The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Garland, Texas Unit will host the 29th Freedom Fund Brunch and Silent Auction Sept. 21 with the silent auction beginning at 9 a.m. and brunch at 10 a.m. Plan now to attend the event which will be held at the Hyatt Place -Garland at 5101 North President George Bush Turnpike.
The theme for this year’s event is “Impacting Institutions with Intelligence and Integrity.”
The keynote speaker will be Pastor Raleigh Jones, Pastor of Christ Triumphant Church. Erin Gaddis Blosser, former Garland NAACP Youth Council President will be the mistress of ceremonies.
Youth scholarship recipients from Garland ISD will be recognized. These include the Elaine Bradley Scholarship and the John Willie Washington Legacy Scholarship. Additionally, the highest-ranking Garland ISD African American senior from each high school will be recognized
Dana Smith Page, Garland High School educator, will receive the Educator of the Year award. Entrepreneur of the Year, Calvin Simmons with Simmons Event Photography, will also be recognized.
Larry Walker, advocate and mentor for male re-entry, will be recognized for his community service and the Print and Online Media Award will be presented to The North Dallas Gazette, a weekly publication that provides a voice for African Americans.
For more information on this event, visit www.garlandtxnaacp.org.
Garland Unit history: The Garland Unit of the NAACP was chartered on July 6, 1984 with 127 members. Ms. Goldie Locke served as founding president and Mr. Johnnie O. Steadham was first vice president, along with 18 Executive Committee members. Two of the original 18 board members are still active today: Mr. Chester Johnson currently serves as chair of Legal Redress and Ms. Carol Montgomery is active on two committees. Mr. Richard Dockery, NAACP regional director, chaired the standing-room-only organizational meeting where two key issues were addressed: 1) the firing of African American police officer Sam Allen; 2) substandard schools in the minority area of Garland. Mr. Sam Allen was later rehired as a Garland fireman. To address schools, the Garland Unit became a plaintiff to the original school desegregation court order filed by the United States Justice Department and the Texas Education Agency. This judgment is still in effect today.