By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
A winter storm looming outside did not deter a large crowd from attending the 15th annual Northern Kentucky NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Outreach Luncheon Monday at the Newport Syndicate.
Northern Kentucky NAACP president Jerome Bowles delivers opening remarks at the annual NKY NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Outreach Luncheon Monday. Bowles said the theme, “Building a New Movement for a New Generation, is fitting, conidering the issues facint the country right now (photos by Mark Hansel).
The theme of this year’s event was “Building a New Movement for a New Generation,” which Northern Kentucky NAACP President Jerome Boles said is right in line with some of the major issues in the nation today.
‘We are looking for many voices to help come up with solutions to overcome any obstacles that we have, to move our nation forward,” Bowles said. “Dr. King’s dream has become a reality here at the Newport Syndicate.”
In his address, Bowles said Dr. King is known for many statements, but the one that resonates with him at this time in our country is, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
“We should all continue to fight for an equal educational opportunity for everyone,” Bowles said. “We should always set high standards of moral values, character, integrity, honesty and being an outstanding leader by example. We should always have a sincere commitment and dedication to the betterment of humanity and not undermine the major institutions that our nation is built on.”
The American dream is only realized, he said, when people help raise each other up.
“If I’m successful, I want others to be successful as well because that only pulls our country up,” Bowles said. “If you want to be first, you must learn to not treat others as second, or as if they have no class at all, because in our society we can intentionally, or unintentionally demonstrate that. There must be a commitment to justice, equality and prosperity for all.”
The Hall family of Erlanger/Elsmere were among the more than500 people that attended the MLK luncheon. Left to right are Dante Hall Sr., Katrina Hall Malikai Brennan, 11, Tayzirah Toran 17 and Dante Hall Jr., 7, who flawlessly delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech at the event.
Bowles also thanked the sponsors from throughout the region for their continued support of the event.
Cary Graham, manager, community relations and sponsorships for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said the organization is honored to help further the mission of the Northern Kentucky NAACP.
“We support this event and we also support the Freedom Fund Gala, which is the fall event,” Graham said. “We are working on a new proposal with the Northern Kentucky chapter to provide scholarships in 2019 for this event and the Freedom Fund Gala.”
Katrina Hall, who’s son Dante Hall Jr., 7, delivered Dr. King’s “I have a Dream” speech, said despite the challenges facing the country today, the message of those words still resonates.
“His fight is not in vain,” said Hall. “Everyone should be treated equally and we all should be seen not as black or white, but as one race – the human race.”
Jack Moreland, president of Southbank Partners, echoed that sentiment, but said it seems, at times, that our society has not learned much from the mistakes of the past.
“It’s very fitting with the culture that we have today in both Frankfort and Washington, that we continue to honor the life and message of Dr. King,” Moreland said. “We have to learn how important it is for everyone to have a say and to be valued equally.”
Keynote speaker Eric Kearney, president/CEO of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky NAACP, talked about the importance of cultivating the next generation of African American leaders.
In his opening remarks, Newport City Manager Tom Fromme, praised members of the community for keeping the dream of preserving an important piece of local African American history, the Southgate Street School, alive. The building, which was purchased in 1870 as a school for African American Children was rededicated as the Newport History Museum in November.
“It’s always been an important structure in the City of Newport,” Fromme said. “That project is very important and keeping the building is nothing short of miraculous and it took a lot of money for (supporters of the project) to carry that on their backs all these years.”
Eric H. Kearney President/CEO of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky NAACP, was the keynote speaker. He has been an active member of the NAACP since he was 14 year old and has served as General Counsel and First Vice President of the Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP.
Kearney has also served as a State Senator in Ohio and was Senate Minority Leader. He championed a number of causes, including adoption, children’s health, small business development and pension reform. He annually led a 107-mile walk from Cincinnati to Columbus to highlight children’s health issues and, in 2014, walked the entire length of Ohio to bring attention to the cause.
Kearney said he was asked to speak on the theme of “Building a New Movement” and as a businessperson and a former politician he came prepared with what he called the three “I” plan – invest in new leadership, instill values, and concentrate on issues, big and local.
“We are at a crisis, in my opinion, about leadership,” Kearney said. “The succession planning in our community has not been the best. Perhaps it’s because we’ve been working so hard just to make a living that we never thought about what comes after us.”
He credited Dr. King for providing successors, such as Julian Bond, Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson, that continued to move civil right issues forward after his death.
“After President Obama who do we think of as the next leader, let’s say, in the African community?” he asked. “We, of course, have Derrick Johnson, who is the national president of the NAACP, but we need to invest more in leadership.”
He spoke about attending an event in Chicago where he learned how leaders there organized fundraisers, identified a candidate and continued to support him as he rose from the State Senate to prominence on the national stage. That man was President Barack Obama.
“Here at the NAACP, which it sounds like you are already doing under Mr. Bowles’ leadership, we have to raise up the youth and get them involved in the branch and have them go forward,” Kearney said. “We have to let them lead and we have to spend time with them nurturing their talent and provide them with relevant tasks…so they can hone their skills and be the leaders of tomorrow.”
Kearney spoke of health issues that impact the African American community at much higher rates than other races. He also spoke about a lack of respect and confidence in, and support for, African Americans, within the black community.
Now a partner in the in the law firm of Kearney and Kearney LPA, Kearney recalled that in his first year as a partner in another firm a prominent African American businessman came into his law office. The man began to explain myriad problems in his business and Kearney believed it was an opportunity for him to distinguish himself in the firm and provide assistance to a leader in the African American community. Kearney introduced him to some partners in the firm who could help with some of the issues and the meeting was going so well, Kearney asked him for a $10,000 retainer to secure the firm’s services.
It was at this point that the man told Kearney he was not looking for representation from the firm, but wanted him to provide the name of some good lawyers who could help him with his issues.
Kearney was devastated.
“We do that to our business people all the time,” Kearney said. “We don’t support our African American businesses. We have the resources to change our communities.”
A highlight of the luncheon is always the presentation of scholarships, which this year included youths from five area schools and the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keeper of the Dream Award. The award is annually presented to an individual who has dedicated their time and efforts to improving the quality of life for all people in Northern Kentucky through community service and education.
This year’s recipient was Staff Sgt. Stewart Lee, an Army medic who provided assistance to a Covington Police officer injured in December while attempting to apprehend a suspect. Sgt. Lee has returned to active duty at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, but his mother, Gloria Young, accepted the award on his behalf.
To view a short video of Monday’s event, click here.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
