The Board of Governors of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Emmy Awards announced today that it is presenting the chapter’s most prestigious annual award, the Governors’ Emmy® to ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, the business founded and operated by Sheletta Brundidge.
In a unanimous vote, the 20-member Board of Governors made the selection in recognition of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com 's comprehensive coverage of Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol.
Brundidge not only conceived and hosted Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol, but she also led a team of producers, writers, videographers, editors and other professionals in bringing the coverage to air live on broadcast and online channels.
“This award has historically been given for truly outstanding and unique accomplishments and we couldn’t be more thrilled to help celebrate the work that Sheletta’s team did,” said John (JJ) Murray, executive director of the Upper Midwest Emmy® Chapter.
“The board was impressed with how Sheletta as an individual took on the cause of helping Black entrepreneurs. No one has ever done anything like this and she made it happen without a big corporate bankroll or the deep pockets of a television station,” Murray said. “Her bold use of the media to bring awareness to this cause is exemplary.”
In February, Brundidge convened Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol as the legislature was being gaveled in. At her urging, hundreds of Black business owners came to the seat of state government to rally in the Rotunda and bring attention to their unique needs and the historic barriers they have faced.
The wall-to-wall coverage, produced by ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com and streamed live on KARE 11, made the groundbreaking events of the day available to be viewed by the public.
“My goal is always to elevate and enrich Minnesota’s Black business owners,” Brundidge said. “We did the work for that purpose; to be honored with this Governors’ Emmy® Award is gratifying because it brings even more attention to the important and under-appreciated contributions of these hardworking entrepreneurs.”
The coverage highlighted several Black entrepreneurs, who shared their stories of trial and triumph, as well as comments from state elected and legislative leaders, including Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan, House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate president Bobby Joe Champion.
“By bringing Black entrepreneurs to the Capitol, they met face-to-face with elected leaders and policy makers, Brundidge said. “They gained access as decisions that impact them were being made. We expanded our political capital and showed that we can be our own lobbyists for funding for programs we qualify for and benefit from.”
The Upper Midwest chapter’s full roster of nominations for Regional Emmy® Awards will be announced on Friday, Sept 6. The annual Regional Emmy® Awards Gala will be held on the evening of October 19 at the Mystic Lake Event Center in Prior Lake.
The Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the membership organization dedicated to excellence in video and television. It represents television stations and independent film and video production professionals from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota.
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