Thank you for a wonderful night at the 2023 Lights of the Lincoln Celebration!

R&B powerhouse singer/songwriter Leela James first burst onto the scene with her 2006 debut album A Change Is Gonna Come, introducing audiences to her soaring, sultry vocal dexterity. She quickly garnered nominations for Outstanding New Artist at the NAACP Image Awards and Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist of 2008 at the Soul Train Music Awards. James has gone on to record six subsequent albums including My Soul (2010), which reached #7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart, and Did It for Love (2017), featuring the song “Don’t Want You Back” which rose to #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart. Her latest single “Reach for It” comes on the heels of her 2021 album See Me, which produced two #1 hits, “Complicated” and “You’re the One,” as well as viral TikTok hit “Put It on Me” and “Break My Soul,” featuring Mumu Fresh.
EMPOWERMENT SPONSORS
LEADERSHIP SPONSORS




MEDIA SPONSOR

NOSTALGIA SPONSORS
Cardinal Health
BakerHostetler
Donna & Larry James
Nationwide
Partners Achieving Community Transformation – PACT
United Way of Columbus
The Robert Weiler Company
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Crane Group
Sylvia A. Garrett & Associates, LLC
Greater Columbus Arts Council
CHAMPIONS OF THE LINCOLN
Trudy Bartley
Ngozi Osuagwu-Bosah, MD & Chief Chukwuemeka
Ben Bosah
Barbara & David Brandt
Robert & Annette Burchbinder
Janelle & Michael Coleman
Lisa & Tom Courtice
Donald Dennis
Elfi Di Bella
Lisa & Jeff Edwards
Jeff & Mandy Fontaine
Sylvia A. Garrett & Kent Garrett
DeeDee & Herb Glimcher
Stephanie Green
Mark Hatcher, Esq.
Robin & Peter Hersha
Dr. William & Carla Hicks
Janet E. Jackson
Donna & Larry James
Barbara Lach
Mary Lazarus
Marlon Moore, Ph.D.
Prashant Nateri
Angela Pace
Ron & Ann Pizzuti
Kathy & Fred Ransier
Devin Schaffer
Ralph Smithers Jr.
Marketta Franklin Thomas & Kenneth Thomas
Chad & Melinda Whittington