On behalf of the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference, I am honored to welcome you and celebrate the 13th Annual NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony with you. We are incredibly grateful to our branches, sponsors, and corporate partners for their generous support that has made this event possible. Thank you for your commitment to justice!
This evening, we bring together NAACP members and supporters to recognize two outstanding community leaders who have dedicated their lives to advancing civil rights, not only in California but in the nation. This year’s inductees, Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State and former California Legislator Steven Bradford, are both true civil rights leaders who made courageous decisions in the face of adversity that have inspired generations of new civil rights leaders to continue the fight for justice and equity. We could not have a more powerful duo to induct into the NAACP CA-HI Legacy Hall of Fame.
Our collective power is an unstoppable force, and the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference is ready to lead this charge with your support. Tonight we celebrate and express our gratitude to our civil rights leaders across California and Hawaii who have made our communities a better place for all and also take time to acknowledge the accomplishments of those who deserve our recognition for supporting the principles of the NAACP.
Thank you for joining me to celebrate the dedication and historic contributions made by Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State and former California Legislator Steven Bradford in the fight for civil rights. With incredible leaders like these fighting alongside the NAACP, we are truly making a difference.
Yours in the fight,
Rick L. Callender,
ESQ. President,
NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference
Honorees 2025
CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, PH.D.
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR
STEVEN BRADFORD
TONIGHT’S
Program
LEGACY HALL OF FAME | 6:30PM
Master of Ceremonies, Kerri Harper-Howie
SPONSOR RECEPTION | 5:30PM INVOCATION
Dr. Jonathan Butler, President, NAACP San Francisco Branch
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING WELCOME REMARKS
Kerri Harper-Howie
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF SPECIAL GUESTS
Kerri Harper-Howie
Kerri Harper-Howie
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF SPONSORS DINNER IS SERVED INDUCTION CEREMONY
Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., The Honorable Steven Bradford
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH HONOREES
Regina Wilson, California Black Media
CLOSING REMARKS
Rick L. Callender. ESQ., President, NAACP CA/HI Conference
BENEDICTION
Dr. Jonathan Butler, President, NAACP San Francisco Branch
MEET THE Honorees
CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, PH.D.
Shirley Nash Weber, Ph.D. was nominated to serve as California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom on December 22, 2020 and sworn into office on January 29, 2021. Voters elected her for a full term on November 8, 2022. Weber is California’s first Black Secretary of State and only the fifth African American to serve as a state constitutional officer in California’s 173-year history.
Weber was born to sharecroppers in Hope, Arkansas during the segregationist Jim Crow era. Her father, who left Arkansas after being threatened by a lynch mob, did not have the opportunity to vote until he was in his 30s. Her grandfather never voted as custom and law in the South, before the Voting Rights Act of 1965, systemically suppressed voting by Blacks. Although her family moved to California when Weber was three years old, it was her family’s experience in the Jim Crow South that has driven her activism and legislative work. She has fought to secure and expand civil rights for all Californians, including restoring voting rights for individuals who have completed their prison term.
Weber attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she received her BA, MA and PhD by the age of 26. Prior to receiving her doctorate, she became a professor at San Diego State University (SDSU) at the age of 23. She also taught at California State University at Los Angeles (CSULA) and Los Angeles City College before coming to SDSU. She retired from the Department of Africana Studies after 40 years as a faculty member and serving several terms as department chair.
Before her appointment, Secretary Weber served four terms as an Assembly Member representing California’s 79th Assembly District, which includes parts of the City of San Diego as well as several cities and communities in the San Diego region. Weber also served as a member and chair of the San Diego Unified School District and has twice served as a California Elector, including chairing the California College of Presidential Electors on December 14, 2020.
CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE SHIRLEY N. WEBER,
PH.D.
During her tenure in the Assembly, Weber chaired the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee, Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety, and Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health. Weber was the first African American to serve as the chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. She also served as a member of the Standing Committees on Education, Higher Education, Elections, Budget, Banking and Finance.
In addition, Weber chaired the Select Committee on Campus Climate, which was created to examine and mitigate hate crimes on California’s college and university campuses. The committee also explored student hunger, sexual assaults, homelessness, and freedom of expression. She formerly created and chaired the Select Committee on Higher Education in San Diego County, which explored the need for an additional higher education facility in San Diego and ways to improve the quality, affordability and equal access of higher education in the region.
From 2019 - 2020, she served as chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), which consists of the state’s African American legislators and has the goal of promoting equal opportunity for California’s African American community. Weber broke records during her tenure by garnering extraordinary support for CLBC’s efforts and its projects.
Weber’s genuine passion and tireless quest for equality and fairness in all sectors of life have resulted in her pursuit of reforms in education and criminal justice. Her equity-oriented legislation includes: school finance and accountability, classroom safety, ethnic studies, early learners, attendance and dropout rates, quality instruction, law enforcements’ use-of-force and body camera practices, reparations, the CalGangs’ database, Affirmative Action, inclusive jury selection and instruction, predatory lending, resources for exonerees, restorative justice, racial profiling, among others. Weber has also pursued public policy changes related to health, senior citizens, veterans and military families.
Secretary Weber is a mother of two adult children, three grandchildren and was married for 29 years to the late Honorable Daniel Weber. She is number six in a family of eight children. Her Parents, David and Mildred Nash, are deceased. Her hobbies are reading and traveling.
MEET THE Honorees
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR
STEVEN BRADFORD
A native of Gardena, California, Steven Bradford is driven by a deep-rooted commitment to community service and social justice. Raised by a mother who worked as a nurse and a father who owned a small business, Bradford learned early on the values of compassion, advocacy, and equity.
He has dedicated his career to championing the rights of marginalized communities and advocating for a more inclusive society. His relentless advocacy spans various sectors, from government and businesses to education and housing, with a singular focus on empowering Californians to achieve the California Dream.
A longtime public servant, Steven Bradford previously served in the California State Senate. Bradford was a formidable force in delivering impactful legislation, having authored and championed laws focusing on issues that impact our daily lives including healthcare, public safety, energy and communications, education, and economic development and revitalization. Notable achievements include laws increasing teacher pay statewide, promoting financial transparency in big banks, and securing fair and affordable energy rates.
As Former Chair of the Senate Banking Committee and the Select Committee on Boys and Men of Color, he has spearheaded initiatives to promote opportunities for underserved communities.
Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Bradford served in the California State Assembly and on the City Council in the City of Gardena. Throughout his tenure in the legislature, Bradford has served in a range of leadership positions, including as Chair of the Senate and Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee, Chair of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, Chair of the Senate Labor and the Senate Public Safety Committee. His advocacy for institutional justice and environmental sustainability earned national recognition.
While in the legislature, Bradford also served on the Insurance Committee and consistently supported and authored legislation to make California’s insurance market more fair and equitable.
