Longview, TX (City of Longview) — The Unity Honors luncheon will honor persons who have been leaders in the pursuit of social justice and racial equality and have helped improve relations in our community. The event is hosted by the Unity and Diversity Committee, which is associated with the City of Longview Partners in Prevention program. More than 500 people are expected to attend this year’s Unity Honors luncheon, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m., Thursday, January 31, 2013, at Maude Cobb Convention Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

The honorees this year are Mrs. Andrea Mayo and Mrs. Cissy Ward. During her 35-year-tenure with Longview Independent School District, Mrs. Mayo served as a community leader through active volunteering with the East Texas Workforce Solutions, ArtsView Children’s Theatre, Good Shepherd Medical Center Foundation and the Martin Luther King Annual Celebration. Mrs. Ward served on the organizing board for: Longview Habitat for Humanity, Longview Community Ministries, Longview Women’s Commission and East Texas Literacy Council where she served as the organization’s first executive director. In addition service recognition awards will be presented to Super 1 Foods and Branden Johnson, NAACP-Longview Branch president.

Keeta King, City of Longview staff liaison to the committee, said, “Ticket sales doubled this year, and we are excited that so many community members will join together to honor two very deserving individuals”.
For more information, contact Partners in Prevention at 903-237-1019.

About the Honorees:

Mrs. Andrea Mayo was born in Rodessa, Louisiana and graduated with honors from Louisiana Tech University and later received her post graduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has been an active member of Galilee Baptist Church for many years and a proud Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has received various honors by community organizations including recipient of the Women of the Year Award, Starts Over Longview and the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award. She is been described as, “the conscience and calming factor in a room in every situation.”

Mrs. Cissy Ward was born Elizabeth Anne Clark in Waco Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech University and was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve on her alma mater’s Board of Regents 1991-1997. She is a faithful member of the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and has worked as the coordinator of Community Services for many years. Mrs. Ward was paramount in the organization of the City of Longview Unity and Diversity Committee, formerly known as the Race Relations Committee. She is described by friends and family as, “the most direct and loving person one can ever meet.”

About the Special Service Award Recipients:

Branden Johnson has been a member of the Unity and Diversity Committee for many years, and led a subcommittee of volunteers in launching the committee’s annual Multicultural Festival. Johnson is the NAACP president for the Longview/Gregg County and spends countless hours in the community volunteering at Community Outreach Mission and serving on the Cultural Arts Activities Commission. He is passionate about community organizing; teaching life skills and bringing young men together in the Original East Texas Baptist District. The daily work of making adversaries into allies motivates him to keep fighting for the freedoms some take for granted.

Super One Foods and its founders believe community involvement and volunteerism is important. The company donates time and funds to Pine Tree Independent School District, Longview Independent School District, Longview Thanksgiving Food Drive, City-wide Clean-up, the Annual Juneteenth Celebration and many other worthy community endeavors. The company credits diversity as the key component to its success.

About the Unity and Diversity Committee
Committee meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 12:00 p.m. at the Longview Public Library, 222 W. Cotton St. If you would like more information about joining the Unity and Diversity Committee, please contact Keeta King at 903.237.1255 or kking@longviewtexas.gov or visit the Partners in Prevention website at PIP.LongviewTexas.gov.