Rita Jackson Samuels Founders Award

Krystal Hart was named the Rita Jackson Samuels Founders Award recipient by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council on Jan. 17, 2025. The award, named in honor of the trailblazing equal rights advocate and businesswoman, is given by the State of Georgia annually to an exceptional individual or organization in recognition of their commitment to empowering women in business and in the community.

Rita Jackson Samuels was the first African-American woman to serve on the staff of the governor of Georgia, then-governor Jimmy Carter. She later served as a White House consultant during the Carter administration. In 1980, she founded the Georgia Coalition of Black Women and served as executive director. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame.

“Thank you to the Georgia General Assembly and Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council for selecting me for the 2024 Rita Jackson Samuels Founders Award,” said Krytal Hart, Founder of Sparrow Communications. “It is an honor to be nominated by Richard Hayes and found worthy of this recognition. Rita Jackson Samuels was a trailblazing equal rights advocate and businesswoman. Her legacy lives on through her work, this award, and me.”