Special to The Chronicle

Winston-Salem native Sheila Robinson, founder, publisher and CEO of Greensboro-based Diversity Woman Magazine, was among honorees during a recent high-profile Washington, D.C. gala, “Emancipation of Capital.” The event was held to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of The March on Washington. The Gala Reception honored innovators, entrepreneurs and investors who have “emancipated” and transformed their respective industries.

Other honorees included David Weild, former vice chairman of NASDAQ; Sue Malone, CEO at Strategies for Small Business; Charles M. Williams and Milton Jones, founders of Certus Bank; Londell McMillan, founder of The Northstar Group; Paul Judge, founder of Judge Ventures; Mark Burnett, a noted television producer; U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat who represents Georgia’s Fifth District; Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder of the National Action Network; Jamie Foster Brown, founder of Sister 2 Sister magazine; Melanie Few, founder of Results Inc. and the NFL Superbowl Gospel Celebration; David Hodgson, founder of the Paladin Group; Chonchol Gupta, founder of Rebirth Financial; Joey Womack, founder of sf35 & Pipeline; Bishop Wayne T. Jackson and Royal Jackson of Impact Network; Andrew Aydin, co-author of “March, The Graphic Novel;” and Ron Kardashian, CEO at Ron Kardashian Enterprises. The event was hosted by serial entrepreneur Bishop Rodney Sampson of Atlanta.

One of the highlights for Robinson was meeting billionaire Mark Cuban, investor on ABC’s “SharkTank” and owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks. But she says her high point was meeting Lewis, a Civil Rights icon, who autographed his book for Robinson’s 80-year-old mother, Mildred Thomas, who still resides in Winston-Salem.  He signed “To Mildred Thomas,  Keep The Faith.”