On his home court, Bradford served as a member of the Gardena City Council, where he successfully led efforts to revitalize the city’s economy, eliminate debt, and secure federal funding for community projects. His transformative leadership earned Gardena national acclaim as a model of effective governance and inclusive growth.
In local and state office, Bradford has developed a long record of accomplishments with a depth of knowledge on policy. Outside of politics, Bradford has made significant contributions to environmental conservation, youth empowerment, and community engagement. From establishing recycling programs to coaching youth sports, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Californians.
E vent Emcee
KERRI HARPER-HOWIE
Kerri Harper-Howie is an entrepreneur, lawyer, author and public speaker with extensive experience owning and operating successful businesses, representing clients in all stages of employment litigation, publishing and public speaking. In partnership with her sister, Kerri owns 21 McDonald’s franchises in one of the most challenging business environments in the United States.
Kerri combines her legal expertise with practical business acumen, offering a unique perspective on workplace issues, business operations, succession planning and fostering family-like workplaces. Her career is marked by legal victories, innovative business strategies, and a commitment to establishing and maintaining equitable and efficient workplace environments. Kerri’s leadership and dedication to excellence have established her as a thought leader in the business community, where she continues to advocate for best practices, sustainable growth, and fair treatment of everyone.
Fireside Chat Moderator REGINA BROWN WILSON
Regina Brown Wilson is a media entrepreneur and committed advocate for African American-owned news outlets across California.
Her support for Black-owned publishers is centered on increasing their participation in the state’s media economy. A vocal champion of independent and local journalism, Wilson is also an important coconvener -- in partnership with Ethnic Media Services -- of Black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American owned news publishers in California.
Since 2012, Wilson has served as Executive Director of California Black Media (CBM), a non-profit started by her father, Hardy Brown, publisher emeritus of the Black Voice News in Riverside.
CBM is a network of over 30 print, digital, radio and streaming news organizations serving African American communities across the state.
At California Black Media, she has executed several public information campaigns focused on a range of issues from the COVID-19 pandemic to voter awareness and emergency preparedness. The organization has also syndicated thousands of news articles about California State policy, politics, and governmental affairs to CBM partner publishers, expanding the offering of news stories they provide their audiences and allowing them to focus resources on local news coverage.
During the pandemic, CBM led a multi-million-dollar public service information campaign with a network of 35 Black churches across California to promote a COVID-19 testing program.
In 2021, CBM partnered with California’s Secretary of State to increase participation in the gubernatorial recall election, breaking convention by including a diverse spectrum of media outlets serving all demographics of people across the state.
Wilson has held numerous official and advisory roles in state government. Previously, she led engagement of underrepresented minority groups at the State Board of Education and served in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Office of Planning and Research as Statewide Education & Community Outreach manager.
As an advocate for independent, local and Black news outlets, Wilson was appointed a commissioner for the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee and helped secure an historic investment of over $50 million with a significant inclusion of those funds for ethnic media.
Previously, Wilson led efforts to ensure African American media outlets participated in the marketing campaign for California Community Colleges, state-funded Opioid treatment centers, and Covered California, the Golden State’s official health exchange marketplace.
In 2019, Wilson oversaw the creation of resource guide sponsored by the California Community Reinvestment Grant Program for Latino and Black Media. The guide provided information on reentry and rehabilitation resources for families in Alameda and San Francisco counties impacted by the war on drugs.
Wilson is a member of the African American Empowerment Council of California, Sacramento NAACP, and serves as a member of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Minority Owned Small Business Task Force under the Government Operations Agency.
June 28, 2025
NAACP CALIFORNIA-HAWAII STATE CONFERENCE
Greetings:
Congratulations to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) California-Hawaii State Conference as you come together for your 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony. Thank you for your commitment as members and leaders of this nation’s premier civil rights and social justice advocacy organization
Our NAACP 115th National Convention was aptly themed, “ALL IN,” because it is the requirement to ensure the very survival of this nation as it was founded We are charged with taking this message into our communities and making it clear: elections are about choices; elections have consequences; and elections count toward a more perfect, diverse, and inclusive union. Every promise of this nation is on the ballot, and it is imperative that in every election, every eligible voter casts an unfettered ballot for a more just future.
I sincerely appreciate the many unsung heroes of this Association – some leading and working in the remotest of communities to advocate for our rights. We must never disengage in this battle that is for the soul of our nation. Our participation is critical not just in presidential elections but in all elections, understanding that the threat comes at the state and local levels. State legislatures, school boards, city councils, and county commissions must be a focal point. We must look at judicial races and understand that the people we put into positions where public policy is made and implemented require our attention and scrutiny. The Supreme Court requires our scrutiny. To honor our predecessors, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our history and secure our rights, we must continue the work of the NAACP, which includes showing up for every election.
If we are ALL IN, we can defeat hate and bigotry and ensure equal opportunity and social justice for our nation’s total health and wellbeing. If we are ALL IN, we can ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are the hallmarks of an economy that works for all humankind. If we are ALL IN, we will champion the truth that we were indeed all created as equals endowed with certain inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If we are ALL IN, the soul of our nation will prevail Thank you NAACP members, leaders, and friends for continuing the daily work, casting your ballot, and taking ownership of what it means to be ALL IN.
Yours in the struggle,
Leon W. Russell
June 28, 2025
Greetings:
With great pleasure, I congratulate you all and offer my sincerest appreciation to the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference on your 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony Serving at the helm of the nation’s leading civil rights organization is the highlight of my career. At this pivotal moment in history, it is my continued privilege to stand alongside every branch and state conference as we unite in our mission for meaningful and equitable change across this country.
We are dedicated to eliminating racial hatred and racial discrimination. And though we face renewed challenges from adversaries at the state, federal, and judicial levels; the NAACP remains All In on our commitment to Black equity, refusing to be marginalized in a country we helped to build. Our story matters, and you our leaders, volunteers, and members are its champions. You are the cornerstone of our work, and because of you, we have the momentum necessary to carry us forward into a brighter future.
Our vision for the United States includes building a more inclusive economy, reinforcing equity in education, advancing voting rights, making accessible and affordable healthcare a reality, and ending environmental and climate injustices. We are leading the nation’s most extensive data-driven Black civic engagement initiative, and you are the key players, extending our reach into communities nationwide. Our resolve has never been stronger.
Our legal and policy teams are advancing voting rights and justice in places like South Carolina, and Mississippi, and this is just the beginning. We will persist until student debt relief is achieved and ensure high voter turnout in November to build a representative body that aligns with our priorities and not those from Project 2025.
We are shifting from a posture of reaction to one that allows us to go boldly forward. We are not just surviving, we are leveraging our rich culture to reach new heights as a community. We possess everything necessary to achieve our goals and the power to effect the changes we seek, and we are harnessing that power. We will remain committed and energized in our mission to build a more perfect union, regardless of obstacles along the way.
