49 annual freedomfund dinner & awards · ne naacp i am honored to welcome you to the 49th...

J o u r n e y f o r J u s t i c e R i g h t s , R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , R e f o r m !

49TH ANNUAL

Freedom Fund Dinner & AwardsFriday, October 23, 2015 | Saint George Banquet and Conference Center | Grand Rapids, Michigan

49TH ANNUAL FREEDOM FUND DINNER & AWARDS NAACP GREATER GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

PepsiCo is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 49th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards. This 49th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner takes place on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 voting Rights Act. The 1965 Voting Rights Act provided African Americans with the basic fundamental right of democracy, the right to vote. It is one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in the modern era and formed the basis for one of the most important periods of progress for African-Americans in our nation’s history.

PepsiCo Inc. is honored to have you join us and to continue our collective Journey for Justice, building upon the foundation laid by the many men, women and children of the oldest civil rights organization in the country.

PepsiCo presents …

THE NAACP GREATER GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

49th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards

ONE TEAM. ONE AGENDA. ONE NAACP!

Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us, Facing the rising sun of our new day begun Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand. True to our God, True to our native land.

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”Words by James Weldon Johnson Music by John Rosamond Johnson


ProgramMaster of Ceremonies Pastor Jerry Bishop, Senior Pastor Life Quest Ministries

Color guard presentation President Ford Council Troop, 333 Boy Scouts of America

Song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”

Welcome Mr. Eric Foster, First Vice President NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch

Invocation Pastor Gaylyn S. Wilson, Senior Pastor St. Luke AME Zion Church

Dinner music Yolonda (Yogi) Lavender & Bedrock

Greetings Mr. Chris Sain Jr., 3rd Vice President NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch

Awards Pastor Jerry Bishop, Senior Pastor Life Quest Ministries

Introduction of Speaker Mr. Eric Foster, First Vice President NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch

Keynote speaker Mrs. Nadia Brigham, Social Architect and Activist

Special remarks Cle J. Jackson, President NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch

Closing remarks Mr. Will Warren, Marketing Director PepsiCo

Benediction Pastor Jerry Bishop, Senior Pastor Life Quest Ministries


I am honored to welcome you to the 49th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Greater Grand Rapids Branch of the NAACP. By lending your support and your energy, you stand with over 500,000 NAACP members representing over 2,000 branches across the United States and on the front line of change. Now over 105 years old, the NAACP is continuing on our Journey for Justice.

Our Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards is aptly themed this year. Our Journey for Justice will unite partners from the social justice, youth activism, civil rights, democracy reform, religious, not-for-profit, labor, corporate, and environmental communities to call for justice for all Americans.

We will mobilize community partners and members to advance a focused local and national policy agenda protecting the right of every American to a fair criminal justice system; uncorrupted and unfettered access to the ballot box; sustainable jobs with a living wage; equitable public education; and, access to high quality healthcare that will end racially disparate healthcare outcomes. It is imperative that we continue, with our moral compass in-hand, on our Journey for Justice. Now, with a heightened expectancy for what lies ahead, we move forward together with the understanding that every American citizen, regardless of their race or ethnicity, has the right and the responsibility to call for sweeping reforms in the face of injustice.

Thank you, members, sponsors, partners and friends for taking the time to join us this evening. Together we are one cohesive unit committed to a civil and human rights agenda. Together we will build generations of power to produce lasting change.

Peace & Power!

Greetings from the President

Cle J. Jackson

Cle J. Jackson President NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch


Since 1909, the NAACP has been at the forefront of every civil rights battle in this country. Our Journey for Justice continues today! That is why we must remember “Our Lives, Our Votes, Our Jobs, Our Schools Matter.”

I want to personally thank President Cle J. Jackson ,the officers, and executive committee trustees of the NAACP Greater Grand Rapids branch for their steadfast leadership in the face of adversity and many obstacles. However, we are not victims because we come from a lineage of victors and we will continue on our Journey with a firm refusal to be ignored.

So, I salute my fellow freedom fighters of present day as we continue to honor the legacy of freedom fighters whose journeys have ended. In honor of the work that the NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch is doing, I salute their efforts and sincerely offer my appreciation to all of the members, sponsors, and supporters

Lastly, we must always remember as a community to maintain our dignity and integrity. Not only must we strive for a better tomorrow, but we must also continue to strive for a better today.

Yours in the Struggle,

Hazel R. Lewis President Emeritus NAACP Greater Grand Rapids

Special acknowledgement

President Emeritus Hazel R. Lewis


Nadia C. Brigham was born in Chicagoland, but claims Benton Harbor, MI as her home. She is the proud wife of her childhood friend and high school sweetheart, Shatawn Brigham. They are the parents of three beautiful and wonderfully brilliant children, Marvin, Imani, and Laila.

Nadia has been a resident of the greater Grand Rapids area for 20 years and has dedicated her life and career to advancing the quality of life for children and promoting racial equity in relationships, but more particularly systems and institutions.

Mrs. Brigham has always been a beacon for racial justice. Her first action around racial justice, albeit ineffective, was at the age of four. She took her next set of actions in high school as part of a desegregation program in the mid-90’s. She has always held a strong sense of justice and fairness and has committed her life to understanding the dynamics of racism at multiple levels and how those dynamics play out in the lives of all people, but especially Black and Brown communities. She was born with the courage to speak truth to power and has a strong calling and purpose to address racial inequities and justice.

Nadia is a program officer of racial equity at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, responsible for developing and coordinating strategic grantmaking activities aimed at addressing racial healing and systemic barriers existing for historically marginalized communities and vulnerable children. Prior to joining the Racial Equity team, Nadia was responsible for bringing the foundation’s strategic framework to bear in Grand Rapids, Michigan, resulting in an increase of early childhood learning environments for vulnerable children.

