2007 We Recognize...
The Pride of Montgomery held it's Fourth Annual Spring Gala community Awards Event. Our lodge truly understands the commitment and the unselfish dedication that it takes to champion worthy causes in our community. This year we are delighted to honor two pioneer African American women for their zealous and tireless community efforts.
2008 Community Honoree - Ms Anita Neal Powell
Anita Powell is a native of Rockville, MD. She has been employed since 1970 for the Department of Health and Human Services. Ten years she served as Fire Safety Floor Coordinator and participated in diverse roles on boards, commissions, advisory groups and public safety for the County and State. She is professionally trained in the areas of research, social causes, public safety, EEO/AA, historical preservation and interpretation, dispute resolution, diversity/racial issues, public speaking, facilitation, community policing, counseling, writing and minority health issues.
She is featured in numerous print and news media, keynote speaker, and quoted frequently on television and radio; spokesperson on the purchase of Uncle Toms Cabin presented throughout the world in 2006; author of African American Heritage: A Guide to African American Sites in Montgomery County, African American Heritage: A Journey through History, and A Reenactment of the Commencement Ceremony of the George Washington Carver High School and Junior College.
She is currently enrolled in the 2008 Nonprofit Leadership Institute of Montgomery College. She has a Bachelor of Public Administration from the Univ. of the District of Columbia; attended classes at the Univ. of MD and the Johns Hopkins University.
She has numerous awards, citations and recognition commendations for the past 38 years of volunteer and community service. Recent awards includes, Maryland Top Women (2007), African-American Chamber of Montgomery County Community Service of the Year; Special Congressional Recognition, County Executive of Montgomery County, MD, NAACP Civil Rights Award and Community Activist, 2006 MLK, Jr. Humanitarian Award.
2008 Community Honoree - Reverned Jane E. Wood
Rev. Wood is a native of Montgomery County, MD. She is the daughter of the late William E. Wood, who was a proud and long standing Elk member and officer in our lodge during 1940, 1950 and 1960’s era.
She was appointed as a licensed part-time local pastor from 1988 to 1992 at Simpson United Methodist Church in Mt. Airy, MD. In July 1992, she was appointed to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Boyds, MD and during her pastorate, a major renovation was undertaken and completed. In 1998, she was appointed to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lusby, MD, becoming the first African American to serve in this church history. In 2003, she was appointed to Jerusalem – Mt. Pleasant, her home church, where a major renova- tion project and elevator installation were recently completed.
She was ordained in 1997 as a Deacon, Associate Member of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. She graduated from Wesley Seminary’s Course of Study School, Washington, DC in 1995. She is a graduate of the Univ. of MD’s University College with a B.S. in Social Sciences (May 2006) and is currently enrolled at Wesley Theological Seminary.
She has several published articles: Essence Magazine, July 2000; Women of Color Study Bible, Nia Publish- ing, Atlanta 2000; Promises from God for Women of Color, Nia Publishing, Spring 2001.
She gave the Invocation and Benediction for the 2007 Rockville Memorial Day Parade; an honoree of the Calvert County’s National Political Congress of Black Women and at the NAACP’s Prayer Breakfast. She was a panelist at the College of Southern Women’s History Celebration and served on the Board of Directors of SMILE Ecumenical Ministries, Inc. and on the Affordable Housing Committee.