2011 Youth Freedom Fund Dinner
Tristan Wilds (90210) and Amber Riley (Glee) served as hosts for this year's Juanita Jackson Mitchell Awards! Members and advisors of the NAACP Youth & College Division eagerly gathered for the annual reunion and adward show, celebrating the accomplishments of its members across the country.
This year's dinner was like an enormous birthday party, but there was no need for cake and ice cream. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill (Our World with Black Enterprise, CNN, Fox News) delivered a spectacular gift to guests, inspiring them to be strategic and make America listen to itself. Hill received a standing ovation when he said "you have to be willing to lead people who want to live in fear!" In fact, NAACP Youth & College members broadcast that message their peers, several times via Twitter. Every leader in the room was revived to a new level of activism.
NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous reminded guests that they walk in the footsteps of giants. "There would be no Freedom Riders if it wasn't for the NAACP Youth & College Division!" He also challenged every individual to find their ultimate purpose in life and use it to change the world. It was clear that the future of the NAACP is in completely capable hands!
The room swelled with applause when recoding artist Miguel stood behind an LED lit microphone stand and performed with the energy and stamina of Michael Jackson and James Brown. He engaged his fans as camera phones and FlipCams were raised in the air to capture his live performace of their favorite songs.
Nothing compared to the joy, admiration and support as various Youth & College leaders presented awards to their peers for their accomplishments and dedication to social justice over the past year. Here are this year's awardees:
| Director’s Award | Gloster B. Current Medal Winner #1 |
| NAACP YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION | QUINCY BATES |
| DIRECTOR’S AWARD | SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY |
| ANDREA BROWN GEE |
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| Gloster B. Current Medal Winner #2 |
| Medgar Evers Award #1 | CAMERON WEATHERS |
| GISELLE LINDSAY | MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL |
| WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY |
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| Gloster B. Current Medal Winner #3 |
| Medgar Evers Award #2 | DONTEA GRESHAM |
| ADEYEMI ADEWUYI | CLEVELAND YOUTH COUNCIL |
| GARLAND YOUTH COUNCIL |
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| 1st Place State Advisor Award |
| 1st Place Advisor Award | ERICKA CAIN |
| EBONY JACKSON | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
| MIAMI - DADE YOUTH COUNCIL |
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| Best Unit #1 |
| 2ND Place Advisor Award | NAACP COLLEGE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR |
| MERELEAN WILSON | SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY |
| LOS ANGELES YOUTH COUNCIL | COLLEGE CHAPTER |
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| 3RD Place Advisor Award | Best Unit #2 |
| BESSIE BORDENAVE | NAACP YOUTH COUNCIL OF THE YEAR |
| HOWARD COUNTY YOUTH COUNCIL | MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL |
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| Issue Award #1 | Best Unit #3 |
| ISSUE AWARD – HEALTH INITIATIVES | NAACP STATE YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION OF THE YEAR |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
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| Issue Award #2 | Issue Award #7 |
| ISSUE AWARD – VOTER EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES | STATE ISSUE AWARD – ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
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| Issue Award #3 | Issue Award #8 |
| ISSUE AWARD – JUVENILE JUSTICE INITIATIVES | STATE ISSUE AWARD – HEALTH INITIATIVES |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
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| Issue Award #4 | Issue Award #9 |
| ISSUE AWARD – EDUCATION INITIATIVES | STATE ISSUE AWARD – VOTER EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
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| Issue Award #5 | Issue Award #10 |
| ISSUE AWARD – ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES | STATE ISSUE AWARD – NATIONAL INITIATIVES |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
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| Issue Award #6 | Issue Award #11 |
| ISSUE AWARD – NATIONAL INITIATIVES | STATE ISSUE AWARD – JUVENILE JUSTICE INITIATIVES |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH COUNCIL | TEXAS YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION |
