Cynee Simpson, Julian Epstein and Michelle Yankey

Location: Luxe Studio, Home of Fendi Casa

WL SPONSORED – Photos by Tony Powell and Zaid Hamid

TOP OF THE HILL: Is there anything Hill Harper can’t do? The Harvard- educated star of CSI: NY is the author of two inspiring books, Letters to a Young Brother and Letters to a Young Sister, and a formidable philanthropist. This night belonged to his Manifest Your Destiny Foundation – dedicated to empowering, encouraging, and inspiring underserved youth to succeed. REPRESENTING: A heavyweight crowd showed support including hosts Tanya Lombard and Yelberton Watkins, co-host Rep. James Clyburn, Rep. Adam Schiff, Darrell Smith, Lamell McMorris, John Orlando, Marie Sylla, Peck Madigan, Tami Boyd, and Ben Jealous.

Click here for the full gallery of photos

Lamell McMorris

Lamell McMorris makes his move.

At first glance, Perennial Strategy Group founder Lamell McMorris, could be mistaken for just another high-powered lawyer and lobbyist that occupy the busy downtown blocks surrounding the White House. A closer look reveals a self-starter whose passion for justice, equality and empowerment has brought him to the negotiation table on behalf professional sports’ top unions and prominent Fortune 500 companies, turned him into a top sports and entertainment agent (a rarity in this town), and made him a rising star on the city’s rapidly changing social scene.

McMorris’ desire to effect change dates back to a city-wide walkout of Chicago schools he led as a teenager and has known no limits since – as a young entrepreneur, he started Perennial Strategy Group on his own in 2002. With just a telephone and a desk, he used his connections and networking to meet others and further the business. After a phone call from a friend who was an NBA referee, McMorris and Perennial were brought on as representation for the NBA Referees Unions and Perennial Sports and Entertainment was born.

Soon after, Perennial began bringing on athletes as clients as well, managing their day-to-day affairs. But, reverting back to his roots, McMorris wanted to work with goal-oriented professionals looking to achieve their personal dreams in addition to contributing to society – NFL players and Perennial clients Kris Jenkins and Leigh Torrence, for example, have started their own foundations with Perennial’s help. “In a business that has been overcome by recruiting scandals and the greed of athletes and agents,” he says, “Being a Perennial client is not about receiving the biggest paycheck possible, it is about leveraging success and creating a fulfilling life.”

That mix of work meets play-for-a-cause was evident when the Perennial family of businesses hosted “Party with a Purpose 2008” at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and during the inaugural when Perennial Sports and Entertainment hosted “Artists and Athletes for a Cause.” Held at the House of Sweden in Georgetown, Perennial made financial contributions to Ne-Yo’s Compound Foundation as well as the Carmelo Anthony foundation. Indeed, in a town of power players, McMorris is proving that the rules of the game can change just as fast as the players themselves.

Kate Marie Grinold, Adrian Loving, Lindsay Czarniak, Michael Dove, Dominique Dawes and Francis Hoang represent a few of the many successful locals on the list.

In a city filled with some of the nation’s most dynamic young people, the 250 individuals who comprise this year’s Young & The Guest List repeatedly stand out; as leaders, risk-takers, givers, connectors, and changemakers. Their achievements vary widely, but each was nominated, researched, and debated before being added to the list. What emerged from this process is a more accomplished group than ever before, and so for the first time, we’ve decided to include their professional titles alongside their names. The past three months have reminded us all how quickly the city’s young power players can change. But after four years, The Young & The Guest List is still the only place to find them all.

A

Miss Huma Abedin
Aide, Office of Secretary of State Hiliary Rodham Clinton

Mr. Marc Adelman
Principal, Adelmania Consulting

His Excellency the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Yousef Al Otaiba

Read the full story