Virtual
HARAMBEE &
45TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
Building Upon Our Legacy ...
Strengthening Communities
Through Service
December 4, 9:00 AM
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HARAMBEE & 45TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Building Upon Our Legacy ...
Strengthening Communities Through Service
PROGRAM
Musical Prelude / Lift Every Voice- James White
Welcome - Veronica Spruill, RVS NCNW, Mistress of Ceremonies
Opening Prayer - Rev. Catina Blackmon Jackson
Harambee History - Dr. LaTisha Forster-Scott
Dance Selection - Chloe Alexandra Jackson
Raritan Valley Section NCNW History - Barbara Lawson Taylor
Greeting from Cory Booker, United States Senator for New Jersey
Musical Selection - James White
Introduction of Speaker - Rhonda Stewart, RVS NCNW
Key Note Address
Natasha Rodgers, Founder & CEO, Simuel Whitfield Organization
Moderated Discussion - Rhonda Stewart and Natasha Rodgers
Presentation of Community Service Awards - Lela Wingard Hughes, RVS President
Simuel Whitfield Simmons Organization - Natasha Rodgers, Founder & CEO
Maria Tapia-Burch, Community Volunteer
New Brunswick Area Branch NAACP - Bruce S. Morgan, President
Sister2Sister - Dorothy J. Reed, Co-Founder & President
Acknowledgements and door prizes - Lela Wingard Hughes
Closing prayer- Mrs. Ida Anderson
Musical Finale – James White
HISTORY OF THE HARAMBEE BREAKFAST
The Harambee breakfast is a traditional worship service held during each national
convention of the National Council of Negro Women. It is a time set aside for worship and
praise and for reflection on how we can achieve the promises that God has in store for us
as a people.
The word “harambee” is a Swahili word meaning “let’s pull together.” It reminds us that
the only way for each of us to have a better future is for all of us to pull together and
create it. The theme of pulling together in unity reflects the spirit of Harambee.
Each part of the Harambee service reminds us of what we must do as a people. Taken all
together, the various parts reflect the three parts of the NCNW theme: commitment, unity,
and self-reliance. During a traitional, in-person Harambee service:
The worship begins with a sharing of the bread and wine. We do this in recognition of
our deep religious roots and our belief in a just and righteous God. This spirituality has
sustained us through four hundred years of trials and oppression.
During the Acts of Remembrance, we follow the African tradition of calling by name
those who are no longer with us but whose spirits live in and through us.
When we make the Black Family Pledge, we commit ourselves to fulfilling our
responsibilities to each other. We remember the commandment of our founder, Mary
McLeod Bethune, that we “leave no one behind.”
At the conclusion of the breakfast, the closing prayer asks God to unite us as a people
and to focus our minds and hearts on faith, hope, and love.
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Mission
The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) mission is to lead, empower and
advocate for women of African descent, their families and communities.
The National Council of Negro Women is an “organization of organizations” (comprised of
300 campus and community-based sections and 32 national women’s organizations) that
enlightens, inspires and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men. Its mission is to
lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families and
communities. NCNW was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential
educator and activist, and for more than fifty years, the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height was
president of NCNW. Johnnetta Betsch Cole was elected Chair of NCNW in 2018, ushering
in a new era of social activism and continued progress and growth for the organization.
Today, NCNW’s programs are grounded on a foundation of critical concerns known as
“Four for the Future”. NCNW
promotes education with a special focus on science, technology, engineering and
math;
encourages entrepreneurship, financial literacy and economic stability;
educates women about good health and HIV/AIDS;
promotes civic engagement and advocates for sound public policy and social justice.
source: https://ncnw.org
WE SALUTE THE RVS CHARTER MEMBERS
ON WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND...
In 1976, several area women who were members of the
Plainfield Scotch Plains Section, NCNW established a Section of
the National Council of Negro Women to address issues in the
Raritan Valley area. These women were Ida Anderson, Lydia
Emanuel, Evelyn s. Field, Mary E. Hundley, Lilith Howell, Christine
Peterson and Thelma Stukes.
The organizational meeting of this new Section was held on
June 6, 1976 at the St. Thomas AME Zion Church in Somerville.
Temporary officers elected were Christine Peterson, President,
Lilith Howell, Secretary¬ Treasurer; and Evelyn Field, Public
Relations Chair Person. Also present were Lillian Darby, Juanita
Jackson, Consuelo Johnson, Amanda Rivers and Thelma Stukes.
The next meeting, August I7, I 976, at St. Thomas Church, was
recorded as the "first meeting." By September I 7, there were 27
members. On November 19, 1976 the Section received its
charter. At that program, 72 women were recognized as
"charter members.
It is upon those women’s shoulders that we now stand.
*These charter members remain members of the Raritan Valley Section as of December 2021
Past RVS Presidents
...AS WE CONTINUE
THE SERVICE & SISTERHOOD
Double click image to view video:
Raritan Valley Section NCNW
Our History, Our Service, Our Sisterhood
Raritan Valley Section 2021
Dr. Crystal Anderson Ms. Ida Anderson Ms. Linda Belnavis
Rev. C. Blackmon- Jackson Ms. Ella Blue Ms. Anglela Brackett
Ms. Gloria Clark Ms. Cheryl Curry Ms. Nancy Field
Ms. Latisha Foster-Scott Ms. India Frederick Ms Jewell Gaither
Raritan Valley Section 2021
Ms. Toni Hendrix Ms. Marilyn Herod Ms. Geneieve Jones
Ms. Jadusingh Martin Ms. Judy McGriff Ms. Deborah Morgan
Ms. Joann Nesbit Ms. Kim Parris Ms. Amanda Rivers
Ms. Norma Rodgers Ms. Andrea Rose Dr. Carole Sampson -Landers
Raritan Valley Section 2021
Ms. Ayesha Simons Ms. Beverly Spruill Ms. Veronica Spruill
Ms. Rhonda Stewart Ms. Barbara Taylor Ms. Marie Thompson
Ms. Mary Trawick Ms. Julia West-Johnson Ms. Agnetta Wilson
Ms. Cheryl Wilson Ms. Lela Wingard-Hughes
Raritan Valley Section 2021
Members Not Pictured
Ms. Carole Bishop Ms. Alphine Callender
Ms. Kimberly Francois Ms. Sandra Gilyard
Ms. Dorothy Givens Ms. Pamela Parson-Williams
Ms. Audrey Small
Raritan Valley Section Congratulates
our Community Service Honorees
Harambee!
Maria Tapia-Burcht
Let's All Pull Together!
Community Service Award Honoree
Community Service Award Honoree
Maria Tapia-Burch
Community Service Award Honoree
Community Service Award Honoree
Natasha Rodgers, Keynote Speaker
James E. White
Chloe Alexandra Jackson
Harambee!
Thank you to our advertisers,
contributors
and supporters!
Let's All Pull Together!
In-Person Registration:
https://tinyurl.com/CommunityKwanzaa
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