Local
NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Looks to Move “Forward Together, Backwards Never”
Keynote speaker, Mrs. Mary D. Williams is an educator who uses her unique talent of blending history, song, and knowledge of current events to engage audiences across generations.
The Warren County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will hold its annual Freedom Fund Banquet at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the Warren County Armory and Civic Center, located at 501 US HWY 158 Business East, Warrenton, NC.
This year’s theme, “Forward Together, Backwards Never,” honors our past, celebrates our accomplishments, and motivates us to move forward together in solidarity. The Freedom Fund Banquet is the Branch’s primary fundraising effort that supports activism, outreach, and scholarship opportunities for students.
Keynote speaker, Mrs. Mary D. Williams, is an educator who uses her unique talent of blending history, song, and knowledge of current events to engage audiences across generations. As an educator, Mrs. Williams facilitates graduate level seminars throughout the state and region. As a powerhouse gospel singer and historian, reminiscent of Mahalia Jackson, Williams’ stage presence commands attention as she melds power with perseverance through her unique delivery.
Tickets are available for purchase for $50. Color ad spaces are available for purchase, ranging in price from $25 to $200. Sponsorship opportunities are available and contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated. We ask that all contributions be sent to Warren County NAACP, PO Box 604, Warrenton, NC 27589 by September 5, 2024.
For more information, please contact LaTonya Andrews-Hunter, (910) 546-1643, lrandrewshunter@gmail.com or Dr. Cosmos George, (252) 213-2310, cng50_secut@yahoo.com.
Local
Soul City Homecoming Set for Sept. 21
The First Annual Soul City Homecoming will be focused on fun, family, and legacy.
Mark your calendars for a day filled with celebration, community spirit, and family fun at the First Annual Soul City Homecoming on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The festivities will kick off at 10:00am with a parade in the “Heart of Soul City,” in the Green Duke Village at what is now known as The McKissick Soul City Civil Rights Center.
Scheduled parade highlights include the Warren County High School Pep Band, a car show, and the Soul City Fire Department. The parade will conclude near the corner of Liberation Road and Soul City Boulevard.
The show will begin at 11:00am at the “Entertainment Tent” with Baba Felix and the Jimbe Drummers. Local poets and musicians including Jasme’ Kelly, and also a DJ will perform throughout the festivities.
Along with entertainment, attendees can enjoy free food, door prizes, and games for both kids and adults. Several community and civic organizations will also be present to connect with festival goers.
This event will also serve as a time to reflect on the history and legacy of Soul City.
Neighboring communities such as Manson and Ridgeway are invited to come together to commemorate the founders and members of Soul City, to honor their contributions, and to keep their memories alive.
Local
Food, Fun, and Voting: ‘Catering to the Community’ Serves Delicious Eats (with a Side of Civic Engagement) to Warrenton
The event was a place for great food and information to prepare for the upcoming election.
The Front Porch Grocery Co-op, in partnership with Turner Brothers Media LLC and Pink with a Passion, hosted “Catering to the Community,” a street food festival and voter registration drive on Saturday, September 7th in the parking lot of the forthcoming Mag’s Marketplace in Warrenton, NC.
Attendees gathered at the festival to enjoy a variety of vendors selling everything from made-to-order fry bread, Indian tacos, and fried fish dinners to assorted desserts and also candles. Children kept busy with cornhole, a bouncy house (Sisterly Dreams Co.), and face painting.
In addition to the delicious food, attendees were also provided with voter information from various political parties, encouraged to register to vote, and offered voter identification cards if they did not have a proper ID, courtesy of the Warren County Board of Elections who were on-site.
It’s important to note that voters will be required to show valid identification to vote in this year’s election.
Need to register to vote? Visit vote.gov.
Check your voter registration status at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
For more information about The Front Porch Grocery Co-op and how to get involved, visit them on Facebook @TheFrontPorchCoop.
Local
PHOTOS: 3rd Annual Dinner Off Main
The third annual Dinner Off Main ushered in the Labor Day weekend with food, music, and fellowship — all for a great cause.
The third annual Dinner Off Main ushered in the Labor Day weekend with food, music, and fellowship — all for a great cause.
Patricia Jones Crosson, a Warren County native and owner of BriCie Events, introduced the idea of Dinner Off Main as a way to thank her supporters for donating to the Virginia Levister scholarship. The scholarship was named in honor of a former guidance counselor at John Graham High who encouraged and financially supported Crosson when she was a student and credits her for the trajectory of her life.
This year’s recipients of the Virginia Levister scholarship were: MacKenzie Stallings (UNC-Wilmington); Clariza Ramirez (UNC-Chapel Hill); and Gabriela Vela-Leos (East Carolina University), all which received $450 to use towards their studies.
Not only did the name of the scholarship hold meaning for Crosson, but also the location: South Bragg Street. Crosson’s father, Frank Jones was a fireman for the Plummer Hook and Ladder Fire Department. As a child, she attended Warrenton Baptist Church and when she returned to Warren County to work, she lived in the house next door to the church.
If you missed this year’s Dinner Off Main or want to relive the moment, peep the photos below:
Thank you, Patricia Jones Crosson for creating a unique dining experience while assisting college-bound students in Warren County!
To learn more about Patricia Jones Crosson and her inspiration behind Dinner Off Main, watch the video below:
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