The Southern
Christian Leadership Council/Women, Inc. (SCLC/Women, Inc.) Celebrates its 35th
year of the Drum Major for Justice Awards Gala by honoring its Founder Dr.
Evelyn Gibson Lowery, and saluting the work of
First Lady
Michelle Obama and Sybrina Fulton, mother and Founder of the
Trayvon Martin Foundation
ATLANTA (March 11, 2014) - It is with great pride and excitement that
SCLC/Women, Inc., will host an evening that will honor three of our country’s
most inspirational women for their dedication, sacrifice and influence in the
community. The 35th annual,
Drum Major for Justice Awards Gala will pay tribute to its Founder, Dr. Evelyn
Gibson Lowery, and salute the work of First Lady Michelle Obama, and Sybrina
Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin and Founder of Trayvon Martin Foundation. The
gala will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 4, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta,
265 Peachtree St.
The Drum Major for Justice
Awards Gala commemorates the legacy and sacrifice of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., by providing a forum to recognize today's Drum Majors who are making
outstanding contributions in our community. Held on the anniversary of Dr.
King’s assassination, the event gets its name from his own words, "Just
say I was a drum major for justice...”.
These are the very words that inspired Evelyn Gibson Lowery to devote
her life honoring hundreds of Drum Majors who have gone above and beyond in
their own fight for the rights and privileges of others. "It is our distinct honor to
acknowledge the years of dedication Mrs. Lowery gave to SCLC/Women, Inc., especially
during this event, which she founded," said Scarlet Pressley-Brown,
interim chair. "We are also very excited to be able to honor Mrs. Lowery
along with Michelle Obama, who has, with style and grace, represented our
country, our community, and our race with dignity and respect.
It is fitting and proper that
Mrs. Lowery be honored, posthumously, with the very award she worked so hard to
create. And just as fitting is it that
Mrs. Lowery be honored along-side First Lady Michelle Obama, emphasizing
parallel significance, as both women have blazed trails filled with distinction,
passion, and conviction.
Honorary co-chairs include
former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Charmaine Ward, director of Community
Affairs for Georgia Pacific. The event will include a very special closing
musical tribute to Evelyn Lowery, tributes from local television anchors,
Monica Pearson, Karyn Greer and Lisa Rayam. Gala guests will also enjoy a retrospective
tribute from cast members of the show "A Different World," including
Dawnn Lewis, Charnele Brown, and Jasmine Guy. The gala Master of Ceremonies is movie and TV
personality Mykelti Williamson and Mistress of Ceremonies is radio/TV personality
Mo Ivory.
The Drum Major for Justice Award’s
dinner has honored many who made contributions in the arena of social justice.
Recent honorees include: former Atlanta mayor and U.S. Ambassador, Andrew
Young; U.S. Rep. John Lewis (Ga.-D); community activist Rev. Al Sharpton, actress
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, CNN anchor Don Lemon, author Isabel Wilkerson, and
former Morehouse College president Dr. Robert M. Franklin; Suzan Johnson Cook,
U.S. Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom, U. S. State
Department; former Georgia State Director of USDA Rural Development, Shirley
Sherrod; award-winning actor, dancer, singer, and director, Jasmine Guy; and
the first black all-female flight crew: Captain Rachelle Jones, First Officer
Stephanie Grant, Flight Attendant Diana Galloway, and Flight Attendant Robin
Rogers.
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About SCLC/Women, Inc.
The SCLC Women, Inc.,
champions the rights of women, children, families, and responds to the problems
of the disenfranchised regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or religion. For
more information visit http://www.sclcwomeninc.org/
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Garner Circle PR | Atlanta Office
Nicole Garner - Pr@TheGarnerCircle.Com
Eugenia Johnson - PRdirector@TheGarnerCircle.com
P: 888-560-6660
2014 HONOREES:
The late Dr. Evelyn Gibson
Lowery, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin
and Founder of Trayvon Martin Foundation.
