Markeshia Ricks Photo
The Greater New Haven Branch of the NAACP made justice and equality the focus of its 98th Freedom Fund Dinner.
Using “All In For Justice And Equality” as its theme, the annual fundraising dinner was held at the Omni Hotel Thursday night. It featured educator and author Dennis Kimbro (pictured with Branch President Doris Dumas). Kimbro is currently a member of the faculty at Clark Atlanta University School of Business Administration. He has authored several books including Daily Motivations for African American Success, What Makes the Great Great: Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement and The Wealth Choice: Success Secrets of Black Millionaires.
The city’s chief executive, Mayor Toni Harp, was in the building for the dinner, as were many city officials including new Livable City Initiative Director Serena Neal-Sanjurjo (pictured center with Yale-New Haven exec Michael Holmes) …
and Board of Police Commissioners President Anthony Dawson (at right in photo), who also serves as the first vice president of the New Haven Branch.
Scot X. Esdaile (pictured at center), the NAACP’s top official in Connecticut and a member of the NAACP national Board of Directors, also was on hand to welcome attendees to the event.
In addition to raising money for the fund that was started by the NAACP in 1953, the event honored members of the community like Ena Williams (pictured in white with Rob Hutchison of Yale-New Haven Hospital and Dumas).
Williams has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years. She currently serves as the vice president/associate chief nursing officer for patient services at Yale-New Haven Hospital. The native of Jamaica oversees all nursing practice in surgical, musculoskeletal, neuroscience services and the nursing resource staff. She is the first black woman to hold the vice president title at Yale-New Haven, and she received the Cornell Scott Health Award.
Other honorees included: Engineering and Science University Magnet School Principal Medira Blue-Ellis (Education Award); Area Cooperative Educational Services (Educational Leadership Award); and Housing Authority of New Haven Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton, (Rev. Dr. Edwin Edmonds Community Service Award)
In addition to honoring educators and community leaders, the branch recognized students awarding scholarships to Hill Regional Career High School seniors Jayla Manning and Michaela Mathis. The branch also gave book awards to Jessica Bromell, Jamir Esdaile, Moshema Hull and Shannon Miller.