October 7th is the date set for the annual Freedom Fund Dinner sponsored by the Hutchinson Chapter of the NAACP. For over fifty years the Freedom Fund Dinner has served as an active reminder to the community of the work undertaken by the NAACP in furthering the cause of social justice for all in our society. The Hutchinson Chapter of the NAACP is an all volunteer organization that derives its funding through membership dues and the proceeds from the Freedom Fund Dinner.
The featured speaker for this year’s event is Mr. Carl Brewer. Mr. Brewer a native Kansan has served as a trail blazer in many forums, social, the military, industry, and of course political. Mr. Brewer worked in the aviation industry for over thirty years starting as a sheet metal worker and retiring from Spirit Aviation as a member of the Senior Management Team. At the same time Mr. Brewer served in the Kansas Army National Guard, becoming the first African American President of his Officer Candidate School Class. He later served as a Company Commander of Infantry and Artillery companies for the Kansas National Guard.
In 2001 Mr. Brewer focused his attention on local politics representing Wichita’s City Council District 1 from 2001 until 2007. In 2007 Brewer successfully ran for Mayor of Wichita defeating incumbent Carlos Mayans. He served as Wichita’s 100th Mayor and was the city’s first elected African American Mayor.
Mr. Brewer has served his community in many capacities over the years in order to make Wichita a place anyone would all want to live. He is married to Cathy Brewer and father to four children, two daughters and two sons.
The Freedom Fund Dinner starts at 6:45pm, Saturday October 7th, in the Gallery Theater at the Stringer Fine Arts Center on the campus of Hutchinson Community College. Tickets are $40.00 and may be purchased or donations made at the NAACP office at 23 East 1st Street (620/6697202), the Hutchinson/Reno Arts and Humanities Council office at 23 East 1st (620/6621280), or through any NAACP Executive Board member.
For more information please contact Mr. Darrell Pope at 620/6697202 or Mark Rassette at 620/662-1280.
