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The Pauli Murray Award
Adult Winner
Laila Bradford is a loving wife and mother of two but also a behind-the-scenes activist in the community. When Laila is not working for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, she is planning, organizing, and advocating for youth. She loves using her talents to empower youth and has shared her creativity and talents with youth. Laila is involved in Community Connections, The Hannah Ruth Foundation, and the Single Mom Ministry.
Laila is a strong advocate for the youth and families in her community. She promotes the importance of technology use in classrooms and at home. Laila opens her home on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for students for technology resources, mentoring, tutoring, and craft activities. She is the founder of the annual Back To School Book Bag Drive servicing over 75 families a year. She is also the founder of Creative S.W.A.G (Sisters With A Goal) in 2010. This organization of 15+ girls (from elementary-high school) focuses on building community through exposure to different experiences and obtaining personal goals. The girls have created a powerful sisterhood that supports and encourages them to build lasting bonds and sisterhood. The youth girls meet weekly for projects, informal conversations, and enrichment opportunities. Some activities include participating in the Moral March, visiting the Nelson Mandela Exhibit and the American Dance Festival, as well as an educational trip to the NC Outer Banks.
Recently she created safety bags for young ladies that were asking for feminine products. Laila solicited funding to be able to provide care packets that included feminine products, deodorant, and lotion to young girls in need. She has been a Den Mother to the Elliott Woods community for 17 years. Recently she has completed training as an RJ Circle Peacekeeper and uses circles in her weekly practice during the Bridge Builders tutoring program. During the weekly tutoring sessions, she has used local history to empower and build awareness about the community in which they live.
Many in the community call her "Mommy Laila", which is exactly what she is. She is a mother to so many being a comforter, encourager, and nurturer. She is a strong believer in having a servant's heart and gives freely and unselfishly to the residents in her community and the community at large. Laila is one of the kindest, most compassionate, and trustworthy members of our community. We are so fortunate to have her energy, lovingkindness, and commitment to serve in Orange County.
Youth Winner
Kendall Lytle is a senior at Middle College High School at Durham Technical Community College. Subjects such as Social Justice and Civil Rights are her motivation to help her community, state and beyond. She plans to major in Political Science and minor in Sociology at Elon University this fall. After graduating from Elon, she plans to attend Law School in order to become a Civil Rights Attorney. Her motto is she wants to help "those who aren't dealt the best hand in the Criminal Justice System".
Kendall is an active member of her community. As the President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council, she and her fellow members and advisors work to advocate for the marginalized communities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, as well as educate the community about the issues people of color face within the community. She's also a member of the Carrboro Youth Advisory Board, the Vice President of her school's National Honors Society, and she works part-time at a restaurant in Carrboro.
Business Winner
Present Day on Main is co-owned by Sophie Suberman and Soteria Shepperson.
Photo by: Landon T. Bost
Habitat for Humanity partners with families to create better, healthier, more financially stable lives. With our help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.
Through the use of volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds homes for families in need. Homes are sold with zero percent interest mortgages. Homeowners make monthly payments, which are set at 30% or less of their income, making homeownership an affordable reality.
In addition to building new homes, Habitat also partners with families who live in non-Habitat homes to assist them in making repairs to their homes, such as exterior painting, siding repairs, or cleaning, repairing, or installing ramps and handrails, etc. By offering repairs as well as new construction, Habitat ensures the most cost-efficient means of providing affordable and safe homes.
Habitat for Humanity is a private nonprofit organization that is funded through the generosity of local individuals, businesses, faith organizations, and foundations. Since 1984, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County has served over 300 families.
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Keynote Speaker: Julie Cohen
Julie Cohen, along with her filmmaking partner Betsy West has directed four theatrical documentaries including My Name is Pauli Murray, which was distributed by Amazon Studios and nominated for an NAACP Image Award, RBG, which was nominated for an Academy Award and won an Emmy, and the forthcoming Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down. Previously, Julie directed 8 solo documentaries and worked as a staff producer for NBC News. She holds a master's degree from Yale Law School.
