Mount Vernon NAACP Celebrates the Heroes Among Us at Community Luncheon
The Mount Vernon NAACP Branch #2161 hosted its Community Heroes Award Luncheon on Saturday, July 25, bringing together residents, civic leaders, elected officials, family members, and supporters for a special afternoon dedicated to recognizing the people whose service continues to strengthen the City of Mount Vernon.
The luncheon honored extraordinary individuals whose leadership, commitment, and contributions have made a meaningful difference throughout the community. Some have worked publicly, while others have served quietly behind the scenes, often without seeking recognition or praise. The event gave the Mount Vernon NAACP an opportunity to shine a light on those unsung heroes and sheroes whose dedication continues to strengthen and uplift the community.
The celebration reflected one of the central principles of the NAACP: that lasting change is created by ordinary people who are willing to do extraordinary work on behalf of others.
As the late author and poet Maya Angelou once said:
“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.”
That spirit was present throughout the luncheon as the branch recognized individuals who have invested their time, energy, experience and compassion into improving the lives of others.
Mount Vernon NAACP Vice President AJ Woodson served as master of ceremonies and helped guide the audience through a program filled with recognition, reflection and celebration. Branch President Kathie Brewington and executive committee members Latoya Anderson and Dena Williams joined Woodson in honoring those whose work represents the very best of Mount Vernon.
“There is no greater gift than a life lived in service to others. Service is more than an act of kindness—it is a commitment to making a difference, lifting others when they are down, and leaving our community stronger than we found it. Our Community Heroes Luncheon is a celebration of those remarkable individuals who have answered the call to serve. They have given of their time, talents, compassion, and leadership without seeking recognition or reward. They stood up, stepped forward, and made sacrifices so that others could have hope, opportunity, and a better future,” President Brewington shared.
Mariam Saidykhan opened the program by performing both the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Later in the program, she returned to the stage with a stirring rendition of Mariah Carey’s inspirational 1993 hit, “Hero,” a fitting selection for the Community Heroes Luncheon.
Many Mount Vernon residents may remember Saidykhan from her outstanding performance in the Mount Vernon City School District Performing and Visual Arts Magnet School’s 2018 production of The Lion King Jr. at Mount Vernon High School. Just a few months later, she returned to the stage in the student production of The Color Purple, delivering another memorable performance as Young Celie.
Greetings were given by Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard;
“As Mayor, I am proud to support the mission of the Mount Vernon NAACP and grateful for the organization’s continued dedication to advancing equality, empowering our residents, and building a stronger, more inclusive community. Together, we will continue working toward a future where justice, opportunity, and hope are accessible to all. Congratulations to this year’s honorees and thank you to the Mount Vernon NAACP for your continued leadership, partnership, and service to our community.”
The luncheon also included a special presentation from Congressman George Latimer. On June 26, 2025, Latimer recognized the presidents and vice presidents of the NAACP branches within his congressional district from the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Their names and service were officially entered into the Congressional Record. During Saturday’s luncheon, Latimer presented Brewington and Woodson with formal copies of the recognition, enclosed in commemorative folders bearing the seal of the House of Representatives. He reminded them that their names would forever remain part of the Congressional Record—a permanent acknowledgment of their leadership and service through the Mount Vernon NAACP. The presentation added another historic element to an afternoon already centered on community service. It also served as a reminder that the work being done at the local level can have an impact far beyond the boundaries of one neighborhood or city.
For generations, the NAACP has stood at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights, voting rights, educational equity, economic opportunity and equal justice. Local branches such as Mount Vernon Branch #2161 continue that tradition by addressing the immediate needs of their communities while remaining connected to the organization’s larger national mission. That work often includes advocating for residents, engaging elected officials, organizing educational programs, encouraging civic participation, and confronting injustice wherever it appears.
But the Community Heroes Award Luncheon was also about celebration. It was a moment to pause and say thank you to the individuals who answer the call when their community needs them. It honored those who mentor young people, support families, advocate for justice, preserve local history, provide essential services and create opportunities for others.
Too often, the people doing the most important work receive the least attention. They do not always appear in headlines, stand behind podiums or receive public applause. They simply continue serving because they understand that a stronger community requires people who are willing to show up. The Mount Vernon NAACP’s luncheon ensured that, for at least one afternoon, those heroes were seen, celebrated and appreciated.
This year’s Community Heroes honorees include:
Mr. Abishai Ben-Rubin, a master African percussionist, cultural educator, healer, activist, and respected community leader, Mr. Al-Farid Salahuddin, a retired 41-year veteran of the Mount Vernon Fire Department, Coach Craig Ramsey, a lifelong mentor, coach, and community advocate, Ms. Donna Houston, a driving force in community service, Dr. Natasha Hunter-McGregor, a distinguished educational leader with 37 years of dedicated service to scholars and families throughout New York City and Westchester County, Mount Vernon Fire Commissioner Kevin Holt recognized for his lifelong commitment to protecting, serving, and advancing the well-being of the City of Mount Vernon and its residents, Ms. Judith Watson, CEO of the Westchester Community Health Center, formerly known as the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, The Rev. Dr. Martello Payne Jr., a distinguished community leader, dedicated pastor, and decorated U.S. Army veteran with a profound legacy of service spanning over six decades, Mr. Ralph Burts, a distinguished educator with more than 43 years of dedicated service in the Mount Vernon City School District, and Jermire Pyatt received special recognition for his commitment to serving and uplifting the next generation through volunteerism, civic engagement, and youth leadership.
More than an awards ceremony, the gathering was a celebration of Mount Vernon itself—its resilience, its leadership and its long tradition of people working together to make the city better.
The honorees represented the kind of service that cannot always be measured by titles or positions. Their impact is found in the people they have helped, the lives they have touched, and the example they continue to set for others.
The Mount Vernon NAACP Community Heroes Award Luncheon reminded everyone in attendance that heroes do not only exist in history books or on movie screens.
They live among us.
They worship in our churches, work in our schools, serve in our organizations, advocate in our neighborhoods and devote themselves to making Mount Vernon a better place for all people.
On Saturday, the Mount Vernon NAACP gave them their flowers while they were here to receive them.
The Mount Vernon NAACP (Branch #2161) holds its general monthly meetings on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM. The meetings take place at Macedonia Baptist Church, located at 141 South 9th Avenue in Mount Vernon. For more information, updates, or to confirm meeting details before attending, you can check the Mount Vernon, NY NAACP Website or view the NAACP – Mount Vernon, NY Branch Facebook Page.
