Afro Lifestyle 05-03-2024

Cherry blossom season concludes with fashion show at National Harbor

By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant

Plus Ultra Entertainment and Studio Couture recently came together to close out the end of D.C.’s iconic cherry blossom season with a fashion show at the National Harbor. Plus Ultra, an event planning entity focused on the niche of nerd culture, worked with Studio Couture owner Roquois Clarke, an events planner and creator of multimedia productions, to flood the harbor with bright spring designs in an ode to the flower.

Elegant and fun pieces rocked the runway from designers such as the world-renowned DiDomenico and Andrew Lowell. VIP treatment at the event included an open bar with cooling stations. Seated on the pier at sunset, the show as a dazzling array of pink and green tones, bringing out the natural beauty of popular bloom.

All photos by J. Pamela Stills

Roquois Clarke, owner of Studio Couture, works the event decked out in a pink tulle gown.

Models Kelvin Hayford and Tiona Lawson display designs covered in delicate cherry blossoms. Shown here, Hayford in a suit designed by Aurelius Suits and Lawson in a gown by DiDomenico.

Daisy Nairuba struts her stuff in this 1920’s inspired party dress in Barbie pink, from the closet of designer Silvia Mora.

Designer Silvia Mora’s soft pink sweater dress is paired with a shiny pink bag on model Tedora Matthews.

Eris Aubrie captivates the audience in a sage green babydoll dress by designer Le Tam.

Designer JonLei’s gown dazzles on model Carmella Dean.

Regin Maxwell models threads from designer JonLei.

Andrew Lowell marries bold pattern with business sensibility in this floral number on Kadavius Morant.

Liesl Mattar is a vision in white as she shows off a wedding gown designed by JonLei.

Jett Brand’s gothcore street wear with an eastern flair is modeled by Hezekiah Corbin (left) and Coffin Nachtmahr.

Kandia Clemons serves up a look in an eye-catching gold and silver gown by designer DiDomenico.

Madisson Grissom displays ethereal beauty in a sequined dress by DiDomenico.

Damarie Johnson models a piece by Cee Bleu.

Howard County NAACP hosts 2024 Freedom Fund Luncheon and Awards

By AFRO Staff

On April 28 the Howard County NAACP held the Freedom Fund Luncheon and Award Ceremony

at The Hotel at Anne Arundel Preserve. The event serves as both a fundraiser and a platform to honor local champions who have made a difference in civil rights,

education and health in Howard County.

The Howard County NAACP hosts the luncheon on an annual basis. This year, the event featured

Grammy-nominated poet, human and civil rights activist, journalist and author Kevin Powell as the keynote speaker.

The NAACP Howard County Branch, founded in 1944, is dedicated to advocating for civil rights, equality and justice in Howard County, Md. Through its programs and initiatives, the NAACP Howard County Branch works to address systemic issues and empower communities to create positive change.

Willie Flowers, president of the NAACP Howard County Branch, was in attendance to help handout awards and honor individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to advocacy and community service.

Leaders of the law, civil rights community celebrate upcoming anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

On April 25 the Reginald Lewis Museum, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, held a memorable event in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Brown vs Board of Education. The event included a panel discussion and honored Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black man to sit on the Supreme Court. Prior to joining the highest court in the land, Justice Marshall spearheaded the desegregation of schools across the country.

Speakers for the event included the renowned lawyer-professor and civil rights leader Larry Gibson, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) and President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Dr. Benjamin Chavis. Both Congressman Mfume and Ben Chavis have served as heads of the National Office for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Maryland Governor Wes Moore brought greetings and offered thanks and appreciation to the panelists for their work on behalf of civil rights and to Terri Freeman, president of the Reginald Lewis Museum, who served as moderator for the event.

The panelist shared with the audience their encounters with Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in his early years and the significance of

with law

and

his contribution to history and to them personally.

The event was just one of three planned by the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust in honor of the upcoming anniversary. An event will be held May 9 in Washington, D.C. at the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage and on May 17 in Charleston, South Carolina at the International African American Museum. The 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education will arrive on May 17.

Willie Flowers (left), president of the Howard County Branch of the NAACP, presents an award to honoree Rev. Dr. Ricky Harvey, with Dr. Stephanie Wall.

John Wesley, public information officer for the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights, attends the Howard County NAACP’s Freedom Fund luncheon and award ceremony.

Kevin Powell, a grammynominated poet, addresses the luncheon audience as keynote speaker.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, accepts his award from Willie Flowers (left) and Dr. Stephanie Wall.

Shown here, at the 2024 Howard County NAACP’s Freedom Fund luncheon : Dr. Stephanie Wall (left); Laura Johnson; Chapter Willie Flowers; Lynda Hill; Kori Jones; Jennifer Jones; Moyah Panda and Janssen Evelyn.

Dr. Barbara Morton speaks to the crowd.

Calvin B. Ball III, Ed. D., executive of Howard County, celebrates the work of community leaders in his area.

All photos by Stephen Hopkins

All photos by Jamaica Kalika

By Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO

Shown here from left to right: Claudette Edgerton-Swain; Myrtle Dorsey; Larry Gibson; Dr. Thelma Daley; Dr. Benjamin Chavis; Garcia Williams and Joanna Langston.

Jordon Nesmith, Justin Morrissette, Eric Webb and Trevor Chin proudly identify as brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, an organization that boasts the membership of Justice Thurgood Marshall and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) (left) shares a moment with NNPA CEO and President Dr. Benjamin Chavis, law professor Larry Gibson and Gov. Wes Moore, the first Black man to lead the state of Maryland.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks on the impact of Justice Thurgood Marshall and the importance of remembering his work decades later.

Terri Freeman, president of the Reginald Lewis Museum, leads a panel discussion ahead of the 70th anniversary of the desegregation of schools in America. Freeman discussed the milestone

professor Larry Gibson (left), U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume and NNPA CEO

President Dr. Benjamin Chavis (right).