Hundreds of guests dressed in their finest apparel sat down for a hearty home-cooked meal Feb. 8 at the 16th annual Black Heritage Banquet and Gala at the Trinkle Center.
The event is always one of the highlights of the year for the community as everyone gathers to socialize, listen to a keynote speaker, enjoy live entertainment and participate in an awards ceremony.
Judge Lisa Campbell focused her speech on the importance of education as she detailed how having the right and the access to education can make all the difference in shaping the future of someone’s life.
She shared a touching story of her own great grandmother who never learned to read or write. It was years before she ever realized she signed her name with an x because her grandmother had memorized scripture, quoting word for word what the Bible said to her family.
“She never had the opportunity that each of us sitting here are expected to have,” Campbell said.
So many of the issues plaguing America stem from a lack of access to quality education for every resident of the nation. It’s something she is fighting to ensure local youth never have to worry about and it’s something she said she hopes everyone will be able to get behind to build a brighter tomorrow.
The ceremony wrapped up with a presentation of awards to a variety of attendees who helped Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Inc. pour back into the community
This year the awards were bestowed upon the following community members: Doretha Adams (Heritage Award), Theophilus Hill (Lifetime Achievement Award), C&S Wholesale Grocers management and employees (Community Service Award), Larry and Cathy Jimenez (Humanitarian Award) and Hope Lutheran Church (Cornerstone Award).