NEW YORK MEDIA PIONEER & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ACTIVIST IS PRESENTED WITH THE 2023 PIONEER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
George Kilpatrick Receives Multiple Recognitions During Black History Month for His Work in Advancing the Community and Being an Inspiration for the Nation
Syracuse, NY – Inspiration for the Nation Creator and Host George Kilpatrick received the Concerned Citizens Action Program’s 2023 Pioneer Public Service Award during Sunday night’s annual CNY Jazz Black History Cabaret. The distinct honor was presented to the journalist and community advocate for his dedication to public service and his 20 years of “telling stories we feel good about” on the radio/online show, Inspiration for the Nation.
“The many pioneering achievements of George Kilpatrick would fill a book. We chose to honor George Kilpatrick for all he has accomplished but mostly for what he has been able to achieve with Inspiration for the Nation,” said Mike Atkins, President of Concerned Citizens Action Projects (C-CAP).
Vicki Brackens of Brackens Financial Solutions Financial Solutions Network nominated Kilpatrick and explained why he should be acknowledged and celebrated.
“For 20 years, 52 weeks a year, and 1040 episodes, he has poured positive messages of victory and empowerment into the Central New York Community,” said Brackens. “Institutions of all types should see him as a partner in the growth of their organizations and the community.”
“Beautiful people with drive and determination were always doing outstanding work in the Black community but only the negative aspects were making headlines,” Kilpatrick shared during his acceptance speech. “Twenty years ago, I was out for an evening drive and thinking about my beloved community, and in that moment, I heard a voice say, ‘Inspiration Network’. I had an anointing that I had to fulfill and was compelled to listen to. I needed to balance the stories and celebrate our prolific authors, highlight our motivational leaders, and remind our neighbors of what they are capable of. Thus, began the ‘Inspiration’ journey.”
Kilpatrick is widely known across Upstate New York as the “progressive voice” of regional media, a tireless community advocate, and a spokesperson for Syracuse Community Health’s Jazz in the City, a public health concert series.
“George has always utilized his platform to help others – from his positions held in government and banking – consistently creating opportunities, and economic equity for minority and female-led businesses in Syracuse, to the founding of Syracuse’s annual Juneteenth celebration,” added Brackens. “He is known for helping other groups like the YMCA, Girls Scouts, Dunbar Association, and Leadership Greater Syracuse.”
In addition, earlier in February, Kilpatrick was named Citizen of the Year by his fraternity of 35 years, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc® also for Inspiration for the Nation and for his ability to get people to speak passionately about their projects that positively affect their community.
Kilpatrick was also presented with Proclamations from New York State Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter and New York State Senator Rachel May in honor of both accomplishments.
Kilpatrick has broken barriers by excelling in several fields, including public health, community organizing, radio, and television. After Kilpatrick joined WCNY-TV, as Director of Community Affairs, he anchored, wrote, and produced shows including “Facing HIV/AIDS in Central New York”, garnered him National recognition with a Silver Telly Award; and a Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Department of Health. Kilpatrick even produced a 7-hour Facing Racism in CNY. Other honors include the Syracuse Press Club and the Syracuse Onondaga Human Rights Commission. In addition, he produced a documentary “Freedom’s Call” chronicling the journey of reporters covering the civil rights movement.
Kilpatrick has been a broadcast journalist for more than four decades. For the last 20 years, he was the singular “progressive voice of Syracuse Radio, creating his long-running program “Inspiration for the Nation” and interviewing the Reverend Al Sharpton, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jesse Jackson, and Johnnie Cochran.
For more information, contact Nikita Jankowski at 315-706-4443 or nikita@belesai.com.
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About George Kilpatrick
George Kilpatrick is president and CEO of Kilpatrick Media and Marketing. Kilpatrick is a sought-after keynote speaker, facilitator, and media talent. He has enjoyed a long journalism career in both radio and TV. He currently works with businesses and companies to tell their story through media to reach diverse audiences. His TV credits include over a decade of work as the host and producer of several shows including “Central Issues”, and anchor of the “Business Minute” seen on WCNY, CW-6 and NBC-3. “Central Issues” was recognized as the best public affairs program in the state by the New York State Broadcasters Association. His WCNY TV credits also include host of “Food for Thought, producer/host of the daily live television talk show, “Hour CNY”, producer and anchor for the award winning “Business Close-up”, and the award-winning series, “Access with George Kilpatrick”, which provided a forum for voices under-represented in the media. A seven-part spin-off of the series, “Facing Racism: A Special Access with George Kilpatrick”, earned Kilpatrick the Award for Outstanding Contribution from the Human Rights Commission. His WCNY TV documentary “Facing HIV/AIDS in Central New York”, earned him the Silver Telly Award, a national recognition, and a Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Department of Health. In addition, Kilpatrick produced a civil rights film documentary, “Freedom’s Call”, featuring journalists covering the civil rights movement. His signature radio program of “ Inspiration for the Nation” airs on POWER 620 WHEN-AM in Syracuse, and his blog at www.inspirationforthenation.com. The program features interviews with inspirational leaders about success and achievement, particularly in urban communities, and was distributed nationally by the African American Public Radio Consortium. Kilpatrick received a BA from the College of Arts and Sciences and his master’s degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He resides in the Upstate New York area with his wife and children. His selfless contributions have earned him recognition and awards from the Onondaga County Medical Society, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Bethany Baptist Church Harriet Tubman, Award, YMCA Academy of Diversity Achievers, NY State Dept. of Health, PEACE Inc. Champion of Diversity, Syracuse/Onondaga County Human Rights Commission, the Central New York Girl Scout Council, Dunbar Association, Syracuse Juneteenth Committee, Oneida NAACP, Syracuse/Onondaga County NAACP, and the Camp 415 (Central New York Minority Police Officers Association.
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