We will fight for policies that will advance, not undermine our progress. We will fight for our community, standing as a united front as we head to the ballot box to defeat fascism, defend democracy, and determine our futures. We will fight to demand the change we need in order to achieve the equity we deserve.
Let us remain All In on making the dreams of our ancestors a reality. Thank you.
Peace and Power,
Derrick Johnson
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
June 28, 2025
NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala
On behalf of the state of California, I am pleased to welcome all who have gathered for the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference’s 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala.
This annual event serves as an important opportunity to recognize those who are advancing the NAACP’s vision for a more just and equitable world. Since 1909, the NAACP has been a leading advocate for the civil rights of Black Americans and all marginalized communities. The NAACP’s tremendous impact is built on a rich history of trailblazers who have fought to bend the arc of this country’s history closer to justice. Tonight’s inductees – California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber and Former California State Senator Steven Bradford – have played a critical role in that fight, and their leadership should serve as an inspiration to us all.
As I join you in spirit, I hope everyone enjoys a festive night and takes a moment to reflect on the significant contributions of tonight’s honorees.
Governor of California
GAVIN NEWSOM • SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • (916) 445-2841
GOVERNOR
MALIA M. COHEN CALIFORNIA STATE CONTROLLER
June 28, 2025
Dear Friends:
As California's State Controller and chief fiscal officer, I welcome you to the 13th Annual National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) CaliforniaHawaii State Conference Legacy Hall of Fame Gala
Since its inception in 1909, the NAACP has stood as the preeminent civil rights organization in the nation, tackling issues of racial equity, voter rights, civic engagement, and discrimination head-on. With an extensive network of branches, the CA/HI NAACP State Conference has been at the forefront of the battle to remove all barriers of racial discrimination for Black and marginalized communities in our region, a mission that is more urgent than ever.
For these reasons, I congratulate the CA/HI NAACP State Conference board of directors, team members, investors, and countless members, along with branch leadership, for their commitment to their founders’ vision and courageous leadership throughout California.
I also honor and recognize the outstanding accomplishments of this year's Legacy Hall of Fame inductees, my esteemed colleagues and dear friends, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber and former State Senator Steven Bradford . They deserve this recognition for their relentless legislative efforts and community advocacy to champion civil rights and foster improvement and well-being in diverse communities across California.
I extend to each of you my best wishes for a truly memorable event.
Sincerely,
Malia M. Cohen
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE
CALIFORNIA-HAWAII STATE CONFERENCE
13TH ANNUAL LEGACY HALL OF FAME CEREMONY
June 6, 2025
Greetings,
Congratulations to the California-Hawaii State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on hosting its 13th Annual Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony. As one of your State Senators representing San Diego County, it is my pleasure to send written greetings to all in attendance for this year’s Ceremony.
It is with great admiration, pride, and utmost respect that I extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s honorees, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D and Steven Bradford, Former California State Senator. This honor is not just a reflection of your professional achievements but a tribute to the profound legacy of service, courage, and leadership the each of you have built over decades of advocacy an d action.
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D, your life’s work has been nothing short of extraordinary. As California’s first African American Secretary of State and a lifelong educator, your commitment to truth, justice, and civic empowerment has forever changed the trajectory of our communities. From championing ethnic studies to defending the right to vote, your leadership has inspired countless individuals, especially young Black girls who now see themselves reflected at the highest levels of government.
Senator Steven Bradford, your years of service in the California Legislature speaks volumes about your resolve and vision. You have never wavered in your commitment to equity, police accountability, economic justice, and uplifting underserved communities. Your voice has been both fearless and principled, paving the way for transformative change across our state.
Together, your legacies are woven into the fabric of California’s progress. Your recognition by the NAACP is a well-deserved affirmation of your lasting impact.
Sincerely,
Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D 39th Senate District
June 10, 2025
Congratulations to California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph. D., an outstanding civil rights and community leader who has shaped a better California for all. As California’s first Black Secretary of State, she champions civil liberties, equity, education, and voter empowerment.
Dr. Shirley Weber has dedicated her life to defending people’s rights and protecting our democratic process during a critical time in history. She brings hope and prosperity to the state of California. Her life and career is a living testimony to the power and impact of civic service and accountability.
During Dr. Shirley Weber’s tenure as a California State Assemblymember representing the 79th Assembly District, she introduced ACA-5. The constitutional amendment, ACA-5, created equal opportunities for all Californians. Providing equal opportunity programs for the first time in a generation. A true testament to Dr. Shirley Weber’s impact and her character.
The unbreakable integrity and moral standards of Dr. Shirley Weber have positioned her as one of the most respected public officials in California. She has a true servant’s heart, whose humility, selflessness, and a commitment to serve others reign supreme
I express my deepest gratitude and thank Dr. Shirley Weber for her transformative work. The tireless journey for equality and justice is fought on through her work as California Secretary of State. Congratulations to Dr. Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. on her induction into the NAACP Legacy Hall of Fame.
With love,
Isaac G. Bryan Assemblymember, 55th District
June 10, 2025
Congratulations to former California State Senator Steven Bradford, who is an upstanding public servant and community leader. His dedicated career has been focused on championing the rights of marginalized communities and progressing California forward.
Senator Bradford has been a longtime public servant, creating a lasting impact and legacy. From his tenure as the first African American elected to the Gardena City Council, then as a member of the California State Assembly, and finally elected to the California State Senate. Through the countless leadership positions Bradford has held, he has advocated for and passed legislation for institutional justice and environmental sustainability that has earned national recognition. Even today he continues to spearhead initiatives to advance opportunities for underserved communities.
Senator Bradford has embraced perseverance while tackling the biggest challenges facing California and has helped implement a comprehensive vision for a better tomorrow. While representing California’s 35th Senate District, Senator Bradford introduced SB-2. After passing the legislature and being signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, SB-2 has helped hold police officers who have committed serious misconduct accountable and improved community safety.
Senator Bradford’s legislative record speaks volumes to his commitment towards social justice and his influence continues to be felt throughout the state. He has been a voice for meaningful change and increasing inclusivity for years in California.
I express my deepest gratitude and thank Senator Bradford for his exemplary work. Congratulations to Steven Bradford and his induction into the NAACP Legacy Hall of Fame.
With love,
Isaac G. Bryan, Assemblymember, 55th District
June 2nd, 2025
RE: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 13TH LEGACY HALL OF FAME GALA
Dear NAACP Members and Attendees,
It is with great respect and admiration that I extend heartfelt congratulations to you all on the occasion of the 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala. This annual event is not only a celebration of achievement but also a powerful reflection of the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and opportunity.
