Harford's Grassroots Steering Committee Holds Black & White Gala
(ABERDEEN – August 3, 2008) – The Grassroots Steering Foundation, Inc. of Maryland presented its Maryland Campaign 2008 Black and White Summer Gala last night in Harford County at the Holiday Inn. Their on-going voter empowerment initiative is called “Vote the Power”.
According to Myrtle Ridgely, the matriarch and president of the organization, “The event celebrated the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election and also honored the 45th Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech.”
Tandra Ridgely, Vice-President of the voter empowerment non-profit, was the key organizer.
While Maryland Public Television’s Charles Robinson gave an excellent oratory on this year’s presidential election, the keynote was delivered by civil rights leader Carl Snowden of Anne Arundel County.
According to former school teacher Brenda Clayton, “What an opportunity and exciting experience it is to work with an organization that is un-bought and un-bossed by anyone or an organization.”
Clayton serves as treasurer and also travels internationally on a regular basis to Africa, Europe and beyond.
She added, “I have always been involved in civil rights in one way or another starting with the Harford County NAACP Youth auxiliary around the age of eight. Mrs. Janice Grant, along with her husband, Mr. Woody, threw me in head first and I came up swingin’. It gave me the background I needed for the work required with ‘Grassroots’. Also, as with the founders of Grassroots, I was inspired by the Million Woman March and I know that this work is a ministry from God.”
In attendance at last night’s affair were Sheriff L. Jesse Bane, Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, Baltimore’s State Senator Catherine Pugh, and a litany of others including Harford County politicians and residents.
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