President Lallene J. Rector Honored at the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet
December 2, 2019
On Saturday, November 16, 2019, the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) Evanston/North Shore Branch honored Dr. Lallene J. Rector, president of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, for her outstanding service in higher education at the Freedom Fund Banquet. Held at the Evanston Golf Club, this was the 55th annual banquet of the Evanston/North Shore Branch.
The event honored five leaders for their extraordinary work in their respective fields throughout the Evanston and North Shore communities. Fellow honorees included Kenneth James, President and CEO of Amita Health St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Monique Parson, President and CEO of McGaw YMCA, Rev. Daniel Ruen, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, and Susan Trieschmann, Executive Director of Curt’s Café. The guest speaker was Reverend Dr. Otis Moss III, Pastor of Trinity UCC Church in Chicago. Dr. Moss is a social justice advocate and has built his ministry on community advancement.
When asked about receiving the service award, President Rector said, “What an incredible honor to receive this recognition, but it must also go more broadly to the Garrett-Evangelical community: to the faculty, staff, and students, to 50 years of advocacy and justice-seeking in the Center for the Church and the Black Experience, to the Garrett-Evanston Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program we sponsor in the 5th Ward of Evanston, and to the many other related expressions of fighting for equity, welcome, and inclusion of those discriminated against. Our efforts continue and I am deeply blessed to be part of the Garrett Team!”
Founded in 1917, the Evanston/North Shore NAACP branch is a non-profit, membership organization established with the objective of ensuring equality of minority groups. Much like the national NAACP, the branch has consistently strived to be an advocate for civil and human rights for African Americans and people of color. To learn more, go to www.evanstonnaacp.org.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church, was founded in 1853. Located on the campus of Northwestern University, the seminary serves more than 450 students from various denominations and cultural backgrounds, fostering an atmosphere of ecumenical interaction. Garrett-Evangelical creates bold leaders through master of divinity, master of arts, master of theological studies, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of ministry degrees. Its 4,500 living alumni serve church and society around the world.