The Greater Indianapolis NAACP Branch’s 42nd annual Life Membership Banquet on Oct. 13 celebrated outstanding achievements and addressed health care.
More than 300 people attended the event that featured a keynote address on health care from Matthew R. Gutwein, president and CEO of Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County, and reception remarks from Shavon Arline, NAACP National Director of Health.
Chrystal Ratcliffe, president of the Indianapolis NAACP Branch, presented three distinguished awards for the evening. They went to:
• Pathfinder Award to Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, United States District Court for Southern District of Indiana.
• Humanitarian Award to Dr. Virginia A. Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department.
• Outstanding Achievement award to Nathaniel Jones, superintendent, Metropolitan School District of Pike Township.
Gutwein’s speech focused on health care affordability and accessibility, keys to reducing disparities, as well as innovative measures to improve care.
Gutwein said, “Our health is perhaps our greatest asset, and health care is about much more than what we do when we are sick. Prevention is the best medicine, and on the local and national level, Wishard and the Marion County Public Health Department are proud to be among the innovators, educators, leaders and advocates for quality care, accessibility and equality.”
The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
