NAACP Freedom Fund banquet highlights
The annual event saw local leaders receive awards and Cong. Maxwell Frost deliver the keynote address.
More than 200 guests attended the 43rd annual Marion County NAACP Branch Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet held April 25 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place in Ocala. The event is a major fundraiser for the branch. It included the presentation of four notable awards.
Lena Hopkins, senior manager of pro bono services for Community Legal Services of Mid- Florida, Inc., received the Community Service Uplift Award in recognition of “25 years dedicated to serving low-income and vulnerable Floridians,” and membership on numerous local non- profits, according to the banquet program.
Hopkins said she was “privileged to make a difference for many in our community and will continue the good fight.”
Marcus Alexander was recognized with the Minority Business Award for his work with Quad Nurse, LLC, established in 2008, which provides “compassionate and competent care” for people with permanent disabilities, the program stated.
The Rev. Estella Ford was presented with the Positive Social Awareness Award for her “compassion, community service and outreach” through Soul Harvest International Ministries, which she established in 1995.
Ford said the outreach provides hot meals to people, including homeless families with children, and T-shirts, and serves areas including West Ocala, Silver Springs and Ocklawaha. She said it is a “pleasure” to serve, and that the feeding ministry has “only missed one Saturday in 30 years.”
Jamie Gilmore, co-founder of Kut Different, received the NAACP President’s Award. He was hailed by current branch President Rev. Jerone Gamble for “uplifting young men” and acting as a “change agent.”
The nonprofit Kut Different is a mentorship/student support and development organization for youth mainly from single parent households. KUT Different has about 125 youth in programs.
“This is a huge honor. I love Ocala and I love our youth,” Gilmore said.
The keynote speaker was Cong. Maxwell Frost, who represents District 10 of Central Florida.
Frost said he felt a “call to action” to join politics after meeting some of the relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings a number of years ago.
During his address, Frost accused the Trump administration of eroding Americans’ Constitutional freedoms. Frost, 28, the self-described “youngest member of Congress,” expressed concern about measures by the administration that might impact Social Security, Medicare or voting rights.
He indicated that recently publicized cases of immigrants accused by the administration of illegal entry or having gang ties and being deported to El Salvador raised questions of denial of “civil rights” and lack of “due process.”
“Black people are disproportionately impacted,” in attacks on voting rights and other federal programs including cuts in DEI or diversity, equality and inclusion programs, Frost said.
He spoke of seeing the “world through the eyes of the most vulnerable.”
“The Trump administration is trying to rip away things people have fought for,” Frost said. He added that erosion of voting rights could “take away democracy.”
“Where are the adults?,” he asked, referring to scenes of Elon Musk with a chain saw touting DOGE governmental expense cuts as one means to enable “tax cuts to large corporations.”
Frost acknowledged after his talk that he has concerns about possible “racial profiling” in recent rashes of immigration related arrests.
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano, City Councilman Ire Bethea and City Manager Pete Lee were guests at the banquet. Rev. Eric Cummings, vice chair of the Marion County School Board, spoke, and Robert L. Stevenson Jr., a University of Florida professor of African studies, served as master of ceremonies. Javarius “Jay” Morant Jr., a member of the branch’s Youth Council, introduced Frost.
Freedom Fund Committee Chair Barbara Fitos said these are “unprecedented times” of attacks on “bedrock principles.”
“We will not be silenced; we will not go back,” she said.
The NAACP dates back to 1909 and the organization’s mission statement includes achieving “equity, political rights and social inclusion.” Marion County Branch 5114 was established in 1923 and currently has 182 members.
Herman H. Brown, branch membership chair, spoke of the organization remaining active while other organizations supporting similar causes have faded.
Gamble said after the banquet that Frost’s talk was “outstanding and on point.”
When asked about the biggest challenge the local NAACP branch is facing, Gamble responded, “membership.”
To learn more, go to FB.com/NAACPofMarionCounty
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