The National Association for Equal Justice in America (NAEJA), a local civil rights organization, will recognize on Oct. 14 Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray for the decades of service he has provided to the South Los Angeles community during the group’s 16th annual banquet at the Proud Bird Restaurant, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles.
In addition that evening, Community Service Awards will also be given to Ron Dowd, a Compton-based community activist who has been instrumental in helping to reduce the city’s crime rate, and Cornell Francois, fundraiser for the NAEJA and also a southland environmentalist.
The theme of the banquet is “What Can We Do to Improve Public Education?” which will be discussed by keynote speaker Dr. George McKenna, vice president of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education.
Murray, retired pastor of First AME Church, is noted for the many community enhancement programs he has spearheaded over the years including food drives, educational outreach, support for affordable housing, youth mentoring, and a number of social justice campaigns.
McKenna served as principal of an academically struggling Washington High School—once notorious for gangs, gun fights, and drug dealing—and transformed it into high-achieving Washington Preparatory High School which became the subject of a television movie.
Social hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m. Tickets for the evening are $65 and are available that evening at the door. Tables are priced at $500 each. Checks payable to NAEJA may be mailed to P.O. Box 663, Compton, CA 90223. For more details, call (310) 608-5878 or (310) 918-4017.
