Staff Writer
Photos by Rochelle Porter and William Jones
The theme for this year’s NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner was appropriate: “Against All Opposition Still Standing In Power”. Over 400 people were on hand at the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center on October 11th to celebrate the occasion.
Ms. Karlene Chavis, Meteorologist for CBS News 8 San Diego and Mr. Robert Dean, noted for his musical gifts and history in San Diego, did an outstanding job as emcees for the event. This year’s keynote speaker was the Honorable Judge Roderick Shelton of the San Diego Superior Court. He has brought a rich experience to the Judicial system having been a judge since 2007 and a Deputy District Attorney prior to that position.
The list of honorees this year was a long one, but all well deserving. The President’s Award went to Makeda “Dread” Cheatom for her outstanding contribution to the Afrocentric presence in the Arts; Dr. J. Luke Wood, Association Vice President for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion and Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University for his scholarship. Wood is particularly noted for his studies on Black Males in Education and the treatment of them in public school systems. The other honorees included Dr. Leonard J. Thompson, III, Educator and President and Founder of M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records, Inc; and Kevin C. Alvin of IBEW, Local 569 for helping facilitate the careers of over 3500 men and women within the electrical industry, just to name a few.
Among the student Awardees was Amara Beaty, San Diego NAACP Youth Council President, who graduated last year from High School with a 4.0 GPA and is currently a student at San Diego City Community College. Other student honorees were Jose Elenes Reyes, Jr., Nehemyah Gray, and Shanii McMorris.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1909 in New York. The San Diego Chapter was founded 10 years later in 1919 and has had an impressive list of people to lead it over its 100 year history. While Mr. Clovis Honore serves as President of the local Chapter, the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint would like to extend special recognition to Vice President Francine Maxwell for her tireless efforts above and beyond the call of duty to make this event a success.
