For some of us, it feels like we have been living in a bomb shelter for the last 15-months. Now that we are coming out, the world almost looks different. But truly it’s no different, it’s just that those of us who have been socially distancing has been missing the normal things in life; such as going to a nail salon perhaps, or going to a pool hall to play pool with the guys, or maybe even just roller-skating at a rink that has more than 100 skaters on the floor at a time. Amid COVID, activities like that were taboo, but now with so many restrictions lifted, life as we knew it, in many circumstances, is starting to return.
Such is the case of banquet halls and other event venues. Finally folk can plan to do special things again. One such group that’s been ready since 2020 to host a significant program is the National Action Network, Philly Freedom Riders Chapter, led by Chairwoman Paula Peebles.
First, who is this group, The National Action Network, (NAN)? The National Action Network (NAN) is a not-for-profit, civil rights organization founded by the Reverend Al Sharpton in New York City, New York, in early 1991.
The National Action Network is widely credited with drawing national attention to critical issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, and the US Naval bombing ex- ercises on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Notably, the organization was prominently involved with the police brutality cases of Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima, Patrick Dorismond (New York), Eric Garner (all in New York), and Michael Brown (Ferguson, Missouri).
The Philadelphia Chapter addresses racial and social justice issues that come to their attention from across the keystone state. Even during the pandemic, Paula Peebles says the Philly chapter has kept busy because injustice and racism never rest. More on that in a moment.
Mark your calendars now for Saturday, June 12, 2021, when the National Action Network, Philadelphia Chapter hosts a luncheon to celebrate some individuals who have made a positive difference in Philadelphia and beyond.
The NAN Philly Chapter will host a Legacy Luncheon at the Victorian at 4800 Germantown Avenue from 2:00– 5:00 p.m. on June 12. They will celebrate “living history makers.”
The honorees include Malcolm Jenkins, Founder, and Chairman, Malcolm Jenkins Foundation. He will receive the Rev. Al Sharpton Award.
Rev. Deves Toon will receive the Rev. Al Sharpton Pillar Award.
The late Dr. Emma Chappelle will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Chappelle’s family will receive her award on her behalf.
Michael Kennedy Sr. will receive the Legacy Community Servant Award. Retired Judge Thomasine Tynes will receive the Justice Fighter Award. Michael Hand, one of the leaders of the Carpenters Union, will receive the Legacy Labor Award, and Philadelphia City Councilwoman Cindy Bass will receive the People’s Gladiator Award.
It should be noted that a portion of the proceeds from the event will go to support scholarships for students matriculating to historically Black Colleges and Universities. One of the students that the NAN Philly Chapter has supported just graduated from Howard University’s Pharmacy program, and she will attend the event. Her name is Alexis Street.
Paula Peebles stated, “What makes our legacy event so special is that more often than not, we honor people who don’t always get the accolades. You’ll recognize the names of some of our honorees but others, are not well known, but we know of the work and labor they’ve done to uplift our community. Each year, NAN celebrates some people from the community who might otherwise have been over- looked.
Let me tell you about a couple of our awardees. “There’s Michael Kennedy, a retired Philadelphia police officer. All of his career Mike worked with youth, and now, even as a retired police officer, he continues to work with youth through the PAL program and a number of other youth programs. We chose Judge Tynes because she has been in the trenches for a long time trying to help her people, help our folks. She has a giving spirit, and we wanted to take the opportunity to lift her up as a Judge and highlight all the good work she’s done for our community over the years. Michael Hand, outside of his job as a union leader, volunteers with special needs children.”
Peebles continued, “The pandemic did not stop us from working. As you know, life doesn’t stop just because there’s a pandemic. In some cases, we may have had to do an abbreviated response, but there’s always a response from NAN. We continued to meet. NAN, like many groups, leaned on Zoom to be the vehicle we used to hold our monthly meetings. We had to continue to meet because people continued to reach out to NAN from across the state of Pennsylvania, asking for assistance on a number of civil rights kinds of issues. We also started a new chapter up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and another one we are working to establish in Montgomery County.
The NAN Philly Freedom Riders Chapter has what they call a “Wall of Honor,” which is a mobile wall if you will. They bring it to their gala each year and add one or more new names to the wall. Each year, according to Paula Peebles, they Enstool someone who transitioned to the Wall of Honor, who did amazing things while they lived. The Enstoolment this year will include two people; Nasir I. Sadat, the first millennial to be Enstooled to the Wall of Honor, and Dr. Emma Chappelle, Founder of United Bank of Philadelphia, who also transitioned recently.
To learn more about the NAN Philly Chapter call, 267- 973-5555.