The Legacy Hall of Fame Gala honors those who have fearlessly led the charge to improve our communities. This year’s honorees, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Former State Senator Steven Bradford, exemplify the values and mission of the NAACP. Their work has transformed policy, uplifted underrepresented communities, and brought attention to the critical issues of our time.
Secretary Weber's lifelong advocacy for civil rights and education equity, along with her groundbreaking work on the Reparations Task Force, continues to shape a more just California. Senator Bradford’s leadership, including the creation of the Ebony Alert, has already had a direct impact on protecting Black youth and raising awareness about the systemic challenges we face.
To every NAACP member, supporter, and youth leader present tonight, thank you. Your commitment, energy, and vision are the foundation of change. Your presence at this celebration is a powerful reminder that progress is not only possible but inevitable when we stand united.
Congratulations to the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference for hosting another inspiring evening and for your continued leadership across the state and beyond.
Sincerely,
DR. COREY A. JACKSON Assemblymember, 60TH District
June 28, 2025
Dear Friends,
Congratulations to the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference for hosting your 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel.
The NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference continues to be a driving force for justice, equity, and civil rights across our communities. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Secretary Shirley Weber and Former Senator Steven Bradford for well-deserved recognition of your lifelong commitment to public service and social change. Your work has uplifted countless lives, and your legacies continue to inspire the next generation of leaders.
On behalf of the California State Assembly’s 49th District, I am honored to celebrate the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference. I offer my congratulations and best wishes for the continued success of your organization.
Sincerely,
Mike Fong Assembly Member, 49th District
June 28, 2025
Dear Friends,
I am proud to welcome you to the 2025 Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony hosted by the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference. It is an honor to recognize 13 years celebrating pivotal leaders who paved the way for civil rights through community organizing. It is wonderful to see so many of our neighbors come together to pay homage to the people who put their lives on the line fighting for justice and equality.
It is my pleasure to congratulate California Secretary of St ate Dr. Shirley N. Weber and former California State Senator Steven Bradford on their induction into the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference Legacy Hall of Fame. Your contributions to California cannot be understated, and we are immensely grateful for your continued guidance on the path towards improvement.
The NAACP has worked tirelessly to engage residents throughout California and Hawaii in numerous capacities. For over a century, this organization has augmented the economic, social, and political comprehension of citizens of all demographics. The work that was done in the past allows us to appreciate the progress we have made today.
We commemorate the NAACP, the inductees, and all honorees today against the backdrop of a rapidly changing political landscap e. During divisive times it is important to remember that our unity is our strength. Dr. Weber and Senator Bradford have demonstrated that legislation which aims to improve systemic problems requires the collaboration of many, and can positively support our most marginalized neighbors.
Congratulations and best wishes to everyone at this year’s 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala. I know that the future of our community is in good hands with all of you in supporting the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference. Our next generation of leaders has many role models to admire in the field of advocacy and activism.
Sincerely,
John Harabedian Assemblymember, 41st District
April 28, 2025
NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference
6101 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
RE: NAACP California-Hawaii (NAACP CA -HI) State Conference 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala
Dear President Callender,
It is my honor to extend heartfelt congratulations to the 2025 inductees of the NAACP CA -HI Legacy Hall of Fame. As an Assemblymember committed to equity, justice, and the advancement of civil rights, I am deeply moved by the legacy and continued impact of this important event.
This year’s honorees, Secretary Shirley N. Weber and former Senator Steven Bradford, embody the spirit of service and advocacy that uplifts our communities and advances our shared vision of justice and equality. Secretary Weber’s lifelong dedication to educ ation equity and the historic work of the California Reparations Task Force stand as pillars of progress. Senator Bradford’s trailblazing Ebony Alert legislation represents a meaningful step forward in the protection and visibility of our most vulnerable youth.
Their contributions underscore the profound reach of this celebration, not only as a moment of recognition but also as a call to continue the important work ahead. Congratulations again to all of the honorees. Your legacies inspire us to build a mor e just and equitable future.
With deep respect and admiration,
RMichelle Rodriguez Assemblymember, 53rd District
MR/rg
June 28, 2025
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the California State Assembly, I am delighted to welcome you to NAACP CaliforniaHawaii State Conference’s (NAACP CA-HI) 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala!
Over the years, NAACP CA-HI has stood at the forefront of the civils rights movement , advocating for marginalized communities across California and Hawaii. NAACP CA-HI has shown unwavering dedication to upholding its core values of justice, equality and accountability. Your work not only uplifts Black Americans but also strengthens the broader fabric of our society.
Tonight, we celebrate NAACP CA-HI and the countless activists whose tireless efforts continue to advance civil engagemnent, racial equity, and serves as a powerful force for change. Your advocacy is the true embodiment of self-empowerment and has made a profound impact across our state.
I wish to recognize this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, Shirley Weber , California Secretary of State, and Steven Bradford, Former California State Senator. I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to honoress Anthony Anderson and LeVar Burton. Thank you for your commitment and passion for strengthening our beloved communities. Your work has made California a better place for all.
Best wishes,
Catherine Stefani 司 嘉怡 Assemblymember, 19th District
June 3, 2025
Dear Secretary Dr. Weber:
I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your well -deserved recognition at the NAACP CaliforniaHawaii State Conference’s 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala.
Your steadfast commitment to voter accessibility as California Secretary of State has left an indelible mark on our state. Californians owe you deep gratitude for your lifelong dedication to civil rights and equity. Your visionary leadership, especially your authorship of AB 3121, has laid a vital foundation for California’s continued progress towards justice for Black communities.
It has always been a pleasure to work alongside you and your outstanding team. I lo ok forward to the many ways you will continue to lead and inspire. You are a true icon of the San Diego region, and this honor is both fitting and deeply earned.
Sincerely,
CHRISTOPHER M. WARD Assemblymember, 78th District
We congratulate this year’s Legacy Hall of Fame honorees and proudly support the NAACP’s mission to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
June 3, 2025
Dear Senator Bradford:
I extend my warmest congratulations on your well -deserved recognition at the NAACP CaliforniaHawaii State Conference’s 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Gala.
From your early days on the Gardena City Council, to your impactful tenure in the State Legislature, your steadfast commitment to the people of California has been both inspiring and transformative. Your leadership on critical issues, particularly in advancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement, has left a lasting mark on public safety and trust in government.
Your decisive action during California’s widespread power outages helped chart a more res ilient and equitable path forward for our state. Additionally, your contributions as a member of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans continues to shape longoverdue conversations and policy solutions for justice and equity.
This recognition is a fitting tribute to your years of tireless service. It was a privilege to work alongside you in the Legislature, and I look forward to all that you will continue to accomplish.
Greetings to attendees and congratulations to the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference for hosting the 13th Legacy Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to this year’s Legacy Hall of Fame inductees, California’s Secretary of State, Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D and former California State Senator, Steven Bradford for their tireless civil rights activism. I also want to express my deep appreciation to the members of the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference for your dedication to advocacy for civil rights. We are grateful for the positive impact the NAACP California Hawaii’s efforts have on the lives of residents throughout California.
