Staten Island NAACP 100th Anniversary Celebration

Come join us in celebrating a century of community empowerment at the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Staten Island! This Freedom Fund Luncheon is especially meaningful as it will honor a century of the rich history and achievements of the NAACP Staten Island Branch. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow advocates, enjoy inspiring speeches, and commemorate the progress made since 1925. Let's continue to strive for justice and equality together!

During this festive celebration, our Youth Council will proudly unveil

A Century of Justice: A Century of Courage : Honoring Our Legacy,

Empowering Our Future

Staten Island NAACP 100th Anniversary Freedom Fund Luncheon

The Staten Island Branch of the NAACP proudly invites you to a monumental celebration: our 100th Anniversary!

Join us as we commemorate a century of relentless dedication to civil rights, social justice, and community empowerment on Staten Island. This landmark event is an opportunity to look back on our powerful history, support our current work, and invest in the next 100 years of the movement.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, November 8th
• Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Location: Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom, Staten Island

A Moment to Honor Our History and Heroes

This Freedom Fund Luncheon is the Staten Island NAACP's primary fundraising event, and this year, we are honored to recognize institutions and individuals whose work has profoundly shaped our borough's history and future:

2025 Honorees:

• Rossville AME Zion Church: The historic landmark, built in 1897, represents resilience, a safe haven for freedom seekers arriving from the South, and played a critical role in community life. The church remains in use and descendants of Sandy Ground are still members of the congregation.
• Sandy Ground Historical Society, Inc.: Staten Island's Sandy Ground served as a stop on the historic Underground Railroad and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States of America. The Historical Society preserves artifacts from the early years of Sandy Ground such as art, quilts, letters, photographs, film and rare books.
• Frederick Douglass Memorial Park: Commemorating an important historical landmark burial ground and the only extant, non-sectarian cemetery in New York City founded by and for African Americans

• Community Advocate NaiLah Simmons: Recognized for her unwavering dedication and service to the community.

Welcoming Speaker - We are honored to have L. Joy Williams, President of the New York State NAACP Conference of Branches and host of #SundayCivis, provide welcoming remarks for our Freedom Fund Luncheon.

Inspiration from Our Guest Speakers

We are excited to welcome distinguished Guest Speaker, Shawn'ae Dixon, an 8th-generation direct descendant of Sandy Ground, a professional chef whose culinary skills gained widespread recognition, leading to appearances on TV and catering for high-profile clients and events. Shawn'ae's House received the highest rating ever for a Staten Island restaurant, from The New York Times food critic Pete Wells. Her restaurant was also named one of New York's Best New Restaurants and ranked as the Staten Island Advance's Number One restaurant for 2024. Shawn'ae will share an inspiring message reflecting on the past century of activism and charting a course for continued progress.

AND

NAACP Youth and College NYS Conference President Myles Hollingsworth, a vibrant Gen-Z activist and community organizer, has served his community proudly fighting for social, juvenile, and education justice after learning of his parents’ survival of the October 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Myles has rallied statewide and national support behind critical issues including DEI expansion and intervention, conserving and protecting green spaces, cementing CRT and Black studies in schools, and passing gun violence prevention laws federally and statewide. Committed to transforming anger into advocacy, Myles’ work in the community has earned his words to be published in VICE, CBS, CRISIS Magazine, the Gothamist and awarded various awards and proclamations, including the NYS senate award on youth leadership. As a proud Howard University Student, President of the NAACP New York State Conference, and mentee of Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, Myles uses these spaces to combat injustice, build Black community, and pursue excellence like our Ancestors dreamed of.

Live entertainment provided by Staten Island's own Brighton Heights Reformed Church Youth Orchestra and world renown Mighty Kamm Band!

Your ticket and support are crucial. All proceeds directly fund the Staten Island NAACP's vital programs, legal advocacy, educational initiatives, and ongoing mission to eliminate race-based discrimination in our community.

Secure your seat at this historic celebration today!

About the Staten Island NAACP

Established in 1925, the Staten Island Branch of the NAACP has been at the forefront of the civil rights movement for 100 years. From its founding by William A. Morris Sr. to its present-day work as Unit No. 2227-B, the Branch continues to advance the mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

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