Last week, Osceola County’s NAACP hosted its Influential and Impactful Black Leaders Recognition banquet, where 16 Osceola County community leaders in were recognized for their accomplishments and work in the community, as they continue to lift others to involved and to make an impact in Osceola County.
Dr. Amanda Wilkerson, Osceola’s chapter president, shared the purpose of this event by stating, “The purpose of the event is to recognize African American leaders in Osceola County that focus on expanding our knowledge and contributions of modern day. What we wanted to do was gather those people, recognize them, and get them to fold their work back into the NAACP. Using us as a vehicle to their social justice roles.”
One of the recipients, Dr. Matthew Quainoo, Pastor at Solid Rock Community Church, showed his gratitude for this recognition, but challenged attendees to remember the work still to be done.
“I feel like there’s a lot of work to be done. I feel like I appreciate these kinds of occasions, but it also makes me very nervous, because the intentions of these events from the NAACP is to get us together, to do more work. Not that the work is already done, and we are being rewarded. As I am a proud member of the NAACP, part of what I want to see is to take focus of social justice, by rewriting the systemic evils and injustices. Solid Rock is committed side-byside with the NAACP to rewrite systemic wrongs.” Another recipient, City of Kissimmee Commissioner Angela Eady, said, “I’m honored and blessed to be amongst such a great, enthusiastic, energetic and dedicated group of people whose vision is to bring the community together. A group that encompasses and encourages a better tomorrow than what currently exist today.”
As Commissioner Eady discussed the present feeling of receiving this award, she said she looks forward to the future of the NAACP.
“I hope to hear the voice and the power of the next generation get motivated and fired up to continue to advocate for justice and freedom for all,” she said. “Instead of having more seats at the table, let’s work on building more tables. Instead of always getting together, let’s commit to coming together.”
The message of the event was clear: as African American leaders who make a difference in the community, they look forward to the future, working on the issues of social justice, and encourage the community to get involved not just for Black History Month, but every day of the year.
