Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate Keynotes Lenawee County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet

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Adrian, MI – The State of Michigan Speaker of the House, Joe Tate (D- 10th House District) was the keynote speaker at the Lenawee County NAACP’s 29th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet Sunday afternoon.

The presentation, and dinner, were held at the Adrian College Tobias Center. Comments by several community leaders surrounded the address by the Speaker. Reverend Deanne Henagan (below) was the Mistress of Ceremony for the evening. The Invocation was by Reverend Sharrice L. Autry, Pastor at Bethel AME Adrian.

Adrian Mayor Angie Sword-Heath had a prepared speech read by Kylee Bratschi (below), as she was unable to attend. She is in Japan, as part of a delegation in Adrian’s Sister City of Moriyama.

County Commissioner Karol “KZ” Bolton (above) gave an overview of the happenings of the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners. Speaker Joe Tate (featured image) spoke with WLEN News at the conclusion of the Freedom Fund Banquet. He talked about the topic of his speech to the crowd…

Speaker Tate continued, saying that it was great to see the turn-out…

After the Speaker’s speech, NAACP Chapter President Jeanette Henagan (below) gave a snapshot of the work being done by the local chapter, and acknowledged the Executive Committee, and others, for their hard work to put the evening together.

The local NAACP Chapter presented two awards Sunday afternoon, a Community Award, and the Larry Richardson Memorial Police Officer of the Year Award. Aaron Benard presented Bonney Jamar with the Community Award (top pictured below, center), and Judge Joe Costello bestowed the Police Officer Award to Michigan State Trooper Donald Stewart (bottom picture below, center).

The benediction was by Minister Geraldine Boykin, the Vice President of the Lenawee County NAACP Chapter. President Jeannette Henagan talked to WLEN News about getting such a high-profile keynote speaker…

Henagan said that there were more people in attendance than last year’s Freedom Fund Banquet…

The banquet is the main fundraising event for the Lenawee County Chapter of the NAACP.

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