Congresswoman Laura Richardson was among five people honored March 9 at Los Angeles’ Sheraton Gateway Hotel during the New Frontier Democratic Club’s Installation Awards and “Hattitude” Brunch. This was the 48th celebration of club, which started in 1960. This year’s honorees were recognized for their leadership and innovation in community-wide solutions.

“It has been a great year in the New Frontier Democratic Club,”said President Carolyn Fowler.

“I am proud to have been the president during a year of such unprecedented growth. In this exciting election year my plan is to ensure that we continue to grow new programs that inform and benefit the community. We will advance the goals of the Democratic Party through public policy and political issues, analysis, education, fundraising, recruitment, coordination with other Democratic groups and other activities...”

With that said, Berlinda Fontenot-Jamerson was up first to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, given for her role as a “trailblazer” in the field community relations and diversity management. Her forty year career has included leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusion and human resources at companies like Sempra Energy and Disney. Next up was Danny Bakewell Jr. who through his career as a real estate developer has created thousands of opportunities for women and minority owned business.

Bakewell received the Community Service Award. Richardson received the Political Achievement Award. She has set records, said the NFD, in United States Politics, “having served all three levels of government: local, state and federal all in the span of one year.”

In her post, Richardson is currently lobbying for peace, better access to health care and funding for HIV/ AIDS programs.

Union Leader Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice president of AFL-CIO won the Trailblazer Award for her unending work in the labor movement and for spreading the “get out the vote” message to the community.

President of the newly formed Security Officers Union of Los Angeles (SOULA) Faith Culbreath won the Labor Leader Award for her fight for low wage workers.

Rounding out the ceremony was the “Hattitude” Awards.

“As we chart a course for New Frontier Democratic Club we salute a succession of leaders who have carried the mantle of this organization throughout our state and country,” Fowler said.

“They have represented both a source of strength and a challenge to those who follow.”

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