Sincerely,
Senator Dave Cortese, 15th District
June 28, 2025
Dear President Callender,
On the occasion of the 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony hosted by the NAACP CaliforniaHawaii State Conference, I thank the NAACP and its members for their tireless efforts to fight for civil rights and social justice. Especially in these times, as we witness unprecedented challenges to our civil rights and threats to the resilience of the Constitution itself, your resolve is more important than ever.
We look to leaders who act and speak out with courage to forge path s forward in the ongoing fight for justice. That is why I am pleased to recognize the two outstanding inductees for their commitment to advancing civil rights.
I offer my congratulations to Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State , for her lifetime of leadership and courage, often in the face of fierce opposition. She unflinchingly gives a powerful voice to unvarnished truth and demolishes boundaries in the fight for real justice.
I also honor the legacy of former California State Senator Steven Bradford, who used his position to help the most vulnerable among us – our children. By exposing the urgent need to rescue missing black children and passing the Ebony Alert law, he reminds us that every life is precious and we all deserve to feel safe and secure in our communities.
As you celebrate your 13th Legacy Hall of Fame, I thank you and stand with you in hopes that our ceaseless commitment to civil rights and social justice will lead to a more just and peaceful world.
Sincerely,
Catherine Blakespear 38th Senatorial District
June 6, 2025
Dear NAACP members & guests,
Welcome to the 13th Annual Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony!
As a representative in the California State Senate, I am proud to support the work of the NAACP in their mission to build, sustain, and fight for Black political and socio-economic power. This Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the work of inspiring leaders who have dedicated their lives to advancing civil rights.
As we receive pushback on acknowledging the importance of equitable representation, and an inclusive history it is critical that we shine a light on the work of those in our community who have championed efforts to achieve racial equity. In California, we continue to work to ensure that political, educational, economic and social equality is at the forefront of our values.
Congratulations to the honorees, California’s Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber and California State Senator Steven Bradford. As their former colleague in the State Assembly and State Senate, it was an honor to serve alongside them and to see their leadership in uplifting Black voices and unwavering mission to advancing the Black community. Their dedication is recognized and celebrated.
Thank you to the NAACP board members for your exemplary leadership in continuing to advocate for civil and political liberty and to the California Hawaii State Conference for your work in organizing this event.
I wish you a great evening and congratulations to the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees.
Sincerely,
May 22, 2025
Rick L. Callender, President
NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference
1026 Florin Rd., Ste. 331 Sacramento, CA 95831
RE: Congratulations on 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony
Dear President Callendar and the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference,
Congratulations on your upcoming 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony in Los Angeles. I applaud your longstanding commitment to honoring outstanding Black leaders who have fought tirelessly to advance civil rights and have made California and Hawaii a better place for all The 2025 NAACP CA-HI Legacy Hall of Fame members are truly deserving.
I also salute the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference’s unwavering commitment to protecting the civil rights and dignity of Black and marginalized communities, and your laser focus on justice, equality, and accountability, along with your steadfast advocacy for voting rights and reproductive freedom, and addressing economic inequality, environmental justice, and racial discrimination.
I also celebrate the notable tradition at your event of bringing together NAACP members, corporate partners, supporters, and your future Youth & College Division leaders.
The 13th Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony will sure to be an event to remember.
Sincerely,
Jerry McNerney
California State Senator, District 5
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RICK L. CALLENDER, ESQ. President
ZEPHANII SMITH-EISENSTAT 1st Vice President
DR. NAOMI RAINEY PIERSON 2nd Vice President
LAJUANA BIVENS Secretary/State Director
IDA M. JOHNSON Assistant Secretary
OLIVIA VERRETT 2nd Assistant Secretary
CAROLYN VEAL-HUNTER Treasurer
DR. SATIA AUSTIN Youth & College Division Chair
GAIL BAUTISTA Executive Committee, Events Chair
ANNA HOPKINS Executive Committee, Communications Chair
MIKE DAVIS Executive Committee, Labor Chair
DR. ANTWANISHA WILLIAMSON BERLUS Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Chair
ALFONSO BRAGGS Executive Committee
KRISTINE YABUMOTO Communications Specialist
TANEICIA HERRING Government Relations Specialist
Join our community of over 2 million activists across the nation fighting for change and for justice.
This fight is bigger than today—it’s for the generations to come.
12TH
ANNUAL INDUCTEE CEREMONY
2025 DAY AT THE CAPITOL SACREMENTO, CALIFORNIA
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PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Posthumously The Honorable Mervyn Dymally
2013 HONOREE
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally was an American politician from California. He served in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate as the 41st Lieutenant Governor of California and in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dymally returned to politics a decade later to serve in the California State Assembly.
Dymally was the first Trinidadian to serve California as State Senator and Lieutenant Governor. He was one of the first persons of Dougla (mixed African and Indian) origin to serve in the U.S. Congress.
In 1974, he and George L. Brown became among the first African Americans elected to statewide office since Oscar Dunn did so during Reconstruction. Edward W. Brooke, III had been elected Attorney General of Massachusetts in 1962 and 1964, and was elected to the United States Senate from Massachusetts in 1966 and 1972. Dymally was the second African-American to hold statewide office in California, following Wilson Riles who served as California Superintendent of Public Instruction starting in 1971.
Dymally was vice-president of the Pacific Century Institute, a non-profit organization that fosters education and policy dialogue for nations of the Pacific Rim.
Mervyn Dymally passed away on October 7, 2012.
The Honorable Gwen Moore
2013 HONOREE
Moore was first elected to the state legislature in 1978 and served for 16 years until 1994, representing California’s 49th district (redistricted and renumbered in 1990 as the 47th district), which currently includes Long Beach, Catalina Island and parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties.
While serving in the Assembly, Moore introduced over 400 bills that were signed into law. She also served as Majority Whip and was a member of a number of influential committees, including the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee.
Moore served on numerous boards. Among them were the California State Bar Board of Trustees, the California Small Business Association board and the national board of the NAACP. She was also First Vice President of the California State Conference of the NAACP, Vice Chair of the California Utility Diversity Council and Chairwoman of the California Black Business Association.
For her work in California and across the United States, Moore won numerous national and local awards, including honors from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr.
2014 HONOREE
Willie Brown, in full Willie Lewis Brown, Jr., (born March 20, 1934, Mineola, Texas, U.S.), American politician who was the first African American speaker of the California State Assembly, the longest-serving speaker of that body (1980–95), and mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).
