Senate Resolution No. 1466

BY: Senator PARKER

HONORING Crystal James-Goodwin upon the occasion
of her designation as recipient of the Strategic
Vision Award in Business Development & Leadership by
Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals whose strategic leadership, creative innovation, and
business acumen have shaped industries, elevated cultural narratives,
and advanced excellence across media, entertainment, and enterprise; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Crystal James-Goodwin, culture-shaping media executive and experiential
producer, upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the
Strategic Vision Award in Business Development & Leadership by Young,
Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc.; she will be recognized at
an award ceremony on Wednesday, February 25, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2006 by Carl Gray, Young, Gifted, & Black
Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
recognizing distinguished individuals of color across the Americas, the
Caribbean, and Africa, celebrating "Unsung Heroes and Heroines" whose
leadership, resilience, and service have made a lasting impact across
business, media, culture, and community development; and

WHEREAS, With more than two decades of leadership across
Nickelodeon, Paramount, and BET, Crystal James-Goodwin has operated at
the intersection of entertainment, storytelling, and impact, helping to
build global brands, launch groundbreaking platforms, and transform
visionary ideas into cultural moments that move audiences and shift
industries; and

WHEREAS, Her distinguished career spans global television
distribution, content strategy, and large-scale experiential production,
including her role in bringing iconic franchises such as SpongeBob
SquarePants and Rugrats to audiences worldwide and shaping programming
operations for Paramount's first global television channels; and

WHEREAS, Crystal James-Goodwin played a pivotal role in planning
global rollout and air strategies for major cultural tentpoles,
including the BET Awards and Soul Train Awards, contributing to the
sustained global influence and cultural relevance of these landmark
institutions; and

WHEREAS, Demonstrating rare foresight and strategic innovation,
Crystal James-Goodwin was selected to pilot Viacom's first
direct-to-consumer global streaming service, BET Play, helping to lay
foundational groundwork for digital distribution and streaming models
before such platforms became industry standard; and

WHEREAS, Raised within the music business and trained in both
creative artistry and operational excellence, Crystal James-Goodwin
gained early insight into how culture truly moves, working alongside her

mother in New York radio and growing up immersed among artists,
executives, and tastemakers who shaped modern media landscapes; and

WHEREAS, Crystal James-Goodwin currently serves as Supervising
Producer of Events & Experiences for The Hip Hop Museum, where she
designs and delivers some of the culture's most meaningful stages,
merging historical legacy with contemporary vision and community
engagement; and

WHEREAS, Most notably, Crystal James-Goodwin served as lead producer
for The Hip Hop Museum's landmark 2025 Gala at Cipriani Wall Street, a
major fundraising and cultural event welcoming more than 700 guests,
uniting icons, executives, performers, and community leaders to
celebrate hip-hop's enduring legacy and future promise; and

WHEREAS, Through her company, Crystal Connections Media and
Productions, she has become widely recognized for her ability to
translate vision into execution, strategy into unforgettable experience,
and culture into sustainable business impact-whether on screen, on
stage, or in the rooms where decisions are made; and

WHEREAS, Through visionary leadership, strategic excellence, and an
unwavering commitment to cultural integrity, Crystal James-Goodwin
continues to influence media, business development, and experiential
storytelling, leaving a lasting imprint on the industries she serves;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Crystal James-Goodwin upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the Strategic Vision Award in Business Development &
Leadership by Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc., and
to commend her extraordinary contributions to media innovation,
experiential leadership, and cultural impact; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Crystal James-Goodwin as an expression of the highest
respect and appreciation of this Legislative Body.