During an evening that will honor three women for their dedication, sacrifice and influence in the community, SCLC Women, Inc., Drum Major for Justice Awards Gala will honor its Founder, Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery, 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.
Now in its 35th year, The Drum Major for Justice Awards Gala salutes 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 in honor of Dr. King, Jr., on the anniversary of his assassination, the event gets his name from Dr. King’s own words, “Just say I was a drum major for justice…”
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 tribute from cast members of the show “A Different World,” including Dawnn Lewis, Charnele Brown, and Jasmine Guy.
“It is our distinct honor to acknowledge the years of dedication Mrs. Lowery gave to the SCLC Women, Inc. especially during this event, which she founded,” said Scarlet Pressley-Brown, interim chair, SCLC Women. “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 in a way we have never seen before.” Both ladies exude parallel greatness and thus fitting and proper to recognize them together. Dual recognition speaks to the level of distinction, dignity, and power they both deserve and will make for a most memorable occasion. Mrs. Lowery never received the prestigious award she worked so hard to create.
The Drum Major for Justice Awards dinner honors people 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.