Brown was born into poverty in rural Texas and moved to San Francisco after graduating from high school. In 1955 he received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University), and three years later he earned a law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law (1958). Brown established a private legal practice and became active in politics. In 1964 he won election to the California State Assembly. Appointed to chair the Legislative Representation Committee, he used the post to enhance his position in the legislature and to facilitate his rise to power. In 1969 he became the Democratic Party whip, and in 1974 he made an unsuccessful bid to become speaker of the State Assembly. In 1980, winning the support of 28 Republicans and 23 Democrats, he was elected speaker, a post he held until 1995.
A flamboyant figure, Brown was a prime target of the successful effort in 1990 in California to limit state legislators to three terms. Forced to retire from the State Assembly, he was elected mayor of San Francisco in 1995 and was reelected in 1999. After leaving office in 2004, Brown briefly co hosted (2006) a radio talk show and established an institute on public service and politics. In 2008 he published Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times, an autobiography.
Kevin Maurice Johnson (born March 4, 1966) is an American former professional basketball player and Democratic Party politician who served as the 55th Mayor of Sacramento, California from 2008 to 2016. He is the husband of educator Michelle Rhee. Elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012, Johnson is the first African American to serve as Mayor of Sacramento. Before entering politics, Johnson was a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Johnson holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. His professional experience includes playing professional basketball and working as the Chief Executive Officer of St. HOPE, a nonprofit focused on urban revitalization. In 2014, he was elected as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Mayor Kevin Johnson 2015 HONOREE
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice
2016 HONOREE
Condoleezza Rice is currently the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business; the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution; and a professor of Political Science at Stanford University. She is also a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates, LLC.
From January 2005-2009, Rice served as the 66th Secretary of State of the United States, the second woman and first African American woman to hold the post. Rice also served as President George W. Bush’s Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor) from January 2001-2005, the first woman to hold the position.
From 1989 through March 1991, Rice served on President George H.W. Bush’s National Security Council staff. She served as Director; Senior Director of Soviet and East European Affairs; and, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. In 1986, while an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, Rice also served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Rice currently serves on the board of Dropbox, an onlinestorage technology company, C3, an energy software company, and Makena Capital, a private endowment firm. In addition, she is a member of the boards of the George W. Bush Institute, the Commonwealth Club, the Aspen Institute, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Previously, Rice served on various additional boards, including: KiOR, Inc.; the Chevron Corporation; the Charles Schwab Corporation; the Transamerica Corporation; the Hewlett-Packard Company; the University of Notre Dame; the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and, the San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Rice earned her bachelor’s degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver; her master’s from the University of Notre Dame; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver.
President of Dignity Health, Lloyd Dean 2017 HONOREE
Chief executive officer Lloyd Dean was born in Alabama on June 24,1950 to Susie Tripp Dean, a homemaker, and Floyd Dean, Sr., a foundry worker. Dean grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1969, he enrolled at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he earned his B.S. degree in sociology, and his M.A. degree in education. Dean then went on to graduate from Pennsylvania State University’s Executive Management program.
Between 1972 and 1978, Dean worked as a junior high school teacher and paralegal assistant. He taught communications courses at Western Michigan University, and served as a news anchor for WOTV in Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1978, he met a pharmaceutical executive named Lawrence Hoff, who recruited him to work at his company, Upjohn. Dean worked at Upjohn Company, where he rose from assistant regional manager in the health care services division to Executive Vice President of Marketing and Operations, until 1990. He then moved to Illinois, where he worked at Consumer Health Service, EHS Healthcare, and Advocate Healthcare. In 2000, he was recruited to join Catholic Healthcare West, now known as Dignity Health, where he served as president and chief executive officer.
Dean served on the boards of Wells Fargo & Company, McDonald’s Corp., Navigant Consulting Inc, and Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.. He was also the board chair for the Committee on JOBS, an organization that brings employment to the San Francisco Bay area.
Dean has been a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act. He was a 2014 recipient of the CEO Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter. In 2014, Dean was also named among the Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare. He was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times for Excellence in Leadership and received multiple awards from 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, Inc. Dean also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of San Francisco.
Dean lives in Half Moon Bay, California with his wife, Suzanne Dean. They have two children, Nathan and Nicole.
Lloyd Dean was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on December 18, 2015.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Posthumously Marcus Foster, Superintendent of Oakland Schools
2017 HONOREE
Marcus Foster, Ed.D was an American educator and school administrator, who became the first black Superintendent of a large city school district when he became the Superintendent of Oakland Unified School district in Oakland, California.
Dr. Foster was born in an education centric family in Athens, GA. After moving to Philadelphia at a young age he attended public schools and graduated from South Philadelphia high school. After completing his B.A. from Cheyney State College in State College 1947, he worked in the Philadelphia public school system. His ability to connect with students fostered ideas like community involvement and other pilot projects to reverse the effects of racial discrimination in education.
During his time as Principal of Dunbar Elementary School, O.V. Catto School for Boys, and Gratz High School he led programs based around compensatory education and others that challenged the lasting legacy of racial discrimination. These programs in turn influenced national education and anti-poverty policies throughout the 1960’s. After moving to Oakland to lead the Oakland Unified School District as Superintendent, he challenged the status quo around racism, poverty, and underachievement in urban schools.
A champion of students, and a voice for the underserved Dr. Foster is remembered for his efforts to address educational inequality in urban schools. His uncanny ability to connect with students and peers from diverse backgrounds inspired much of the community programs he led in schools to combat underachievement and poverty.
Ambassador Diane Watson
2018 HONOREE
Diane Watson, Ph.D is an American politician, social and political activist from Los Angeles, California who served as a United States Ambassador before serving in the United States House of Representatives. Dr. Watson is tried and true Angeleno; where she was born and raised, where she went to high school, Dorsey High School in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, where she began her educational journey at Los Angeles City College and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where she began her career as an elementary school teacher and school psychologist in the public school system, where she continued her higher education at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) and Claremont Graduate School.
After becoming the first black woman elected to the California State Senate, she was a strong advocate for the poor and worked to rebuild Los Angeles after the 1992 L.A. riots. She briefly served as United States Ambassador to Micronesia under the Clinton Administration then went on to win the special election to succeed the late Representative Julian Carey Dixon. On both foreign and domestic matters Dr. Watson advocated for underserved communities and fought to protect ostracized groups. She led the increase in U.S. aid to sub-saharan Africa for the HIV/AIDS pandemic and called for common sense welfare reform in the United States.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
2018 HONOREE
Barbara Lee is an American Politician and political activist currently serving in the United States Congress from the 13th district of California. Congresswoman. Lee was born in El Paso, TX and moved to California at a young age due to her father’s military service. Congresswoman Lee began her social advocacy at a young age working with her local NAACP branch to desegregate her high school cheerleading squad. She continued her activism at Mills College, while being single and raising two children, by working on Congresswoman Shirley Chrisholm’s Presidential Campaign and being her delegate at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. While at Berkeley she founded the Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education to provide mental health treatment and services to the East Bay.
