GEORGIA NAACP PRESIDENT GERALD GRIGGS HEADLINES DEKALB NAACP UNITY BREAKFAST.
The annual Unity Breakfast, hosted by the NAACP Dekalb Branch, took place on April 29th at the House of Hope in Decatur. With the theme of "Mobilizing for Justice – Working Together for a Better Future," the event aimed to update the community on pertinent issues and inspire greater community involvement in the fight for freedom. Serving as the event's lively and affable MC was Rodney Harris, the meteorologist and traffic anchor for Atlanta News First.
To commence and conclude the event, the Southwest DeKalb High School NJROTC presented a disciplined demonstration, adding a sense of order and pride. Additionally, Niambi Powell, a 4th grader at Browns Mill Elementary School, delivered a delightful rendition of a song from the movie Moana, adding a touch of charm to the gathering.
Following a delectable breakfast, Dr. Freda Hammonds presented the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACTSO) Awards to deserving recipients. The winners, across 29 categories encompassing sciences, humanities, business, performing and visual arts, as well as local and national entrepreneurship and culinary competitions, were honored with gold, silver, and bronze medals, alongside cash awards.
The keynote speaker for the event was Attorney Gerald Griggs, the President of the Georgia NAACP GA State Conference. In his address, Attorney Griggs emphasized the role of each generation in the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality. He encouraged the next generation to step forward and actively pursue tangible change. The full keynote speech can be heard here: [insert YouTube link].
Closing the event, Lance Hammonds, President of the NAACP Dekalb, delivered his concluding remarks, expressing gratitude to the sponsors who made the event possible. The list of sponsors included Amazon, Dekalb County Probate Court and Judge Bedelia C. Hargrove, Georgia Power, American Family Insurance, Representative Becky Evans, Author and CEO Michael L. Thurmond, and Congressman Hank Johnson.