Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. —RUTLAND—The Rutland Area NAACP will hold its annual Freedom Fund Brunch at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland. Held over Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, the event celebrates racial and social justice achievements and honors the legacy of Dr. King and the NAACP.
This year’s theme, “love,” highlights the foundation of justice and progress. Branch president Mia Schultz remarked, “Love fuels our work, strengthens our community, and honors the legacy of Dr. King. Together, through love in action, we move closer to equity and hope.”
Honorees and keynote speaker
The event will feature Vermont Racial Equity Director Xusana Davis as the keynote speaker. Honorees include:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rev. Arnold Isidore Thomas, B.A., M.Div., D.Min.
Community Service Award: Maggie Ganguly, executive director of the Rutland County Restorative Justice center
Youth in Action Award: Emily Maikoo, Mount Anthony Union High School senior
Executive Leadership Award: John McKenna, branch treasurer
Proceeds from sponsorships and ticket sales will support the Vermont State University Castleton Campus NAACP Chapter, Vermont’s only collegiate NAACP chapter.
Highlights of 2024 Accomplishments
In 2024, the Rutland Area NAACP made significant strides across various initiatives.
Community Engagement: Sponsored Vermont’s first combined Juneteenth/Pride event and co-hosted Juneteenth celebrations in Bennington and Manchester. Partnered with the American Red Cross to raise awareness of sickle-cell anemia and supported the Bright Power Fellowship to prepare BIPOC Vermonters for leadership roles.
Justice and Education: Advocated for police reform, collaborated with Vermont Law School on racial justice discussions, and sponsored workshops to improve financial literacy for BIPOC communities.
Arts: Sponsored the unveiling of a commemorative statue on Rutland’s Sculpture Trail honoring Ernie and Willa Royal and supported the inaugural Black Fae Day in Vermont.
This community event is open to the public. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: naacprutland.org/freedomfund.
