Congressman Dwight Evans to Receive African-American Chamber of Commerce’s Vanguard Award

Congressman Evans will receive the AACC’s highest honor at the 32nd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 8

PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 – The African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE (AACC) has announced that Congressman Dwight Evans will receive its Vanguard Award during the Chamber’s 32nd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony set for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Bellevue Hotel, 200 S. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19102. The Vanguard Award is the Chamber’s highest honor bestowed upon a company or individual that has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in advancing opportunities for Black-owned businesses.

 

“There is no one more deserving of the AACC’s Vanguard Award than Congressman Dwight Evans,” said AACC President & CEO Regina Hairston. “In fact, it was Congressman Evans who provided our founders with the seed money to help launch the Chamber during his time as chairman of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee. Since then, he has continued to serve as a fearless champion on behalf of Black-owned businesses in our region and across the nation. We are forever grateful for his support, and this honor is just a small token of our appreciation.”

 

Since November 2016, Congressman Evans has represented Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South and Center City Philadelphia. Throughout his distinguished 50-year career in public service, he has worked tirelessly to expand and broaden access to economic and educational opportunities for all Philadelphians.

 

Before his election to Congress, he served as a state representative, from January 1981 to November 2016, and made history as the first African-American chairman of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee.

 

During his tenure in Congress, his legislative accomplishments include the Small Business Innovation Protection Act, a law to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to be successful in the 21st century economy, and his STEP Improvement Act, a job-creating small-business bill, has also passed the House in previous Congresses.

 

In response to receiving the AACC’s Vanduard Award, Congressman Evans said, “I appreciate this honor. Both as a state representative and in Congress, I have worked with the Chamber to help small businesses, which are the backbone of our neighborhoods and communities.”

 

As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and Black Maternal Health Caucus, Congressman Evans continues to place Philadelphians at the forefront of national policy discussions. Congressman Evans is a graduate of Germantown High School, the Community College of Philadelphia, and LaSalle University. As a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, he is proudly working to rebuild Philadelphia, and America, block by block.

 

Additional information on the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE’s 32nd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony, including how to register for the event or become a sponsor, can be found online.