10/18/2025
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ง๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐? ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ!
๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐พ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฏ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/naacprochestermn/rochester-branch-of-the-naacp-2025-freedom-fund-banquet
Flyer: www.naacprochestermn.org/s/Rochester-NAACP-60th-Anniversary-and-2025-Freedom-Fund-Banquet-Flyer-dwrx.pdf
Rochester, MN โ Six decades strong. One mission unbroken. The NAACP Rochester Branch MN proudly announces its premier event of the yearโthe 2025 Freedom Fund Banquet, celebrating the organizationโs 60th Anniversary.
Sixty years ago, on October 11, 1965, the Rochester Branch of the NAACP was established to advance social justice, expand civil and human rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate opportunities in education, economic equity, and community well-being. Today, as we celebrate and honor the historic legacy of the NAACP, our work remains as vital to our community as it was when we were founded.
This yearโs theme,โ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐ผ๐,โ honors six decades of resilience, advocacy, and progressโwhile challenging us to meet this moment with renewed commitment to justice, civic engagement, leadership, and collective action.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐พ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฏ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Mayor Hollies Winston of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ Their historic achievements serve as powerful examples of progress and inspiration for our Rochester community.
Sixty-two years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded the nation:
โWe are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.โ
๐๐ฟ. ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐ฒฬ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ, ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ, reflected: โWhile progress has been made, the fierce urgency of now, as Dr. King described, calls us to action. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, it is our hope that the examples of the mayors of La Crosse and Brooklyn Park can serve as catalysts for similar progress in our Rochester communityโwithin our organizations, city and county governments, businesses, and every facet of our society.โ
President Elegbede added: โIn the poem The Hill We Climb, Amanda Gorman reminds us that '๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐๐ฒโ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐โ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐๐ฒโ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐โ We want people to come and be in community with usโto celebrate, reflect, and dedicate themselves to the important work that must be done for our community and for generations to come.โ
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐
The Freedom Fund Banquet is the Rochester Branch of the NAACPโs signature event, supporting critical community
initiatives and honoring individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to social justice, civil
rights, and community building.
This milestone celebration will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 5:00โ10:00 PM at the Hilton Rochester
Mayo Clinic Area (10 East Center Street, Rochester, MN 55904).
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ:
โข ๐๐ฎ๐ โ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฒ ๐ฃโ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ โ Owner of a women-led entertainment company, LaidEe P brings multicultural musical
energy to every event, creating spaces where people connect through music and movement. Inspired by
Grammy-winning group TLC, she has performed alongside celebrities and appeared in Magic Mike XXL and
CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.
โข ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐น ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป โ The soul train Rochesterโs premier soul and funk band, co-founded by LaSonya Natividad and Rocky Schultz.
With over five decades of combined experience, Soul Train brings an electrifying mix of soul, funk, pop, and
rockโguaranteed to keep the crowd moving on the expanded dance floor.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐:
An inspiring evening of celebration and reflection featuring:
โข Reception, Networking, Silent Auction
โข Entertainment and Performances
โข Fine Dining Dinner
โข State of the Branch Address and Call to Action- Dr. Walรฉ Elegbede, President, Rochester NAACP
โข Keynote Address โ Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, La Crosse, Wisconsin
โข Keynote Address โ Mayor Hollies Winston, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
โข Keynote Address โ Mayor Roslyn Harmon , Golden Valley, Minnesota
โข Rochester NAACP Awards
โข Soul Train Live Band โ Dance the Night Away!
๐๐ฒ๐๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
โข ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป -๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป
Before taking office, Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey co-founded B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Acquiring
Collective Knowledge), Inc., where he served as Executive Director, leading youth programs such as Ujima Circle,
LOTUS, and the Summer Youth Experience. A respected leader across Wisconsin, he has served on the La Crosse
School Board and Governor Tony Eversโ Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion. Mayor Washington-Spivey has
received numerous distinguished awards recognizing his leadership and community impact. He earned a
bachelorโs degree in Political Science and a masterโs in Student Affairs Administration from the University of
WisconsinโLa Crosse, an associateโs degree from Western Technical College, and a masterโs in Mental Health
Counseling from Viterbo University.
โข ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐. ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ผ๐ป, ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐น๐๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ, ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ
Hollies J. Winston, Mayor of Brooklyn Park, is a collaborative leader known for building coalitions, improving
systems, and advancing equity. A former business professional with experience in Fortune 500 operations and consulting, he earned his MBA from the University of Minnesotaโs Carlson School of Management as a Carlson
Fellow. In 2017, he founded Guaranteed America, a firm dedicated to advocacy, strategic consulting, and
ensuring equitable representation. Deeply engaged in public service, he serves on the Council for Minnesotans
of African Heritage and has served on the Brooklyn Park Budget Advisory Commission.
โข ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐๐น๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐, ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ
Roslyn made history as the first person of color and Black woman to file, run, and win the Mayor of Golden Valley seat. A 32-year resident, she brings deep experience in education, community development, restorative practices, and policy implementation. Her work focuses on systemic change through restorative frameworks to heal communities, schools, organizations, and businesses. An educator and mental health practitioner, she earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy from Adler Graduate School. An ordained pastor, she founded two Twin Cities churches and is a proud Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member.
๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐
โข ๐๐ฟ. ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐ฒฬ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ, ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ
Dr. Walรฉ Elegbede is a visionary and transformative leader committed to creating positive, lasting change. A TED
Talk speaker and globally recognized thought leader, he has received numerous distinguished awards and
helped develop software recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for innovation and growth. As President of the
Rochester Branch of the NAACP, Dr. Elegbede leads efforts to advance social justice and civic engagement. In
healthcare, he serves as Director of Strategy Management Services and previously led transformative initiatives
for one of Forbesโ Americaโs Most Innovative Companies (2025). He holds both a Doctorate in Ethical Leadership
and an MBA from Viterbo University, and a Bachelorโs degree in Information Systems from the University of
WisconsinโLa Crosse.
๐ฃ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐:
Your financial support is vital to advancing the Rochester NAACPโs mission. All funds raised go 100% toward equity and
social justice efforts. Tickets are available for purchase at
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/naacprochestermn/rochester-branch-of-the-naacp-2025-freedom-fund-banquet
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Become a sponsor today and help sustain this legacy of progress. Sponsorships play a vital role in advancing the
NAACPโs mission and ensuring the success of this historic anniversary event.
For sponsorship details and partnership opportunities, please email info@naacprochestermn.org.
Together, we can continue the work of the last 60 years and meet the fierce urgency of now.
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ
The NAACP is the oldest and most prominent civil rights organizations in the United States, founded in 1909 with the
Rochester Branch of the NAACP being established in 1965. At the NAACP, we envision an inclusive community rooted in
liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. We are committed to a
world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities. Our mission is to
achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil
rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all
persons of color. All funding and donations raised go 100% to support equity and social justice efforts. Engage with us,
lend your support, consider becoming a member, and contribute to driving positive change in our community.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
Dr. Walรฉ Elegbede - President of the Rochester Branch of the NAACP
Email: info@naacprochestermn.org
Website: www.naacprochestermn.org
