California Attorney General Kamala Harris will be honored by the Brotherhood Crusade at the upcoming Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Nov. 4. She’ll receive the Bremond-Bakewell Award, named for Walter Bremond, founder of the community-service organization in 1968, and Danny Bakewell, the nonprofit’s institutional builder.
The Brotherhood Crusade’s current president and CEO is Charisse Bremond-Weaver, the daughter of the founder, who assumed the reigns in 2006.
The evenings’ hosting duties will volley between local KTLA anchor Chris Schauble and 94.7 WAVE radio personality Pat Prescott. Entertainment will be provided by popular soul balladeer Will Downing, who released his 14th album last year.
The Pioneer Award Dinner was begun to recognize outstanding achievement within the African American community. Past honorees include Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks and Magic Johnson.
“This event is our annual fundraiser where we highlight our honoree, who this year happens to be Attorney General Kamala Harris,” said Bremond-Weaver. “We also take the opportunity highlight our partners such as Microsoft, Verizon, Southwest Airlines, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Northrop-Grumman, Comerica Bank and a few others who we simply couldn’t do it without.
“Choosing Kamala Harris as this year’s honoree was really a no-brainer. Her being the first woman, first African American, and first South Asian American to hold the office of attorney general in California is historical. We honor individuals who have made historical contributions to the community, and the issues that she stands for parallel our values at the Brotherhood Crusade.”
Bremond-Weaver was tight-lipped about a special treat that event guests will enjoy this year. “I can’t say much, but what I can say is that people will walk away from the event feeling proud of why they support the Brotherhood Crusade,” she said.
The majority of the proceeds raised from the event will go to the organization’s youth development programs. Every youth enrolled in Brotherhood Crusade’s year-round programs is assessed academically, socio-behaviorally and physically prior to enrollment. An individual plan is prepared for all participants outlining their needs in each of these areas. Participants then receive free remedial education, academic assistance, educational enrichment, mental health, and comprehensive health (for them and their families regardless of financial or legal status) services.
As a result, program participants have increased their academic proficiency by 132 percent on average and reduced their incidents of tardiness, truancy, crime, delinquency, and inappropriate behavior. These fee-free programs include Gang Reduction Youth Development Program, Mentor and Me, Brother to Brother, Supplemental Education Services, and March to 1000.
“We focus on helping the youth that everyone else has given up on; these aren’t your A and B students. These are the C, D, and F students, but they are brilliant, and through these programs with the mentoring and tutoring and teaching financial literacy, these at-risk youth benefit and improve,” said Bremond-Weaver.
In addition to the Pioneer Award Dinner, the Brotherhood Crusade has a number of other events planned for the rest of the year, namely the Very Healthy Happy Halloween Party on Oct. 28 on the lawn of the Expo Center at 3980 Bill Robertson Lane. The party will feature alternatives to candy and instead gift youth and families with baskets of fruit. There will also be a farmers market, arcade, and petting zoo for the community to enjoy.
For more information on the Brotherhood Crusade and upcoming events, contact the organization at (323)846-1649 or visit the website at www.brotherhoodcrusade.org.
