from the Altadena NAACP
The Altadena Branch of the NAACP, under the leadership of Dr. Gregor Edwards, celebrated its Annual Freedom Fund Luncheon on Sunday, April 22, 2012. The Branch has been advocating for social justice under the leadership of Ms. Tony Stewart, Emeritus, Founding President of the Altadena Branch, for many years. As a tribute to her memory, and her many years of dedicated and committed leadership service in social justice, education, and civil rights advocacy, the executive committee honored her by renaming the event the “Tony Stewart Freedom Fund Luncheon.”
Those present included Ron Hason, NAACP National Board Member; Joe Brown, NAACP Pasadena Branch President; Dr. Sandra Thomas, Altadena Town Council Chair; John Gundry, Pasadena School District Superintendent, Renatta Cooper, Board President, and Board Members, Dr. Elizabeth Pomeroy, Kim Kenne, Ed Honowitz and Tom Selinske; Pasadena Police Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls, Commander John Perez, and Lt. Phlunte Riddle. Honored guests were: Congresswoman Judy Chu, 32nd Congressional District; Congressman Adam B. Schiff; Senator Carol Liu, 21st Senate District; 44th District Assemblyman Anthony J. Portantino and LA County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who also doubled as Honorary Co-Chairs of the event; and other distinguished community leaders and guests.
The Freedom Luncheon Program, chaired by Johari DeWitt-Rogers, was designed to bring the community and business leaders together for a festive afternoon honoring those for their personal and professional commitment to social justice. Beverly White, NBC Channel 4 News reporter and Mistress of Ceremonies, facilitated the program. The program highlighted community honorees with Cameron Turner, Pasadena Journal columnist and keynote speaker (“Turner's Two Cents”); Martin A. Gordon, advocate for under-served populations; Dr. Jacqueline Jacobs, educator; Denise Houlemard Jones, for her dedication to the development and success of the City Of Pasadena; Molly Munger, Co-Founder and Director of the Advancement Project; Betye Saar, Artist; Dr. Jack Scott, 14th Chancellor of the California Community Colleges; and Tecumseh Shackelford, co-founder, Mentoring and Partnerships for Youth Development; with special recognition going to Mr. Willis Edwards, producer and California Representative to the National Board of the NAACP.
Entertainment was provided by Nolan Shaheed Trio and the Altadena NAACP ACT-SO students. Outstanding talents were exhibited by student presentations from: Alexander Levatter, violinist; Bronson Manning, oratory; Noah Smith, photography; and presentation of colors by the John Muir High Color Guard.
UPDATE 5/8: We have pictures after the jump.
Seated from left to right - Reverend Cranston Anderson; Cameron Turner, Keynote Speaker; Beverly White, NBC4 Reporter; and Johari DeWitt-Rogers, Event Chair. Standing from left to right - Dr. Gregor Edwards, President, Altadena NAACP; Adam B. Schiff, Congressman; Michael D. Antonovich, Los Angeles County Supervison; Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember; and Nathaniel Haynes.
Seated from left to right -Honorees: Martin A. Gordon; Dr. Jacqueline Jacobs; Betye Saar; Ernestine Moore, accepting for Dr. Jack Scott; Molly Munger; Denise Houlemard Jones; and Tecumseh Shackelford. Standing from left to right - Assembymember, Anthony Portantino; Beverly White, NBC4 Reporter; and Dr. Gregor Edwards, President, Altadena NAACP.
