‘We are all in’: annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet held; awards presented
Published 12:05 am Sunday, November 3, 2024
Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, served as the keynote speaker. — Karen Kistler
Kaisha Brown, right, received the Presidential Medal of Honor from local NAACP President Gemale Black. — Karen Kistler
Courtney Sawyer-Smith, left, received the Lady Justice Membership Award. It was presented by President Gemale Black. — Karen Kistler
The Peeler Crystal Lounge at Catawba College was elegantly decorated for the event. — Karen Kistler
Dynazty Brown, left, received the Youth Leadership Service Award, which was presented by President Gemale Black. — Karen Kistler
Linda Black was awarded the Lorie Graham Award. President Gemale Black made the presentation. — Karen Kistler
Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club and the former national president and CEO of the NAACP, gave the call to action. — Karen Kistler
Rebecca Stinson, left, and Keith Holland, sang several selections. — Karen Kistler
“All In” was the theme of the 30th annual Freedom Fund Banquet, held in the Peeler Crystal Lounge at Catawba College.
The room was filled for this milestone event, which is a long-standing tradition that helps fund programs such as the Financial Literacy Series, the Color of Change Youth Initiative, and Voter Education Outreach.
Featured as the keynote speaker at the banquet was Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors.
After recognizing some special people at the event, Boykin-Towns said she stood before this group, “at a pivotal time in our nation’s history, and what gives me hope are members and supporters like you and bridges like that doing the hard work each and every day.”
She added that the NAACP has been on the front lines of justice for 115 years and encouraged those who are not affiliated with the NAACP to join and get to work.
With a grin, she said she had a new friend in ChatGPT, and then told how it describes what “all in” means — “fully committing yourself to a task, goal or situation without holding back. It involves dedicating your time, energy resources and focus to achieve success regardless of the challenges and risks.”
Are you all in, Boykin-Towns asked the crowd to which they replied, “all in” and she said, “I am all in because the stakes could not be higher.”
Voting, she told them, is not just a right, but it’s the cornerstone of democracy and the most powerful tool we have to shape our society.
She also said that each vote, which is “our power, represents the future of our civil liberties, our rights to fair representation and the preservation of the freedoms we hold dear.”
Encouraging each person to vote, Boykin-Towns repeated what Gemale Black, the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP president previously told the group, the fact that they are nonpartisan and don’t support political candidates or parties, but they are political and focus on issues that are important to the community to help them not just survive, but thrive.
She said that they are facing adversaries at each level, federal, state and local, but, she continued, “these attacks are not new and neither is our resolve because we know when we fight,” and the crowd said, “we win.”
She stressed to the group that “we are all in,” and it’s their job to get out and vote and protect democracy and rights and the future of generations to come.
“Together, we can be the change we want to see,” said Boykin-Towns. “Let’s make history, Salisbury Rowan, because we’re all in, and we are all we’ve got.”
During the banquet, additional comments were shared by Azenda King, a Salisbury Police officer; Benjamin Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club and the former national president and CEO of the NAACP; and Black, who gave closing remarks, thanking everyone for attending.
Minister Sonya Galloway with Dorsett Chapel Church served as the mistress of ceremonies introducing each person who participated, which also included Rev. Dr. Jajuan Kyles, pastor of Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church, who gave the innovation and benediction; Star Robinson-Russell, assistant professor of health and wellness at Livingstone College, who shared greetings; Teresa Moore-Mitchell, Rebecca Stinson and Keith Holland, who each provided entertainment; and Executive Committee Members Macon Stewart and Kaisha Brown who announced award recipients.
Special awards were presented to three NAACP members who were recognized for their dedication and support of the organization. Those included:
• Dynazty Brown, who received the Youth Leadership Service Award.
• Courtney Sawyer-Smith, who received the Lady Justice Membership Award, the highest award a local branch can bestow.
• Linda Black, who received the Lorie Graham Award, a statewide award that goes to a “woman whose service has gone above and beyond, said Brown, in announcing her as the recipient.
A fourth award was given by President Black as he announced they were presenting a Presidential Medal of Honor. This, he said, is “the highest award given to a dedicated member, announcing Kaisha Brown as the winner. He said that she understands the mission and vision, and she believes in community.
Boykin-Towns and Jealous were also presented with the Lady of Justice Awards.
Three local organizations were also honored with the Champion of Change Awards for their dedication to advancing equality and supporting community well-being. The recipients were Next Generation Academy, Salisbury Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Women for Community Justice.
Event sponsors were thanked and recognized for their support and dedication to NAACP’s work and mission. These included the city of Salisbury, Livingstone College and Catawba College. Table sponsors were also called forward and recognized for their helping “making the mission possible,” said Brown.