Joining Congressman Ron Dellums staff in 1975 as an intern she would become Chief of Staff and become one of the few females and persons of color to hold a senior position on Capitol Hill. In 1990 Congresswoman Lee was elected to the California State Assembly, then in 1996 was elected to the State Senate. Elected to the U.S. Congress in 1998, Congresswoman Lee has continually advocated for women, LGBT causes, race relations, those in poverty, and immigrants.
Posthumously Representative Ron Dellums
2019 HONOREE
Ron Dellums was an American Politician and political activist serving in the United States of House of Representatives and as the 48th Mayor of Oakland. Congressman Dellum was born and raised in Oakland, California. He would go on to earn his B.A. from San Francisco State University in 1960 and his M.S.W. from University of California Berkeley. He worked as a psychiatric social worker until his election to Congress in 1970, after serving on the Berkeley City Council.
During his legendary first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Dellums introduced more than 200 pieces of legislation, was an outspoken critic of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and took on the issue of racism in the military after his own personal experience with racism in the Marine Corps in the mid-1950’s. Congressman Dellums would be a vocal critic of South Africa’s Apartheid and was a fervent antiwar advocate. He would retire from the House after a long and outstanding career as a civil rights advocate and political activist representing Oakland.
In 2006 at age 70 he won his Oakland Mayoral bid. He took aim at Public Safety and education initiatives while promoting Oakland as a model city. Congressman Dellums is remembered for his relentless dedication to social justice and his work to challenge the American status quo.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Bernard Tyson
CEO Kaiser Permanente
2019 HONOREE
Bernard Tyson was an American health care executive serving as Chief Executive Officer of Kaiser Permanente until 2019. A Bay Area native, Tyson received his bachelors and M.B.A. from Golden Gate University.
His career with Kaiser Permanente spanned over 30 years and included roles from hospital administrator and division president to chief operating officer. As Chief Executive at Kaiser, Tyson worked tirelessly to make high quality healthcare affordable and accessible. He was influential in the development of community partnerships to combat houselessness and and firearm fatalities.
Dr. Alice Huffman
2021 HONOREE
Alice Huffman, Ph.D is an American Social and Political figure serving as the President of the California Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP from 1999 until her retirement in 2020. After studying social and cultural anthropology at U.C. Berkeley as an EOP student, she completed extensive graduate work in Anthropology and Public Administration.
Through her grassroots activism and work she became an important bridge for government policy makers and the community at large. Dr. Huffman has worked for three governors, the attorney general, the California Democratic Party, while managing her own Public Affairs Firm and serving as CA/HI NAACP President.
Dr. Huffman is an icon in the California State Government. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work in the Legislature in addition to the Legacy Award, she has received the National NAACP’s Thalheimer Award for the best state conference in the nation.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
2022 HONOREE
Congresswoman Maxine Waters is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. She has gained a reputation as a fearless and outspoken advocate for women, children, people of color and the poor.
Elected in November 2020 to her sixteenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 70 percent of the vote in the 43rd Congressional District of California, Congresswoman Waters represents a large part of South Los Angeles including the communities of Westchester, Playa Del Rey, and Watts and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County comprised of Lennox, West Athens, West Carson, Harbor Gateway and El Camino Village. The 43rd District also includes the diverse cities of Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita and Torrance.
Congresswoman Waters made history as the first woman and first African American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. An integral member of Congressional Democratic Leadership, Congresswoman Waters serves as a member of the Steering & Policy Committee and is the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. She is also a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and member and past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Dr. Tommie Smith
2023 HONOREE
Tommie Smith began life quietly, born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6, 1944 in Clarksville, Texas the seventh of 12 children. Tommie Smith survived a life-threatening bout of pneumonia as an infant which allowed him to carry out the work that God intended for him. Today, his historic achievements make him a nationally and internationally distinguished figure in African American history. He is the only man in the history of track and field to hold eleven world records simultaneously.
During the historical 19th Olympiad in Mexico City in the summer of 1968, Tommie Smith broke the world and Olympic record with a time of 19.83 seconds and became the 200-meter Olympic champion. As the Star-Spangled Banner played in the wind at the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games, Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood on the victory podium, draped with their Olympic medals, each raised a clinched fist covered in a black leather glove in a historic stand for black power, liberation, and solidarity.
Tommie Smith’s courageous leadership, talent, and activism have earned him well-deserved acclaim and awards. Some highlights are included here: On November 1, 2019, he was inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Legend Hall of Fame; featured in Sports Illustrated, Ebony, Time, and Newsweek
Tommie served as a faculty member at Santa Monica College, Santa Monica California for 27 years, teaching and coaching and serving on academic committees.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Dr. John Carlos 2023 HONOREE
John Carlos is an American former track and field athlete and civil rights activist who was born on June 5, 1945, in Harlem, New York City. He competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico, representing the United States in the 200-meter dash. Carlos won the bronze medal in the event, finishing behind fellow American Tommie Smith, who won the gold, and Peter Norman of Australia, who won the silver.
Carlos is best known for his iconic protest on the medal podium during the medal ceremony. Along with Smith, he raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the U.S. national anthem as a symbol of the Black Power movement and the struggle for civil rights in America. The gesture created a major controversy, and both athletes were stripped of their medals and expelled from the Olympic Village.
After the Olympics, Carlos continued to be involved in social and political activism. He worked as a coach and teacher and later became a public speaker and advocate for social justice issues. In 2008, he was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards for his iconic protest at the 1968 Olympics. Carlos remains an important figure in American sports and civil rights history, and his actions on the medal podium continue to inspire activists and athletes around the world.
Dr. Harry Edwards 2023 HONOREE
Harry Edwards was born in St. Louis but grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois. He graduated from San Jose State University from which he graduated in 1964 with high honors. He subsequently was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and a University Fellowship to Cornell University where he completed a M.A. and a Ph.D. in sociology. He was on the faculty of California at Berkeley from 1970 – 2001 and currently is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology.
Dr. Edwards also has a long and storied history of activism focused upon developments at the interface of sport, race, and society. He ultimately called for a Black athlete boycott of the United States 1968 Olympic team in large part to dramatize the racial inequities and barriers confronting Blacks in sport and society. The movement resulted in demonstrations by Black athletes across the nation and ultimately at the Mexico City games – a movement commemorated by a 24-foot high statue on the campus at San Jose State University
Years later, Dr. Edwards was to become a consultant on issues of diversity for all three major sports.
