About the El Paso Black Hall of Fame

  • PRESERVE THE CULTURE – Honoring Our Past
  • PROMOTE THE CULTURE – Celebrating Our Present
  • PROTECT THE CULTURE – Empowering Our Future

El Paso marked a historic milestone on Saturday, March 1, 2025, with the inaugural El Paso Black Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Starlight Event Center. Founded by community leader Monica Tucker, this event celebrated the excellence and enduring influence of Black El Pasoans who have shaped the city’s cultural, civic, educational, and professional landscape.

The El Paso Black Hall of Fame was established to honor individuals and organizations whose achievements exemplify Black pride, progress, and perseverance. It fills a long-standing gap in the city’s narrative by formally recognizing the contributions, struggles, and triumphs of Black residents who have built the foundation for future generations. Through these honors, the Hall of Fame sets a standard of excellence and representation that inspires youth, unites communities, and encourages a shared vision for progress.

A Movement Led by the Black Leaders Alliance of El Paso

The El Paso Black Hall of Fame is implemented by the Black Leaders Alliance of El Paso, a movement formed by the active members of the original Black Roundtable – a group of leaders, mentors, and thought partners dedicated to the empowerment of the Black community. These individuals, many of whom have long served through the Black El Paso Voice and related initiatives, now carry forward the operational and cultural mission of the Hall of Fame. Together, they lead with passion and purpose, ensuring that the legacy of Black El Pasoans continues to be elevated, celebrated, and sustained.

Honoring the Trailblazers

The inaugural class of inductees was thoughtfully selected to reflect those whose achievements have profoundly shaped El Paso’s Black community – across education, military service, civic engagement, the arts, business, and leadership. Each honoree represents a living testament to dedication, perseverance, and pride in identity.

While these individuals were selected by the Executive Committee based on deep community insight and involvement, future inductees – between six to twelve individuals annually – will be chosen through a combination of Executive Committee selections and community nominations. Each year, one organization, business, or nonprofit will also be recognized for aligning with the Black Roundtable’s mission: educating the community, fostering active engagement, and advancing authentic representation of Black culture.

The ceremony includes a moving tribute to those no longer with us – visionaries whose legacies continue to light the path forward.

A Vision for the Future – Project 2030

Proceeds from the annual Hall of Fame event directly support The Black Roundtable (TBR) | Black Leaders Allians, a nonprofit cultural hub for El Paso’s Black community. Its cornerstone initiative, Project 2030, envisions the establishment of a community and cultural center featuring:

  • A cultural arts and event space
  • Educational programs on entrepreneurship, history, arts, life skills, and financial wellness
  • An entrepreneurial incubator for youth and adults
  • A collaborative space for smaller nonprofits working to advance health, education, and social well-being

TBR also promotes cultural exchange through programs like Respect My Culture, which celebrates Afro-Latinx heritage and supports initiatives such as the Soy Maravillosa Project founded by Dr. Jackeline Biddle Richard. The spirit of Dr. Maceo Dailey and Twymeni Purchase – two beloved mentors whose guidance shaped TBR’s mission – remains central to this vision of sustainable community growth.

Why This Event Matters

The El Paso Black Hall of Fame is more than an awards ceremony – it is a movement of acknowledgment, pride, and progress.

  • It fills a major gap in El Paso’s historical record by celebrating the vital contributions of Black residents.
  • It inspires younger generations to pursue excellence in education, business, leadership, military service, and the arts.
  • It unites the community, bringing together people of all backgrounds to honor shared values of excellence and equity.

Guided by the 5 E’s

Every initiative under the El Paso Black Hall of Fame is grounded in the Five E’s – Engagement, Empowerment, Economics, Education, and Equity – guiding the organization’s efforts to strengthen community ties, build leadership capacity, and create systemic opportunities for growth and justice.

  1. Engagement: Engagement is essential for building a solid and vibrant Black collaborative. This involves actively involving community members, stakeholders, and allies in cooperative activities and decision-making processes. Strategies for engagement may include hosting community forums and town halls, conducting outreach and awareness utilizing social media and digital platforms strategically to engage with the community and raise awareness to a broader audience, forming partnerships with other organizations and institutions, and creating opportunities for meaningful participation and feedback from community members.
  2. Empowerment: Empowerment lies at the core of a Black collaborative. This fosters self-confidence, agency, and leadership among Black individuals and communities. Initiatives for empowerment may include mentorship programs, leadership development training, community organizing, and advocacy efforts, promoting civic engagement and political participation, providing platforms for amplifying Black voices and stories, and creating spaces for collective healing and resilience-building.
  3. Economics: In the context of a Black collaborative, focusing on economics involves initiatives to improve economic opportunities and outcomes within the Black community. This could include programs to support Black-owned businesses, initiatives to increase access to financial resources and capital, advocating for fair labor practices, promoting entrepreneurship and job creation, and addressing economic disparities and barriers to economic advancement faced by Black individuals and communities.
  4. Education: Education is critical to empowerment and advancement. A Black collaborative focused on education may work to address disparities in educational access and outcomes, advocate for equitable funding and resources for schools serving Black communities, develop culturally relevant curriculum and teaching methods, provide support for students from marginalized backgrounds, promote higher education and career pathways, and engage parents and community members in educational advocacy and decision-making processes.
  5. Equity: Equity is a fundamental principle guiding the work of a Black collaborative. It involves striving for fairness, justice, and inclusivity in all aspects of society. A Black collaborative focused on equity may prioritize initiatives that address systemic racism and discrimination, champion policies and practices that guarantee fair and inclusive access to opportunities for all and outcomes for Black individuals and communities, challenge structural barriers and disparities in areas such as healthcare, housing, criminal justice, and access to resources, and center the experiences and needs of marginalized Black populations.