Sep 29, 2008 3 min read

The dinner will be held Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Holiday Inn in Uniontown. A social hour will start at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 6 p.m. The Fayette County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People works to carry out the mission of the national organization which states: “to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.”

“Some major things we work on is our youth, health care, safe and affordable housing, jobs, not just entry-level jobs but that people are not held back because of their skin color and veterans coming back home,” said Clinton Anderson, branch president.

This year’s keynote speaker will be attorney A. Michael Pratt, former local resident and 1977 graduate of Uniontown Area Senior High School. Pratt is a partner in the Philadelphia law firm of Pepper Hamilton, LLP. He also is the 2008 chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, which is America’s first chartered metropolitan bar association, with 13,000 members.

Pratt is a member of the board of trustees at his alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College, and a member of the board of directors of Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc. He also has been part of the Big Brothers program in Philadelphia as a “big brother” and as a mentor in the Philadelphia Futures Program.

Joining Pratt will be the evening’s toastmistress, attorney Nikki C. Dantzler. Dantzler is a staff attorney with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, where she practices elder law. She graduated from California University of Pennsylvania and received her law degree from Dickinson School of Law. She is part of several local professional and community organizations.

This year’s award recipients include the Rev. Howard Dantzler Sr., who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ben Wright Jr. will be presented the Outstanding Community Service Award. The award for Dedicated Youth Mentor will be given to Alvin Moore for his dedication to the East End United Community Center. Dr. Jo Jankowski will receive the Humanitarian Award. Adrianne Wilson has been selected for the Branch Service Award.

The money raised at the dinner will go toward various programs, including the Dr. F.L. Vaughns Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“Every youth we can change and have them go back to school, this is one less youth we have to worry about,” said Anderson. “We need to start somewhere, and we need to start with the youth.”

Because of the upcoming election of officers in November, the local branch of the NAACP is looking for people to become active members of the board. Anderson stressed that the NAACP is comprised of people of all races and genders.

“We have Caucasian women and men who are willing to come and be active and who are a part of the board,” said Anderson. “It isn’t about color, it is about change.”

For more information about the awards dinner or how to become a member of the NAACP, call the office at 724-430-0771.