Over his career, Harry Edwards has persisted in efforts to compel the sports establishment to confront and to effectively address issues pertaining to diversity and equal opportunity within its ranks. Edwards, a scholar-activist, has been a consultant with producers of sports related programs for numerous television and film productions in the United States and abroad over the last 50 years.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Dr. Kenneth Noel 2023 HONOREE
Ken is a longtime social activist and activism advocate, who recently delivered a keynote speech at San Jose State University’s annual Smith/ Carlos Legacy Week Celebration and a gathering of Regional Special Olympics Organization administrators and staff. His time in the last two years, when not editing his dual autobiography, has been devoted to advising and securing vital oral history contributors for San Jose State’s History of Civil Rights and Campus Protest project.
As Co-Organizer of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (1967 – 1969), Ken has served as the main conduit between the OPHR’s principal strategist and its principal actors for 56 years. Ken is characterized as a most candid and honest speaker, who is inspiring, brutally real, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at the same time.
A thrilled observer of Ken in action remarked as follows:
“I just finished watching your talk; it was so honest, thoughtfully constructed, and really powerfully delivered. You taught us so much about your role in shaping the protest movement at SJS in the 1960s, the Olympic Project for Human Rights and UBSA, and also explained how and why (without saying so directly) mentoring students like Aquila, John, Tommie, etc., and leading social justice campaigns became part of your life’s work I am very glad that you decided to train as hard at academics as athletics! You and Dr. Edwards remain intellectual champions with such a lasting impact on the field of athlete activism, which continues to radically transform student lives.”
Danny Glover 2024 HONOREE
Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 30 years. He is widely known for his lead role as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series. He also had leading roles in his films included The Color Purple, To Sleep with Anger, Predator 2, Angels in the Outfield, and Operation Dumbo Drop. Glover has prominent supporting roles in Silverado, Witness, A Rage in Harlem, Dreamgirls, Shooter, Death at a Funeral, Beyond the Lights, Sorry to Bother You, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, The Dead Don’t Die, Lonesome Dove and Jumanji: The Next Level. He is also an active supporter of various political causes.
In addition to his film work, Glover is civil rights advocate, longtime supporter of union rights and United Nations Ambassador. In 2022, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honored Glover with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Additionally, Glover has received numerous accolades, including the NAACP’s President’s Award and the Cuban National Medal of Friendship by the Cuban Council of State. He has also received nominations for four Primetime Emmy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award.
PAST LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Rev. DR. Amos C. Brown
2024 HONOREE
Known among World leaders, presidents, celebrities, and academicians alike for his trademark activism, intellectual discipline, and masterful oratory, Dr. Amos C. Brown is a legend in his own time. Tutored by Medgar Evers, Benjamin Mays, Samuel Williams, J. Pious Barbour, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (as one of the eight students in the only class Dr. King taught in his lifetime at Morehouse College), Dr. Brown has never seen the issues of society as separate from the mission of the church, especially when the members of the church are directly affected by systems of evil.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Brown has been Pastor of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church since 1976. As a scholar, theologian, preacher and social activist, he has maintained a marriage of piety and political action in his ministry. He was equipped for great and distinct ministerial leadership through his training at Morehouse College, B.A. (1964) and earned degrees of Master of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. Before accepting the call to Third Baptist, he served as pastor of Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania and Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Under his leadership, Third Baptist Church has established a summer school program, created an After-School Academic enrichment program (Back on Track) in partnership with Temple Emanuel Congregation, the Charles A. Tindley Academy of Music; sponsored more African refugees than any local congregation in the nation and sponsored 80 children from Tanzania to receive heart surgery in the United States. He led the Bay Area in raising $68,000 for the Somalian Relief Effort in 1984, led in founding the Black American Response to the African Crisis, which raised $300,000 for the Ethiopian Famine crises, and led an airlift to Ethiopia under the auspices of the National Baptist Convention.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he has served as a member of the governing board of San Francisco Community College, National Chairman of the National Baptist Commission on Civil Rights and Human services, member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Chairman of the Bay Area Ecumenical Pastors Conference, first Vice President of the California State Baptist Convention, President of NAACP Branch in San Francisco, California, and a member of the governing board of the National Council of Churches of Christ.
Dr. Brown was a delegate to the 2001 United Nations Conference on Race and Intolerance in Durban, South Africa. He represented the National Board of the NAACP in this World Conference. Also in the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Dr. Brown was one of the principal national faith leaders to give a response address to the tragedy at the San Francisco’s Day of Remembrance. In September of 2001, Dr. Brown and Jesse Jackson met with the venerable, Nelson Mandela in South Africa around issues of African development and U.S. foreign policy matters. And as a great champion of educational enterprises, he brought to Third Baptist the Honorable Kweisi Mfume for an evening of “Celebrating our Commitment and Passion for Education and Academic Excellence”. From this effort over $67,000 was raised for scholarships for worthy students who are pursuing higher education and training.
Dr. Brown was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Ministerial Award for outstanding leadership and contributions to the Black Church in America. He was also inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the King International Chapel at Morehouse College. For a second time, Dr. And Mrs. Brown was invited by President and First Lady Barak and Michelle Obama to a Christmas Reception at the White House. Most recently, the City and County of San Francisco honored Dr. Brown during the Martin Luther Ling Jr. Holiday, and gave a brilliant address to the community. In April of 2011 he will be honored by his hometown of Jackson Mississippi.
Sharing Dr. Brown’s commitment to service and racial uplift are his wife, Mrs. Jane Smith Brown of Richmond, Virginia, two sons, Amos C. Brown, Jr., David Josephus Brown, and daughter, Kizzie Marie Brown.
NAACP CA/HI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
NAACP CA/HI EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
RICK L. CALLENDER, ESQ.
ZEPHANII SMITH-EISENSTAT
DR. NAOMI RAINEY-PIERSON
LAJUANA BIVENS
IDA M. JOHNSON
OLIVIA VERRETT
CAROLYN VEAL-HUNTER
NAACP California Hawaii State Conference, President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
Secretary/State Director
Assistant Secretary
2nd Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
NAACP CA/HI AREA DIRECTORS
ALLEN BROOKS
DARRELL GOODE
FREDDYE DAVIS
DR. SATIA AUSTIN
REGINA CRAWFORD
ODESSA LEFRANCOIS
Area Director, North Area Director, Southwest
Area Director, West
Area Director, Southeast
Area Director, Central
Area Director, Coastal
NAACP CA/HI COMMITTEE CHAIRS & AT LARGE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ANNA HOPKINS
SEDRICK SPENCER
LAWANDA LYONS PRUITT
SHUNNON THOMAS
BOBBY BIVENS
LAWANDA WESLEY
RACHAEL GIBSON
Communications Chair (ex-officio)
Community Coordination Chair
Compliance Chair
Criminal Justice Chair
Economic Development Chair
Education Chair
Environmental Justice Chair
JOONE KIM-LOPEZ
ALPHONSO BRAGGS
CYNTHIA ADAMS
PAMELA FERRAN
DAVE SMITH
RON HASSON
JONATHAN BUTLER
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ABOUT THE NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
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