SFAACC Juneteenth Celebration Luncheon - San Francisco Marriott Marquis

On June 16, 2017, the SF Community celebrated the history/legacy significance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Please recall that the document was signed by President Abraham Lincoln, dated January 1, 1863.

The Emancipation Proclamation was created/implemented to emancipate (free) 

African Americans/Negroes/Colored people - 

a group of people enslaved in these United States of America, used as human capital created to feed the fiery furnace of Capitalism, at its finest. 

The issue is, some how news of the significance of such a game changing document didn't reach the Southern state of Texas, until Juneteenth (the exact date is still being debated) - we do know that by June 19th, 1865, the news had reached the masses, thus the name of the day that we celebrate - Juneteenth.
So today, under the steady hands  of Frederick E. Jordan, PE, the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce - SFAACC celebrated Juneteenth, Southern Style, with some

California flavor, Honey.
Invocation: NAACPs Dr. Amos C. Brown, Pastor, Third Baptist Church San Francisco had everyone get on their feet, and sing the Negro Anthem: "Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing", and everyone sang with so much emotion. Then Rev. Brown blessed the food.
The Keynote Speaker was the brilliant Naomi Maria Kelly, Esq.,
 City Administrator, San Francisco.
Congratulations Awards recipients,
Gerald Johnson and Valerie Voorhies - Chairman's Pinnacle Award

Linda Crayton - Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert Lattimore - Community Service

Kaiser Permanente - Corporate Award

Danelle Tucker McGrue, Executive Board Member, and the multi-faceted, multi-talented
Cathy Adams,  CDA Consulting, put together an event that is worthy of being featured in an episode of Oprah's @GreenleafOWN - Okay?

Carla Thomas and Carolyn Tyler 

Carolyn Tyler, Anchor woman for ABC 7 Sunday Morning News at 5AM, 6AM and 9AM,
General Assignment reporter for ABC&
News at 5PM, and 6PM - did an excellent job as Mistress of Ceremonies. Carolyn Tyler has a sense of style and grace and made everyone feel as if they were welcomed into her home. So many people were in the house!

The Honorable Mayor Willie Brown 

The Honorable Mayor Willie Brown, was in the house, and he was very personable. Thank you for all that you've done, and what you continue to do for our people. Thank you for being you.

Derreck B. Johnson,
Owner, Home of Chicken and Waffles, &
Palazzo Concessions
and
Carla Thomas

The Honorable London Breed, President, San Francisco Board of Supervisors was in the house and celebrating Juneteenth as well!
Dr. Annette Shelton was in the house as well!

Thank you, Dr. Caesar Chruchwell for the honor of sitting at the table of Palazzo Concessions, with Michael E. Washington and his business associate, Derreck B. Johnson, owner/philanthropist of the restaurants Home of Chicken and Waffles *, with locations in Oakland, CA, Daly City, CA, Walnut Creek, CA. - Okay?
Go get you a plate of some Southern Comfort, right here in California!

Michael E. Washington was called on stage, by Danelle Tucker McGrew, Event Chair @SFAACC,
in recognition of his outstanding Community Service - Bravo!

Carla Thomas &
 Michael E. Washington, President,
Palazzo Concessions

Evita Thornton, SFAACC Juneteenth Business Awards Luncheon Committee, Finance & Budget
Carla Thomas and
Linda Fadeke Richardson, SFAACC Board Member, Juneteenth Committee,
Co-ordinated Awards, Elected Officials Manager,
Commissioner with the City and County of San Francisco, on the
BOD of Treasure Island Development Authority

I ran into two fabulous women that are pillars in the Community - 

Evita Thornton and Linda Fadeke Richardson. Ladies, you ROCK!

Thank you, Dr. Chruchwell, Frederick E. Jordan, PE,

Dr. Amos C. Brown,  Michael E. Washington, Linda Fadeke Richardson

and Cathy Adams CDA  for your commitment to the San Francisco and 

Greater BayArea Community.
 Juneteenth Business Awards Luncheon Committee
Danelle Tucker McGrue - Event Chair
Doug Parrish - Sponsorship Manager
Evita Thornton - Finance & Budget
Mathew Thomas - Fundraising
LindaFadeke Richardson - Elected Officials Manager
Barry Dow - Entertainment/City Officials Coordinator
Advisory
Hyacinth Ahuruonye
Frederick E. Jordan

Thank you, Brian McCleave, SVP and Nicholas Penland of Prudential
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
PSAV
Traci Joy Designs
Laniece Jones, LA Jones & Associates
Barbara Taylor, Volunteer Coordinator
Glass House Communications
Kevin Nichols
Sun Reporter
Michael DeFlorimonte, theREGISTRYBayArea.com
Aardvark Engraving
Invitation & Cover Design
Bouldin Graphics

Smooches,
Carla

Carolyn Tyler joined ABC7, in May 1986. Keep on shining Carolyn Tyler! Follow her Twitter @ctylerabc7
SFAACC - via the REGISTRY
Palazzo Concessions 

*Home of Chicken and Waffles

 SOUL FOOD AT IT'S BEST! Oakland: 444 Embarcadero
W. Walnut Creek: 1653 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Daly City: 59A Serramonte Ctr.www.homeofchickenandwaffles.com

Come Celebrate Juneteenth w/ BALA in Leimert Park - LA, CA - June 17-18, 2017!

