About the event

The Annual Celebration of Civil Rights Week is the only fundraising event held yearly by the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR). The purpose of the celebration is to share with OECR's constituents/City residents the office and staff work over the past year. We also acknowledge the volunteer work of our boards and commissions and pay tribute through OECR's "Impact Awards" to individuals in the public and private sectors who have improved the quality of life in Baltimore over the past year. Funds raised will be used to conduct outreach to communities across the city and to support the office's work in fulfilling its mission and mandates. We hope you will join us in supporting and uplifting this critical work for a better Baltimore!

Dates

Oct 04, 2024 · 12:00 AM - Oct 12, 2024 · 11:45 PM(GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

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Location

Maryland, United States

7 E. Redwood Street, 9th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, United States

Directions

Event highlights

31st Annual Civil Rights Breakfast Keynote Speaker: Marc H. Morial

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Marc H. Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League, the nation's largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. As Mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002, Morial led New Orleans’ renaissance, and left office with a 70% approval rating. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics and African American Studies, he also holds a law degree from the Georgetown University.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott

Brandon M. Scott is the 52nd Mayor of Baltimore, working to end gun violence, restore the public’s trust in government and change Baltimore for the better.

Morgan State University Choir

The Morgan State University Choir is one of the nation’s most prestigious university choral ensembles. The choral forces of this critically acclaimed choir include The University Choir, which is over 120 voices strong, and The Morgan Singers – approximately 40 voices. While classical, gospel, and contemporary popular music comprise the choir’s repertoire; the choir is noted for its emphasis on preserving the heritage of the spiritual, especially in the historic practices of performance.

2024 Impact Award Recipient: Dr. Anthony Jenkins

Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D., became the eighth President of Coppin State University (CSU) on May 26, 2020.  He is a respected higher education leader and an advocate committed to creating opportunities for all students, especially those from underrepresented communities.

2024 Impact Award Recipient: Taylor Branch

Taylor Branch is the bestselling author of Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-63; Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963-65; At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-1968; and The Clinton Tapes. He has won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

2024 Impact Award Recipient: Jamye Wooten

Jamye Wooten is a Digital Communications and Social Impact Strategist, Human Rights Organizer, and Founder of CLLCTIVLY. He is at the forefront of digital strategy. His work has spanned the globe, advising nonprofits, faith-based organizations, corporations, and individuals in their efforts to engage their constituencies.

2024 Impact Award Recipient: Larry Gibson, ESQ.

Larry S. Gibson, Esq. is a law professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, a lawyer, and a historian. He is renowned for his role in renaming Maryland’s airport to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and for his book Young Thurgood, which chronicles the early life of Thurgood Marshall. Gibson is a passionate advocate for voter registration and civic engagement, and his work continues to impact civil rights history and education.

2024 Impact Award Recipient: Wanda Best

Wanda Gibson Best is the Executive Director of the Upton Planning Committee, where she connects resources and advocates for community development. Her journey in grassroots organizing began with South Carolina 4-H Extension Programs, where she represented the state in national leadership roles. Wanda holds a BS in Foods and Nutrition, with triple minors in Biology, Chemistry, and Business from South Carolina State University.

2024 Community Leader to Watch: Lady Brion

Lady Brion is an international spoken word artist, activist, organizer and educator. Lady Brion currently serves as the executive director of the Black Arts District. In 2024 she was appointed by Governor Wes Moore as the Poet Laureate of Maryland, making her the youngest Poet Laureate in Maryland’s history and the only spoken word artist to ever hold this position. She received her B.A. in Communication and Culture from Howard University and her MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Design from the University of Baltimore. During her slam career she has won the 2016 and 2021 National Poetry Slam, the 2017 and 2019 Southern Fried Regional Slam, and the 2019 Rustbelt Regional Slam. In 2021 she became the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion making her the number 1 ranked woman slam poet in the world.

2024 Community Leader to Watch: Rev. Heber Brown III

Rev. Heber M. Brown, III is an ordained reverend, community organizer, and founder of the Black Church Food Security Network, which builds Black food ecosystems in partnership with Black farmers and congregations. He also launched Orita’s Cross Freedom School, an educational program celebrating African heritage. Brown’s work has received national recognition, including in Bread for the World’s 2020 Hunger Report. He holds degrees from Morgan State University, Virginia Union University, and Wesley Theological Seminary.

2024 Community Leader to Watch: Natalie Wynn

Natalie Wynn, also known as ContraPoints, is a YouTube video essayist and political philosopher known for her in-depth, theatrical explorations of internet culture and controversial social issues. Using humor, camp, and a variety of characters, her work tackles topics like gender, white nationalism, and the alt-right, garnering millions of views.

2024 Community Leader to Watch: Natasha Guynes

Natasha Guynes is the founder of HER Resiliency Center, which supports vulnerable young women in becoming self-sufficient, independent adults. With a background working on Capitol Hill and at Media Matters for America, Natasha is an MPA candidate at the University of Baltimore and is deeply involved in community efforts to promote women’s leadership and mentorship.

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