On Behalf of the
2021 Virtual Freedom Fund Gala
Committee & the entire
Cherokee County NAACP Membership
We would like to extend an heartfelt
Thank You,
to all of the participants, Sponsors, Attendees, Friends and the Cherokee County Community for their support and participation in our inaugural event! We look forward to serving you throughout the rest of the year and your continued support of our efforts in our county.
We hope to see you again next year!
Our Great Sponsors
Our 2021 Virtual Freedom Fund Gala Official Replay Video
Keynote Speaker:
Stacey Abrams
Stacey Abrams is a political leader, voting rights activist and New York Times bestselling author. After serving for eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Democratic Leader, in 2018, Abrams became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, winning at the time more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. Abrams was the first black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States, and she was the first black woman and first Georgian to deliver a Response to the State of the Union. After witnessing the gross mismanagement of the 2018 election by the Secretary of State’s office, Abrams launched Fair Fight to ensure every American has a voice in our election system through programs such as Fair Fight 2020, an initiative to fund and train voter protection teams in 20 battleground states. Over the course of her career, Abrams has founded multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training and hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at both the state and national levels. In 2019, she launched Fair Count to ensure accuracy in the 2020 Census and greater participation in civic engagement, and the Southern Economic Advancement Project, a public policy initiative to broaden economic power and build equity in the South.
Our 2021 Theme
"Healing the Soul of America: Our Path Forward"
Our theme for this year was chosen after a lot of thought and prayer regarding the circumstances we have seen and faced in these last two years.
Just A Few Words
About The Event
The Freedom Fund Banquet is our primary fundraiser, supporting programming, activism and outreach, as well as branch scholarships, our social-justice internship program, economic development efforts, and voter education and advocacy.
We do that by addressing issues in our community related to education, equity, labor and economic disparities, voting rights, housing opportunity, access to health care, and environmental and criminal justice.
These funds allow us to fulfill the NAACP’s mission to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
Our
Participants
Stacey
Abrams
Founder
Fair Fight Action
Keynote Speaker
Maya
Penn
Entrepreneur, Artist, Animator
Environmental & Social Activist,
TED Talk Speaker, & Author
Speaker
Fred
Blankenship
News Anchor
Channel 2 Action News
Master of Ceremony
Christian
Awong
Recording Artist
Vocal Performance
Doreen
Ketchens
Bandleader & Clarinet Artist
Musical Performance
Marques
Harvey
Pastor
Greater Mount Carmel AME Church
Spoken Word Performance
Regina
Jackson
Recording Artist
Vocal Performance
Barbara
Pierce
President
NAACP Georgia
Speaker
Dexter
Benning
2nd Vice President
NAACP Georgia
Speaker
Reginald T.
Jackson
Bishop
African American Episcopal Church
Sixth Episcopal District
Words of Encouragement
Bill
Grant
Mayor
Canton, Georgia
Local Greetings
Donnie
Henriques
Mayor
Woodstock, Georgia
Local Greetings
Dr. Joseph N.
Cousin Sr.
President
Cherokee County NAACP 5651
Pastor - Allen Temple AME Church
Speaker
Keshia
Shepherd
1st Vice President
Cherokee County NAACP 5651
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Gloria
Penn
Committee Chair
2021 Virtual Freedom Fund Gala
2nd Vice President
Cherokee County NAACP 5651
Rev. Rebecca M.
Blackwell
Mission Coordinator &
Teaching Elder
Cherokee Presbytery Church
Invocation
Archie
Doswell
Health Committee Chair
Cherokee County NAACP 5651
Introduction of Master of Ceremony
Debbie
Ellison
Education Chair
Cherokee County NAACP 5651
Recognition of Sponsors
Willie Mae
Crump
Membership Chair
Cherokee County NAACP 5651
Awards Presentation
A Few Words
About Our Organization
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has had an unbroken presence in Georgia since 1917. The Georgia NAACP maintains a network of branches throughout Georgia, from cities to small rural counties.
The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
Trusted Hands Behind Us
Our Great Sponsors
2021 Virtual Freedom Fund Gala
Although this event has passed, it is not too late to make a financial or time commitment to your community! Click “Learn More” to find out how!
Cherokee County NAACP
Cherokee County NAACP
225 Parkway 575
Unit 1197
Woodstock, GA 30188