatives. Jasmine’s unwavering commitment to civic engagement makes her a role model in her community.
RAY QUASI NELSON
RAY “QUASI” NELSON
DICKY SYKES SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Nominees
DR. DEBRA L. ROBINSON
DEBRA L. ROBINSON, M.D.
Debra L. Robinson was raised in Flint, Michigan, home of the community school concept. Her father was an attorney and her mother was a special education teacher. She graduated from Flint Central High School in 1974 and Michigan State University in 1977, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Additionally, she is a proud graduate of Howard University College of Medicine, Class of 1981.
Dr. Robinson completed her internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at Hurley Medical Center and McLaren General Hospital in Flint, Michigan. In return for her National Health Service Corps scholarship, she cared for the medically underserved in Chattanooga, TN and Pompano Beach, FL. Her medical practice has ranged from Emergency Medicine in Belle Glade and Okeechobee to HMO medicine to a private practice overlooking the intercoastal waterway. She currently cares for our veteran population at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Dr. Robinson has been an advocate for a high quality education for her sons for more than a decade. Her advocacy has included service on various Parent- Teacher Associations and School Advisory Committees/Councils for two decades.
In 1991, Dr. Robinson formed the Progressive Association of Neighbors, Inc., a neighborhood-based organization founded to provide programs for neighborhood children. She successfully lobbied the City of West Palm Beach and the School District to start a summer camp at the School of the Arts, North Shore campus, which continues to provide activities for children ages 5 to 13. Additionally, she created and supervised an after school program, called Academic Sports, at the North Shore campus. The program, which ran for three years, tied the desire to play basketball to the need to be academically successful.
She has served as the Chair of the Education Committee of the West Palm Beach branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for five years and later served as the 1st Vice-President. She was a founding member of the Coalition for Black Student Achievement (CBSA) and served as its Chair from its inception in 1998 until her election to the School Board. Under her leadership, CBSA wrote a 57-step plan to close the academic achievement gap in Palm Beach County schools. The Palm Beach County School Board adopted the plan “Achievement Matters for All” in February 1999.
Early in 2000, Palm Beach County residents formed “A Better County” Political Action Committee (PAC) to work for single member districts for election of School Board members. Dr. Robinson served as Vice-Treasurer of the organization. The voters of Palm Beach County, with a vote of 70 percent, enacted the new single-member form of governance for the Palm Beach County School District. The constituents of District 1 who now had the opportunity for a voice, called for Dr. Robinson’s candidacy for the District 1 seat. In September 2000, Dr. Robinson defeated the incumbent with over 70 percent of the district’s vote. Since that time, the district lines have been redrawn and Dr. Robinson is now the School Board member for District 7. She was re-elected in 2002 and again in 2006 without opposition. In 2010, she was re- elected with almost 70 percent of the vote in a three-way race.
From November 2010 to 2013, she has served as the Vice-Chair of the Palm Beach County School Board.
Dr. Robinson is married to Tay Gaines. M.D., and is mother of three sons.