NC Legacy Awards at 201 E Main St – Durham, NC
The Inaugural 2026 NC Legacy Awards, presented as part of the Transformational Leadership Conference, is a convening luncheon designed to honor leadership at the intersection of faith, community, and government.
Hosted by Give It To The People®, this experience was created to intentionally recognize ministries, municipalities, and public servants who are actively shaping outcomes across the Greater RTP region. Rather than waiting for legacy to be acknowledged after the work is done, this event celebrates leaders while they are still building, serving, and influencing change.
With a curated audience of exemplary guests, the NC Legacy Awards offers a rare opportunity to gather cross-sector leaders in one space to reflect, connect, and affirm the collective responsibility of leadership. The program is grounded in respect, collaboration, and shared purpose, highlighting the value of service-driven leadership that strengthens communities from the inside out.
The luncheon will feature reflections from Dr. Joe Shepard and host Chisa Pennix-Brown, with inter-faith leaders, and legislative guests, framing the importance of legacy, stewardship, and partnership in today’s business landscape.
Why Attend
Attending the NC Legacy Awards means being present for more than recognition, it means participating in a moment of alignment.
Guests will:
- Witness the honoring of leaders whose work spans policy, faith, and community impact
- Engage in meaningful cross-sector connection in an intimate, intentional setting
- Gain perspective on how collaborative leadership shapes sustainable communities
- Be part of a room where values, service, and action intersect
This is not a networking event in the traditional sense. It is a convening for leaders who understand that visibility, affirmation, influence, and proximity matter.
Who Should Be in the Building
This experience is designed for:
- Elected officials and public sector leaders
- Ministry and faith-based executives
- Community organization leaders and committee members
- Economic development and ecosystem partners
- Philanthropic and civic stakeholders
- Professionals and supporters who value service-driven leadership
If your work touches people, policy, or progress, and you believe leadership is strongest when sectors work together, this is a room you should be in.
Leadership is not simply about position.
It’s about purpose, service, and the willingness to bring people together to create real change.We are honored to announce that Rev. Dr. Joe Shepard will be part of the upcoming NC Legacy Awards, a gathering that celebrates the individuals shaping North Carolina’s future through leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and community development.
Dr. Shepard is a philosopher, community advocate, and transformational leader dedicated to advancing equitable opportunity and sustainable development across underserved communities. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Transformational Leadership Conference, his work centers on building bridges between civic leaders, faith institutions, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurs.
What makes Dr. Shepard’s work especially meaningful is his ability to connect ideas with action. His leadership focuses on healing communities, strengthening collaboration, and creating pathways for people and organizations to thrive together.The NC Legacy Awards are about recognizing leaders who are doing the work, leaders who understand that progress happens when people come together across industries, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Having Dr. Shepard in the room helps ensure that the conversation includes the deeper questions about leadership, responsibility, and the future we are building together in North Carolina.
When people talk about building an ecosystem for business growth, they often think about programs, funding, or policy.
But ecosystems don’t work without connectors.
That’s where leadership like Chisa Pennix-Brown LadyBizness comes in.
As the Chief Experience Cultivator of Give it to the People®, Chisa has spent years bringing together entrepreneurs, business support organizations, civic leaders, and policymakers to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem across North Carolina.
Through curated conferences, training programs, and statewide initiatives, her work focuses on three things that every business needs: Marketing, Money, and Mental Wealth.
Chisa believes that information should move faster, opportunities should be more visible, and the right people should be in the room together.
That belief is one of the driving forces behind the NC Legacy Awards.
This event is more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to bring together leaders from across the state to recognize impact, strengthen connections, and build new pathways for small businesses and communities to thrive.
Because when the right people gather in the same room, influence turns into action.
Join us for the NC Legacy Awards as we celebrate leadership, collaboration, and the future of North Carolina’s business ecosystem.
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