The Santa Maria-Lompoc National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is kicking off its Centennial Celebration with a prayer breakfast served buffet style.
The grassroots-based civil rights organization began on Feb. 12, 1909. Association members aim to eliminate race prejudice and ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of minority group citizens in the United States.
This year’s theme is “100 Years of Moving Forward.” Central Coast city leaders, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, the Office of Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, State Senator Abel Maldonado, Congresswoman Lois Capps, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will provide resolutions. Alice Huffman, the state’s NAACP president, will be the keynote speaker.
This association is recognizing accomplishments that have occurred over the past hundred years.
“It’s important that we remember our history that has often been violent and recognize the accomplishments that have been made,” said Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, president of the association’s Lompoc-Santa Maria chapter. “We have the constitutional right to be treated the same as any other citizen. Someone’s skin color being darker—or any color—is no reason to treat that group of people any different.
“Our goal in having this breakfast is to talk about the past and recognize the importance there because it is our history,” she said.
The breakfast runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 4 at the Historic Santa Maria Inn. The cost is $20 per person. For tickets or more information, call 757-3529.
Intern Gabby Hendriksen compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2009.