At the October 16th Freedom Fund Gala Event, Cheryl Vines (left) and Dr. Consuelo Meux (right) with the NAACP SLO Branch awarded the efforts of nine community members who have shown recognizable efforts to serve our community in various areas.
Each award is named after a historic person in Black history
Georgia Gilmore Social and Civil Justice Award
Presented To Jim Frutchey
Septima Clark Education Award
Presented To Dorothy Adams
Patricia Bath, PhD Science and Medicine Award
Presented To Dr. Kevin Ferguson
Dr Kevin Ferguson continues to educate the public on covid 19
Ida B. Wells-Barnett Media/Communication Award
Presented To Tara Kennon
Tara Kennon currently serves as the lead public information officer for the County of San Luis Obispo Health Agency’s COVID-19 response, where she works alongside a tireless and compassionate team of communicators. Throughout the pandemic, the public information team has focused on providing meaningful health information in a way that everyone in our community, particularly those most at risk from COVID-19, can use to protect ourselves, our families, and each other.
Claudette Colvin Youth Activist Award
Presented To Tianna Arata
Tianna Arata, a guiding force of SLO County’s Black activists and many white allies. She is the fire that sparked the movement
starting in May of 2020.13
A Philip Randolph, Community Organizer Award
Presented to Courtney Haile
San Luis High, USC, and SF State graduate. In 2016, Courtney Haile co-founded R.A.C.E. Matters, a grassroots organization that amplifies matters of racial justice and centers Black voices. Now their Executive Director, she has been a driving force for R.A.C.E. Matters’ creative endeavors, cultural programs and special events.
Maxine Lewis Humanitarian Award
Presented to Tim Jouet
Tim has lived in the city of San Luis Obispo since 1989, attending Cuesta College and has worked for Woods Humane Society, as an artist, and small business owner. The last several years Tim has been primarily focused on direct personal services and relationship building with our homeless neighbors, and participating in political advocacy-especially health care for all, in order to bring about a more just and equitable society for all.
The Honorable John Lewis Voting Rights Award
Presented to Julie Rodewald
Julie Rodewald is the Voter Services Director for the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County. She served as the
elected SLO County Clerk-Recorder for 20 years and retired in January 2015. She spends countless hours advocating and
educating the community on all aspects of voter rights.
Dorie Miller Boundary Breaker Award
Presented To Dr. Joye Carter
Joye M. Carter, MD is the first Black American to be appointed a Chief Medical Examiner in the USA. Graduate of Howard
University College of Medicine, USAF Major, retired Consultant to the Prosecution in the Chauvin homicide trial of George Floyd
Co-author of the controversial article, Cognitive Bias in Forensic Pathology Decision Making, 2021