Come learn more about American History and celebrate Juneteenth - the month that African American people, held in captivity, for 12 generations, enslaved in these United States of America, were emancipated (freed) in a document called The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by 

President Abraham Lincoln - the year? 1863 (January, 1). 

BUT the news didn't reach Texas until Juneteenth (historians are still debating over the actual date that the news reached Texas, so to be safe, we know that they got the news no sooner then June 13th, but no later then June 19th, thus the name, Juneteenth)1865.

Keep in mind, back then, there was no Facebook, SnapChat, YouTube, Twitter, Yahoo, or Google, so news traveled slowly....Come, bring your family, and Celebrate our Freedom in the historic Leimert Park district, in Southern California.  You'll be glad that you got a chance to celebrate an integral part of American History -
 African American History.  

For more details, please contact Moza Mjasiri Cooper @
www.blackartslosangeles.org 

Check out the video of previous #BALA Juneteenth Festivals!
Come on out and feel the love!

#BALA #Juneteenth #Family #AfricanAmericanHistory #AmericanHistory #LeimertPark @mydayinla

Congratulations, M! Introducing Mater Dei High School - Class of 2017 Valedictorian!

Marianna McDevitt,
 Mater Dei Class of 2017, Valedictiorian

Congratulations is in order for the entire
Mater Dei High School Class of 2017 for a job well done! I've never seen so many students with 4.0 grade point averages. Awesome!
I must admit that my focal point is on the Mater Dei High School, Class of 2017 Valedictorian
(drum roll!)  - Introducing Ms. Marianna McDevitt -
an amazing, multi-talented, kind, and beautiful
young lady (inside and out). A young lady with true grit.

We want to show gratitude for all of the effort that went into making such a momentous occasion so special - 

Thank you, Ms. Frances Clare, Principal,
Mr. Patrick Murphy, President,
Mr. Gregory Dhuyvetter, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Reverend Gerald M. Horan, O.S.M. Vicar of Faith Formation, Diocese of Orange, Most Reverend Keven W. Vann, J.C.D., D.D. Bishop, Diocese of Orange,
for such a dignified seremony. 

M., all dressed up for Prom Night. Isn't she lovely?

Marie McDevitt, Marianna's grandmother, and M.,
Who's the tallest?

Marianna, or M., as I affectionaly call her, is the apple of her father's eye, and her mother and grandparents simply adore her. 

M., with the help of her parents, worked very hard, triumphing over adversity, staying focused, acheiving her goal.
Not only did she have to stay focused on

Mr. & Mrs. McDevitt w/ Marianna - nothing tops the love of grandparents! #grandparentsrock

school, missing her junior year due to an injury she sustained a concussion.  
During her Senior year,
she stepped up to the helms when there was a family illness, and took on the responsibility of helping her brother, Sean-Anthony, stay on task, getting to school on time, during his freshman year at #MaterDai High School. #sisterandbrotherfriendsforever

Avis, Marianna, and Brendan McDevitt
 @MaterDei Senior Awards
#McDevittFamilyRocks

Mom, Dad and Valedictiorian, M.!
#family #love 

M. and her big sister Amanda(r.) - (two #blessings),
celebrating M's Big Day!
#SistersForever 

 Mom, Avis, and Dad Brendan McDevitt, and big brother Jordan,
celebrating M's graduation.
What a nice surprise! #BestParentsEver 

The McDevitt Family
(Amanda is missing! She's away, @Yale University.
See beautiful Amanda in the next photo ↙)

Amanda, Sean-Anthony, Marianna, and Jordan
#McDevittFamilyRocks

l to r, Proud Mom, Avis, M, and God-Mom, Carla Thomas. 

M., with your determination, dedication and serious skills, you did it!
Our ancestors would be so proud of you. 
So many of us love you, and you've made our hearts glad.
With all my heart I wish you much more continued success, Beautiful One.
Keep on pushing forward. Keep on shining! 

"Out of the huts of history's shame - I rise,
Up from a past that's rooted in pain - I rise...
I rise. I rise, I rise." - Dr. Maya Angelou

With so much love & light, 
Your God-Mom, Carla

#family #goodparenting #love #educationiskey #MaterDeiHighSchoolClassof2017 #gomgo #firstafricanamericanvalevictorian #brilliancerunsdeep