The Freedom Institute, a separate entity intimately tied to the Detroit branch of the NAACP, is holding its annual Freedom Weekend of events to benefit the Metro Detroit Community from April 30 to May 2. On Thursday, the Institute hosted an all-day job fair all day at Fellowship Chapel Church on West Outer Drive.
Other events, held at both the Fellowship Chapel and the UAW-Ford National Program Center on W. Jefferson, include a Church/Labor Leadership Summit; a Faith Leaders HIV prevention training, a “Safety Fun & Fitness for Seniors” workshop, a “Power Economics Luncheon,” a Youth Empowerment Symposium, and a Town Hall meeting on the state of Detroit Education. On Sunday, May 3, the Detroit NAACP has its annual major fundraising dinner, with Vice-President Joe Biden as the keynote speaker.
Vice President Biden will deliver remarks at the 60th Annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. The Dinner will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at Cobo Conference Center in Detroit.
“We are extremely pleased that Vice President Joe Biden has accepted our invitation to come to the City of Detroit in celebration of the 60th Annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner,” says Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, President, Detroit Branch NAACP. “ As many may recall our first speaker was the Honorable Justice Thurgood Marshall. It is historically inspiring that 60 years later a tradition of excellence and outstanding achievement in the cause of freedom and justice will be continued by our Vice President. We invite everyone to share in this historic moment.”
The theme for this year’s dinner, “Celebrating Freedom: Measured by Practice, Treasured by Sacrifice,” pays homage to 50 years since the historic march in Selma (Bloody Sunday) that paved the way for the signing of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965.
“General Motors is honored to support the Detroit Branch NAACP and all that it does to promote diversity and inclusion in our community,” says Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors Company and 2015 Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner Senior Corporate Chair. “We salute Reverend Anthony and his team for their efforts. We are also excited to have Vice President Biden deliver remarks and witness firsthand the comeback and teamwork throughout the City of Detroit.“
Additionally, Rev. Anthony announced this year’s special awardees. They are:
- Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Michigan, 13th District), who will receive the James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award;
- Attorney Benjamin Crump, who will receive the Ida B Wells Freedom and Justice Award;
- Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU – Michigan, who will receive the Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice Award;
- Jessica Care Moore, Artist, Activist and Creator of Black Women Rock, who will receive the Great Expectations Award; and
- Kevin Tolbert, Executive Director, UAW-Ford, National Programs Center, who will receive the Great Expectations Award.
