SDARJ to honor difference makers at Oct. 25 gala fundraiser
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will host its second annual Difference Makers Gala fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 25, at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach. Festivities will include dinner, a silent auction, DJ and dancing.
A nonpartisan organization, SDARJ educates, informs and advocates for racial justice, equality and fair opportunity. Its volunteers are active in the areas of education, legislation, advocacy and positive change for the future of young people.
Joseph Lawson, SDARJ executive director, said, “In a season when bad news dominates the headlines, we want to showcase the good news that there are great people and organizations working hard to help people in need, and making our community a better and more welcoming place for all.”
Honorees making waves in Sussex County education include the Matt Haley Trust, Lewes Public Library, Milton resident Hattie Bull and Rehoboth resident Waynne Paskins.
The Matt Haley Trust’s mission is to make the world a little better and kinder by continuing the legacy of Matt Haley. The trust works to remove institutional barriers that prevent people from reaching their full potential. It emphasizes second chances, resilience and redemption, helping individuals move beyond their past and build new futures. Since 2018, the trust has awarded grants to organizations across Sussex County and around the world.
The Lewes Public Library provides consistent and reliable equity of access in all it does for the community and beyond. Believing the opportunity to freely access information should be a right and not a privilege, library team members work to ensure resources, spaces and programming are accessible and available to everyone regardless of race, religion, beliefs, socioeconomic status and ability. The library is a place where people are free to be who they are and have an equal opportunity to learn, live, grow and strive toward their personal goals.
Hattie Bull grew up in Quitman, Ga., where racism was rampant and unapologetic. Her lifelong work has been to change the impact of racism on children and families. Her passion is to make sure all children are treated fairly and equally. Bull holds an undergraduate degree in business education, and a master’s degree in education curriculum and instruction. She works with the Cape Henlopen School District Minority Community Liaison Committee, which focuses on increasing minority hiring, addressing disparity in discipline and closing opportunity gaps for all children.
Waynne Harmon Paskins is a Rehoboth Beach native and a retired educator from Cape Henlopen School District. Paskins co-founded and/or chartered several local organizations, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization of Sussex County, Sisterhood Book Club and Sussex County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She continues to volunteer with church and other service groups locally.
To learn more, go to SDARJ.org.
