Written by Tanya Terry
Saturday, October 8, the date of the 41st Annual Freedom Fund Dinner for the Flint Branch NAACP, is fast approaching! Frances Gilcreast, president of the Flint Branch NAACP, talked to the Courier and confirmed on September 28 tickets are still available!
This theme for this year’s dinner is “NAACP: This is Power!” This is also the national theme.
Gilcreast said the NAACP has been rumored to be not needed anymore. Gilcreast stated this is not the case. She said, therefore, “NAACP: This is Power” is the NAACP’s statement.
“We are power,” she expressed. “That’s our statement to the world. We’re still relevant. There’s still discrimination and a lot of other things going on that hinder the minority population from achieving their dream in society. That is the purpose behind the theme.”
It’s been a busy year for the Flint Branch NAACP, especially in the complaint area.
“We’ve gotten a lot of complaints,” Gilcreast said. “We try to address those. We’ve been trying to educate the community about the upcoming election during voter registration. We’ve also been taking care of our internal business.”
The majority of the complaints the Flint Branch NAACP gets are centered around the loss of a job and discrimination on the job. Gilcreast stated they also may even include complaints of being beaten up at the police station.
Gilcreast pointed out the Flint Branch NAACP has only one fundraiser each year.
Since the pandemic, the Flint Branch NAACP has been trying different ways to get people engaged in the Freedom Fund Dinner.
Last year, the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner was part in-person and part virtual.
For those uncomfortable with attending an in-person event, there are options this year, as well. Online viewing and advertising will be available.
The speaker, Former Mayor Dr. Karen Weaver, will address the event’s theme. Dr. Weaver is a life member of the branch. She was also the Freedom Fund chair for several years.
“We’re waiting to hear what she has to say about power!”
The NAACP’s Afro–Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympic (ACT-SO) is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate and encourage high academics and cultural achievement among African American high school students. Gilcreast said an ACT-SO presentation is being planned.
This year’s dinner is being held in October, instead of March as it typically is. So, Gilcreast is hoping students can still attend.
ACT-SO includes 33 competitions in STEM, humanities, business and performing, visual and culinary arts.
“We had a couple of winners at the national competition.”
The Flint Branch NAACP has awarded three scholarships for the year. One was based on need. One was based on community service. The other was based on merit. A nontraditional student scholarship was offered but not applied for this year, according to Gilcreast.
Each scholarship winner’s name will be on the event program. The awardees are invited to attend the event.
The C. Fred Robinson Civil Rights Award will be awarded to UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. The award is named after the branch’s former civil rights attorney. Robinson served in the role for approximately 30 years.
Dinner will be prepared and presented for the black-tie affair.
Gilcreast said to support the event is to support the NAACP, its mission and the work of those within the organization. The local branch does not receive federal dollars or from the national office.
the 40th Annual Freedom Fund Dinne
“We don’t get paid for the work we do in the community, as far as voter registration, as far as voter education, as far as any of the things we do. “
The VIP reception begins at 5 p.m., and the dinner starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 8.
This black-tie gala will be held at Gateway Centre, 5353 Gateway Centre Dr., in Flint. Tickets are $100. To reserve tickets, call (810) 742-8622.
