{"id":21315,"date":"2026-11-06T14:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=21315"},"modified":"2026-11-06T14:59:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:59:59","slug":"naacp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/06\/naacp\/","title":{"rendered":"The Toledo NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Banquet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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State Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, for Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and State Representative Erika White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Dawn Scotland<\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

The Toledo Chapter of The NAACP hosted its 111th<\/sup> Annual Freedom Fund Banquet Saturday, October 24, at the Premier Banquet Hall. Over 350 people attended the sold-out event that honored five distinguished community leaders and featured a keynote address by journalist Roland Martin, CEO of Black Star Network.<\/p>\n

The Freedom Fund Banquet is the signature event of the Toledo NAACP. \u00a0The unforgettable evening celebrates freedom, justice, progress and the power of the community. Every year, the evening joins together community leaders, advocates, supporters and friends of the NAACP to celebrate the work being done to advance civil rights and create a stronger Toledo.<\/p>\n

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Valerie Simmons Walston, ThD. The invocation was provided by Bishop Pat McKinstry, DMin, Worship Center Church, with the\u00a0 Black National Anthem (Lift Every Voice and Sing) performed by Khali Moore (National ACT-SO Participant). Welcome and acknowledgments from Simmons Walston were followed by the recognition of dignitaries by Toledo Branch President Darlene Sweeney-Newbern.<\/p>\n

Following dinner, Sweeney-Newbern presented awards to five distinguished leaders in the community:<\/p>\n

Candice Harrison – Trailblazer Award<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Candice L. Harrison, M.A.,<\/strong> is a nationally recognized inclusion, community impact and corporate social responsibility leader who serves as director of Inclusion & Community Impact at SSOE Group, a globally ranked architecture and engineering firm. In this role, she leads enterprise-wide strategies focused on inclusion, employee engagement, community impact, philanthropy and employee resource groups, helping align business success with meaningful social impact. She currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of Toledo, where she is the first African American to hold this role.<\/p>\n

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Evelyn Wilson- Senior Engagement and Community Impact Award<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Since retiring in 2013, Wilson has embraced life with a commitment to staying healthy, active and independent. She enjoys encouraging others to get up and get moving to exercise, dance, laugh and fellowship with others. Today, her group, known as “Women on The Move Cardio Line Dancers,” has grown to 150 members. An average of 65 to 80 participants come out to dance every Wednesday at the Wayman Palmer YMCA. And, as the name promises, they move! The group also raises funds and makes donations to the Wayman Palmer YMCA and supports breast cancer awareness.<\/p>\n

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Kathryn Tucker- Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Award<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Kathryn M. Tucker, J.D. <\/strong>currently serves as an adjunct professor of business law and American civics where she teaches students that democracy depends on citizens who know their rights and accept their responsibility to defend them. She is a builder who has founded two companies. With her husband, she co-founded Toledo’s Share Winery, a wine manufacturing and hospitality company in downtown, Toledo and an investment in the city’s economic and cultural future. She is also the founder and principal executive of The Fractional Firm, which provides executive leadership to organizations working through growth and change.<\/p>\n

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Davion Williams – The NAACP Emerging Youth Civil Rights Leader Award<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Davion Williams<\/strong> is a passionate community organizer and poet. He endeavors to raise the awareness of his community through advocacy and art. He became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha in 2022; in 2023, Williams became a nationally recognized orator after winning the National Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Competition at Alpha Phi Alpha’s 97th General Convention. The University of Toledo awarded Davion with the Dean’s Essay Prize for a short story he wrote about the consequences of sexual abuse of Black boys. During his senior year, he reactivated UT’s NAACP chapter and later served as President of the Toledo NAACP Youth Council. Williams graduated from the University of Toledo with a double major in Law and Social Thought and English in 2024. His other community work includes co-chairing the Toledo NAACP’s Legal Redress Committee, serving as the Ohio State Coordinator for Black Youth Vote the youth division of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and serving as the Election Protection Coordinator for Ohio Unity Coalition.<\/p>\n

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Deborah Barnett – Legacy Builder and Empowerment Award<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Deborah Barnett is a recognized community leader, certified life and business coach, speaker, consultant, and connector with more than 30 years of experience in community development and banking. Known for her ability to bring together people, businesses and resources, she has built a career around creating meaningful relationships, strengthening organizations, and turning ideas into action.<\/p>\n

Through her consulting company, N-SYNC, LLC, Barnett has collaborated with organizations and agencies throughout the Toledo community, including the City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods, Toledo Public Schools, ProMedica, the University of Toledo, the Area Office on Aging, Lucas County Children Services, the Toledo African American Chamber of Commerce, faith-based organizations and community coalitions.<\/p>\n

Khali Moore performed another uplifting selection and Judge Myron C. Duhart, Sixth District Court of Appeals, introduced keynote speaker Roland Martin.<\/p>\n

Martin urged all those present to \u201cgo harder.\u201d He emphasized the importance of the Black community to unify both before, during and after the election and to go beyond status quo to achieve the success that we desire as a people. Martin outlined current issues in our community and the political landscape, highlighting the many battles that we are fighting for in the midst of years of progress being rolled back in our modern times. His full speech can be viewed on his social media platforms (Black Star Network).<\/p>\n

Closing remarks , the acknowledgment of sponsors, committee members and volunteers were given by Sweeny Newbern with a closing benediction from Pastor Roger D. Carson, Jr. of Gracepoint Church.<\/p>\n

The NAACP Toledo Branch Officers include Darlene Sweeney-Newbern –\u00a0 president; Calvin W. Brown – 1st vice president; Monita Mungo, PhD – 2nd vice president; WilliAnn Moore – 3rd vice president; Doris Roberts \u2013 treasurer; Valerie Murphy \u2013 secretary; Kandice Saulsberry – assistant secretary and Willie Hall – sergeant-at-arms.<\/p>\n

The Freedom Fund Committee this year was Event Chairperson Calvin W. Brown and Event Co-Chairperson Verna Chears. To learn more about the Toledo Branch NAACP visit their website naacptoledo.org or social media pages @NAACPTOLEDO.<\/p>\n

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