NAACP Banquet Focuses on Economic Empowerment SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer
The African-American community needs to focus more on economic self-empowerment in order to reap multiple benefits, the keynote speaker at the Arlington NAACP’s annual dinner told attendees. “Your dollar goes a long way – longer than you may know. If you change the economic status of a community, you can change a lot of things,” said Joe Dillard Jr., president of the Norfolk branch of the NAACP and vice president of the organization’s state conference, in remarks at the 70th annual Arlington Freedom Fund Banquet, held Oct. 29 at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club. Dillard, who has been active in economic-development issues both with the NAACP and in the Hampton Roads area, said African-Americans lag other groups in supporting businesses within their communities. “I’m not saying diversity is wrong; it’s not,” he told a gathering of about 200 civic and community leaders. “[But] if we don’t recognize where home is, where’s outrue power? How can you really empower your community when your dollar doesn’t stay there?” The Arlington NAACP was founded in 1940, and continues its work to “help balance the scales of injustice,” organization president Karen Nightengale said.
NDI
“It’s important for us to have these moments,” Nightengale said of the annual gathering. “We have a great, great membership. Stay strong, stay connected. We can do more together than we can ever do apart.” On hand to show support were members of the Arlington County Board and School Board, as well as constitutional officers and state legislators. NAACP members are “dedicated, determined and will not rest until justice is done,” County Board Chairman Libby Garvey said. Appropriately for a presidential-election year, the Arlington NAACP’s top honor – the Charles P. Monroe Civil Rights Award – was bestowed on Tyra Baker-Thompson, an Arlington native who serves on the staff of the Arlington office of elections and long has been active in community-revitalization efforts in the Nauck community, where her family operates Chinn-Baker Funeral Home. Baker-Thompson is “a woman who works tirelessly in this county,” Nightengale said. (The award is named in honor of the late County Board member Charles P. Monroe, who came from a long line of civic leaders in the community.) Receiving the Willard W. Brittain Community Appreciation Award was Pauline Ellison, herself long active in the community in areas as diverse at the Inter-Service Club Council, The Links Inc.,
Above, Arlington NAACP president Karen Nightengale with Charles P. Monroe Civil Rights Award recipient Tyra Baker-Thompson. At right, Stacie Brown leads the assemblage in song.
NAACP, Urban League, United Negro College Fund and Arlington Civil Service Commission. Saluted with the Henry L. Holmes Meritorious Service Award was the Zeta Chi Omega chapter of the Kappa Alpha Kappa sorority. Deborah Carpenter Brittain was honored with the President’s Award for Distinguished Service. William White Sr. and Jimmie Jukes were presented with honorary life memberships for their service to NAACP. The ceremony also featured presenta-
tion of Willard Woodson “Woody” Brittain Jr. Scholarships to Arlington students Gene Jones (attending the University of Virginia) and Helen Nowlin and Kofi Roberts (attending Hampton University). “Education is one of the key factors the NAACP works very hard at every year,” Nightengale said. The banquet committee was chaired by Kent Carter. Receiving a special honor was Julius Spain Sr., the Arlington NAACP’s first vice president, who recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps. Spain plans to stay in Arlington during retirement, and “as long as I have a breath in my body, I’m going to continue” working in support of the NAACP, he said.
new dimensions inc. C u s t o m H o m e s s i n C e 1988
Meet The Builder
Saturday, November 5th from 10 a.m. – 12 Noon Open For Showings Sat. & Sun. 12 Noon – 4 p.m. Join us for the Oakcrest Middle School theatrical production of The Velveteen Rabbit, a classic heart-warming story about a very shy toy rabbit who longs for nothing more than to become real.
Friday, November 4, 2016 7:30 p.m.
“The Fairlington”
©NDI
Meet the Builder • Meet the Lender Meet the Engineer • Meet the Site Contractor
Priced From $339,900* 3542 Sq. Feet • 4 Bedrooms • 3.5 Baths
Saturday, November 5, 2016 11 a.m. Matinee* & 7:30 p.m. Based on the story by Margery Williams Adapted by Anita Larsen Music and Lyrics by Bill Francoeur Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado
$10 per ticket
Think building a home is out of your reach? Come learn about how you can make it happen.
Children 5 and under free Purchase Tickets at Oakcrest.org
The Fairlington model is located at 2841 Fairmont Street, Falls Church, VA.
* Group Packages available for matinee show
Take Advantage of Our Current Pricing – 2016 Prices Expire on 11/15! * Lot, Site Development, & Utilities Not Included
NDICustomHomes
NDICustomHomes
New Dimensions Inc.
sales@newdimensionsinc.com • 1-800-406-8555 15379 NDI Fairlington SG Ad.indd 1
10/24/16 2:50 PM
www.insidenova.com
850 Balls Hill Road • McLean, VA 22101 Oakcrest.org An independent school for girls in grades 6-12 guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church. Permanent Campus in Vienna Opens Fall 2017
November 3, 2016 3