National Urban League President Marc Morial delivered a future vision of the Urban League movement during his keynote remarks at the The Quad County Urban League Annual Equal Opportunity Awards dinner, held at the Westin Hotel & Resort Junior Ballroom in
The Equal Opportunity Awards Dinner commemorated and honored individuals who enabled the standard of equal opportunity and exhibited leadership qualities that result in notable contributions to the cause of civil rights in the Quad County communities, which represents empowerment and the security of opportunities for people of color including African-Americans, women, Latinos and disabled residents in the DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois.
The distinguished group of honorees came from a wide spectrum of industries including: Lifetime Achievement AwardûOlivia Garth, Aurora; Outstanding Educator AwardûLaurel Bault, Elgin; Outstanding Religious Leadership AwardûRev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Boilingbrook; Outstanding Community Service AwardûTate Bros.
Foundation, Chicago; Outstanding Community Service AwardûVelma Sept, Elgin; Outstanding Corporate Service AwardûMaria Castro, Comcast, Naperville; Outstanding Corporate Service AwardûRichard Howard, Daimler Truck Financial, Lisle; Trailblazer AwardûAl Demming, Naperville; and Marie Wilkinson Board Member AwardûDwayne Bass, Aurora.
Morial discussed the Urban Leagues’ vision, "The State of Black America 2008" report. There was also a special appearance by author, former legal counsel, speechwriter and advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr, Clarence Jones who wrote the book What Would Martin Say.
He too expressed his appreciation for the Quad County Urban League and the work Morial is doing for the organization. "The Annual Meeting and Equal Opportunity Awards Dinner is one of the most important Urban League events.
Individuals from business, government, nonprofits and the general public came together in support of the Urban League movement and to continue the discourse on closing the economic gaps in our communities," said Theodia Gillespie, president and CEO of Quad County Urban League.
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