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ADCOLOR Awards 2025: Unveiling Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

On November 16, 2025, the ADCOLOR Awards celebrated its 19th anniversary at an unforgettable ceremony held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. ADCOLOR, an organization committed to advocating for community and inclusion within the creative sectors, recognized luminaries for their exceptional contributions.

A Night to Remember

The evening was a resounding success, boasting support from prominent sponsors such as Amazon, Disney, and Meta. Celebrated global speaker and journalist Mariana Atencio served as the host for the night, guiding attendees through a program that showcased the pinnacle of creativity, culture, and community engagement.

Tiffany R. Warren, the Founder and President of ADCOLOR, expressed her admiration for the honorees, stating, “Those honored at this year's ceremony exemplify our mission by using their platforms to inspire, uplift, and create pathways for the next generation of changemakers.” This sentiment echoed throughout the night, as attendees celebrated not just individual achievement, but collective progress.

Highlights and Standouts

Among those recognized were transformative leaders such as T.D. Jakes and Carmen Smith, who received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for their extraordinary work in elevating faith, storytelling, and innovation towards inclusion. Richelieu Dennis, the Executive Chairman of Sundial Group, was honored with the ADCOLOR | ADWEEK Beacon Award. Incredibly talented individuals like Ryan Ford and GRAMMY® winner KAYTRANADA were celebrated within the ADCOLOR in Music category, highlighting the importance of representation in the music business.

The award categories encompassed various facets of creativity and community impact, including:

• - ADCOLOR Creator of the Year: This accolade recognizes creators who have significantly impacted their communities. Abi Marquez, a Food Content Creator, took home the award for her insightful and engaging content.
• - Campaign of the Year: This award lauded the transformative contributions of campaigns aimed at cultural understanding, with “The Pen to Right History” by the Last Prisoner Project receiving top honors.
• - ADCOLOR Executive of the Year: This went to Shannae Ingleton-Smith, CEO of Kensington Grey, for her pioneering efforts to instill diversity within corporate contexts.
• - Rising Star: Kaleb Mulugeta, whose innovative work in the creative space shows promise of future impact, received fanfare as this year's Rising Star.

Celebrating Collaborations and Partnerships

A notable aspect of the event was the unveiling of honorees from various categories. The ADCOLOR | One Club Creative honorees celebrated innovators Kaleeta McDade and Oved Valadez for their outstanding contributions in advertising and media. Similarly, the Catalyst Honorees, like Tiffany Yu of Diversability, demonstrated the profound impact one can have through advocacy and mentorship.

Following the award presentations, the celebration concluded on an exhilarating note with an unexpected performance by TikTok's featured artist, Miles Caton. His performance captivated the audience and underscored the evening's theme: that creativity breeds community.

Looking Ahead

As the event came to a close, Ana Alonso Leen, VP of Partnerships at ADCOLOR, reaffirmed the organization's commitment toward creating inclusive spaces, stating, “In a moment when showing up isn't always easy, our ADCOLOR partners continue to do so with heart, integrity, and intention.”

The ADCOLOR Awards aim not only to celebrate achievements but also to inspire ongoing community building. As the organization gears up for the ADCOLOR 2026, momentum builds in nurturing and uplifting the next generation of creative leaders.

Together, ADCOLOR partners and honorees pave the way for continued progress, ensuring that the voices of marginalized groups remain elevated and celebrated. For those eager to explore partnership opportunities, ADCOLOR invites stakeholders to join in the mission of not just rising up, but reaching back to lift others along the way.