By Alexis LaRue
AFRO Intern
alarue@afro.com
Lenora Howze, longtime executive director and advertising director of AFRO News, was recently honored at a special event on March 26, celebrating her departure after more than 13 years of dedicated service.
The farewell celebration served as a tribute to her impactful leadership and lasting contributions to the publication and the broader community it serves. Colleagues, friends and members of the AFRO family, gathered to acknowledge her legacy with a surprise retirement party and wished her the best in her next chapter.
“I was overwhelmed with emotions,” said Howze. “I thought I was coming to a team meeting, so to see people who were not part of the AFRO team–and to see people dressed in black and white, which is my favorite color theme–I was overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Howze’s AFRO News career began in 2012, but she arrived at the publication with decades of experience. She launched her career at The Philadelphia Inquirer right after college and was later part of The Baltimore Sun’s management team where she served as vice president of advertising until 2005.
“When I left The Sun, I was just ready to do something different,” said Howze.
After time off and light consultant work, she said she received a word from God that directed her straight to the AFRO American Newspapers.
“Just knowing the foundation and the principles upon which this company was founded, as well as who I am in faith, I knew this was where I needed to be,” said Howze.
Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher and CEO of AFRO News, spoke about how much of an impact Howze has made over the years.
Draper described Howze as her “right hand person” in the company, and gave thanks for their working relationship.
During her 13 and a half years at the AFRO, Howze guided the company’s strategic vision. This oversight included numerous initiatives across print, digital and social media advertising platforms. Howze also spearheaded the company’s Black Business Matters EXPO, which has grown into a sold out event on an annual basis.
Diane Hocker, the AFRO’s director of community and public relations, spoke about Howze, noting their relationship extended beyond colleagues to include a personal friendship.
“It’s not everyday that your supervisor becomes someone that you can also laugh with and lean on, and that’s exactly what you did for me,” Hocker told Howze during the celebration, as she fought back tears.
John “Jake” Oliver, Jr., publisher emeritus of the AFRO, praised Howze and thanked her for her innovative leadership. He was publisher of the publication when Howze was hired to help with their massive 120th commemorative edition in 2012.
“The AFRO has had many outstanding contributors over the many years…Lenora stands out as one of the best,” said Oliver. “She joined us right in the middle of a period where we were attempting to prepare ourselves for this social media environment that we were still trying to learn.”
“She had the energy and she had the insight to be able to help us maneuver and establish the machinery that led us to succeed in many different ways,” said Oliver.
Though she is stepping away, Howze will serve AFRO News in a consultancy role as her time permits. As her time as a staff member draws to a close, Howze says she has a final message to all of those who were involved, and still continue to be involved, with the publication: “It was my honor and privilege to serve at the AFRO, such an iconic and relevant publishing organization and with such a phenomenal team,” she said. “I pray that God’s favor and blessings continue to sustain them and help them thrive for many years to come.”