The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York State Conference kicked off its 90th anniversary celebration with a Generations of Justice Gala.
Held at the Bowery Savings Bank Building, the milestone event brought together civil rights leaders, elected officials and community advocates from across the state.
Distinguished guests included Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams. They gathered to honor nine decades of civil rights advocacy and civic engagement.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the NAACP NYS Gala on Oct. 9. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
NYS Attorney General Letitia James (left) and NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy William (right) at the gala. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
From left to right: NAACP NYS Civic Engagement Chair Charles Johnson, Harlem Judge J. Machelle Sweeting, NAACP NYS Executive Director Chris Alexander on the blue carpet at the gala. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
NAACP National Board of Directors Chairperson Emeritus Roslyn Brock on the blue carpet at the gala. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Erie County Medical Center Corporation CEO Andrew L. Davis (left) and his wife. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Attorney Lurie Daniel Favors, the host of the Lurie Daniel Favors radio show, (left) and partner. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Broadway Producer Lamar Richardson on the blue carpet at the NAACP NYS Gala on Oct. 9. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
NAACP NYS Civic Engagement Chair Charles Johnson (left) and 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President Candis Tall (right) at the Gala. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams interviewed on the blue carpet. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at the NAACP Gala. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Left to right: Assemblymember Latrice Walker, former First Deputy Mayor of New York City Sheena Wright, and former New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Choir and musicians perform on a heightened platform at the NAACP NYS Gala. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Radio Host Angela Yee hosted the NAACP NYS Gala on Oct. 9. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Governor Kathy Hochul attended the NAACP NYS Gala on Oct. 9. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Former Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin (left) and Judge J. Machelle Sweeting (middle) at the NAACP NYS dinner on Oct. 9. (Ariama C. Long photos)
The evening featured inspiring remarks, live musical performances, a choir and a celebratory blue carpet.
“The NAACP award means a lot to me, it’s a culmination of my health care journey over the years and hopefully I’m not finished yet,” said Erie County Medical Center Corporation CEO Andrew L. Davis, who received the Health & Humanity Award.
“The NAACP is as effective as it was in the 50s and 60s, and we need it now more than ever before. This organization in its 90th year under new leadership, we’re talking about generations of leadership and generations of justice,” said NAACP National Board of Directors Chairperson Emeritus Roslyn Brock. “It’s so critically important to us today because we believe that courage will not skip this generation.”