Nadia has focused her volunteer efforts in the areas of early childhood and youth development, mental health services, education reform and homelessness. Nadia obtained bachelor and master degrees from Grand Valley State University. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in sociology with a concentration on racism and power inequality, researching the transference of internalized oppression and White Supremacy thru the educational socialization process.

Keynote speaker

Mrs. Nadia Brigham Social Architect and Activist


Yolonda Lavender is a multifaceted artist serving as the Executive Director of the Black Arts & Cultural Center in Kalamazoo and a national recording artist with the independent label Truth Tone Records. Yolonda is a singer/songwriter, curator and a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan whose sound is soul based with gospel, r&b and jazz influences. Yolonda has showcased her artistry in artistic spaces around the country and shared stages with the likes of artists such as Erykah Badu, Keith Murray, The Spinners and more. Yolonda is an advocate and activist who takes pride in using her artistry to spread the messages of peace and love and to promote social justice.

Special musical guest

Yolonda (Yogi) Lavender & Bedrock


The Grand Rapids Times is the oldest weekly publication in Grand Rapids and Western Michigan that is targeted to Black communities. In its 57-year history, the paper has had two owners and has been published every week. Mr. John Bankston founded the Grand Rapids Times in 1957. Yergan (deceased) and Patricia Pulliam purchased the business in 1986. Each week, The Times delivers local, state and national news to its targeted readership across the United States — and without skirting the hard issues. The paper is unapologetically Black in its efforts to serve as a positive force against negative images and stereotypes and in its intent to present the voices of the communities it serves, in the interest of justice, equity and civil liberty.

Media partners

A five-year veteran of television news, Crystal Hilliard thrives off her community relationships and creative marketing capabilities.

Best known as a former reporter for WOOD TV 8, Hilliard launched her public relations and advertising career in Grand Rapids. Here she produced large-scale events, a short film and a YouTube show, which she also hosted.

She now travels the world presenting for multiple corporations, acting, modeling and producing.

Dr. Patricia Pulliam The Grand Rapids Times

Crystal Hilliard Principal, To the Top Media


Award definitionsThe Floyd Skinner Criminal Justice Award recognizes an individual who has exemplified himself or herself as being dedicated and determined to continue the fight for justice and human rights within our community. This is an individual who does not hesitate to stand by his or her beliefs. Mr. Skinner served as a past president of this local branch. He was a highly respected attorney and leader until his death in 1962. Skinner served as Branch President from 1934 to 1938.

The Walter Bergman Voting Rights and Political Representation Award distinguishes the person who has a vision to strive for freedom and equality for all. This person is destined to accomplish his or her endeavors, not only within the community but also on a national level. Mr. Bergman moved to Grand Rapids in the 1960s and became an active member of this local branch. He participated as a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights struggle.

The Role Model Education Award recipient is a well-respected individual whom others want to emulate. This is an outstanding individual who has qualities and values that reflect a state of excellence with positive and distinctive characteristics.

The Community Service Health Equity & Vanguard Awards honors individuals who have unselfishly shared their time and talents with many in the community, church, school, etc. These are individuals whose achievements have touched many hearts.

The Hazel R. Lewis Presidential Award recipient is designated by the Branch President with the concurrence of the vice presidents. This person has demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities and concerns for his or her community. He or she has been an asset to the local branch and stands up for the beliefs and values of this organization.

• Floyd Skinner Criminal Justice Award Professor Nikki Banks Grand Rapids Community College

• Walter Bergman Voting Rights and Political Representation Award Ms. Patricia Hinton Community Organizer

• Role Model Education Award Bernard Colton Grand Rapids Public Schools

NAACP 2015 Award Recipients• Community Service Vanguard Award

Mr. Robert S. Womack WYGR FM

• Community Service Health Equity Awards Mrs. Ellen Atkins Retired (Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids)

• The Hazel R. Lewis Presidential Award Pastor David May Senior Pastor Mt. Moriah Baptist Worship Center


NAACP

Executive Committee

Executive Committee Members

Past Presidents

Cle J. Jackson President

Mr. Eric Foster 1st Vice President

Ms. Ellen James 2nd Vice President

Mr. Chris Sain Jr. 3rd Vice President

Ms. Barbara Bush Secretary

Atty. Stephen Drew Honorable Benjamin H. Logan Mr. Huey Copeland

Ms. Aurelia Weatherford Crawford Ms. Kenya Smith Mr. Mark Tucker

Hazel R. Lewis Thomas Benjamin Jesse Anderson Lula Johnson Bellamy Howard Clarke William Glen Hazel Taylor Grant John Hicks Friley Johnson Rev. Lowe Fred McFerren

Margaret Price Roy S. Roberts John Shackelford George Smith Willie Suber Carl Thomasson Rev. Willie Applewhite Dr. Carl Brice Alfredo DeAllen Sam Glover Charles Harris

Booker Howard Alphonse Lewis, Jr. Esq. Commissioner Elias Lumpkins Dr. W.W. Plummer Eugene Proctor Donald T. Reid Floyd Skinner, Esq Jerome Sorrells Melvin Tardy Terri Weekley

Ms. Carrie Jackson Assistant Secretary

Mr. Shawn Beene Treasurer

Mr. Lamont Cole Mr. Jamiel Robinson

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Printed and designed courtesy of Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan.

The humanity of all Americans is diminished when any group is denied

rights granted to others.Julian Bond 1940 - 2015

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49 annual freedomfund dinner & awards · ne naacp i am honored to welcome you to the 49th...

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