(Annapolis, Md. – September 13, 2025) — Chosen from across Anne Arundel County, 13 trailblazing women will be honored during the 30th annual Fannie Lou Hamer Awards Reception for their leadership inn civil and human rights. The celebration will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Maryland Hall, located at 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, Md. In the three decades since this reception began, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee has been able to raise Hamer’s profile and that of the women honored. Known for impacting their community — whether through social justice or advocacy — each woman has made a lasting mark on Anne Arundel County. This year’s honorees — Del. Tiffany Alston, Faye Belt, Diesha Contee, Alison Flores, Mary Katharine Fowler, Jalia A. Jackson, Tierra Parker, Deirdre Peters, Romey Pittman, Georgia Noonan-Sherrod, Cpl. Dannette Smikle, Kelly Smith, and Valecia Winston — join the ranks of more than 100 notable women, including former Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Administrative Law Judge Tracey Warren Parker, and former Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, who were nominated in years past.
The keynote speaker will be Mollie Byron, Esq., who serves as the secretary of appointments in the Governor’s Appointments Office for Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Award winning saxophonist Art Sherrod Jr. will provide the musical entertainment. Carl Snowden, chair of the Committee, will serve as master of ceremonies. Heavy hors de oeuvres will follow the program. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. The event is sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Anne Arundel County. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to link, bit.ly/3VPulDG or call 301.538.6353 or 443-871-5656 or e-mail arankin58@hotmail.com.
Fannie Lou Hamer, 1917-1977, was an American voting rights activist, civil rights leader, and philanthropist. The awards that bear her name recognize women from various racial backgrounds who, while not necessarily household names, have excelled in their chosen fields while working diligently to improve civil and human rights in the region. This year’s audience will hear about the legacies these women are creating or carrying on, including voter registration advocacy by Deirdre Peters and local charter high school development by Romey Pittman.
“We congratulate all of the recipients of the Fannie Lou Hamer Awards, whose commitment to social justice is seen in the work that they do daily,” said Snowden. “These women run the gamut. They are educators, activists, immigrants, and they are committed to making America a better place for everyone.”
Byron, the keynote speaker and a Maryland State Bar-admitted attorney, currently works as the Governor’s Secretary Of Appointments , where she leads the effort to build a diverse and effective administration through gubernatorial appointments across the state. In this role, Byron oversees the recruitment, vetting, and appointment of candidates to hundreds of boards and commissions, as well as key executive leadership roles. Previously, Byron served as director of Intergovernmental Affairs and senior advisor to Governor Moore, where she led statewide outreach, advised on policy matters, and coordinated the government’s response during emergencies. As director of Federal and State Government Relations for the Nature Conservancy Maryland and DC, Byron successfully advocated for environmental legislation and secured historic funding for conservation programs.
Following are this year’s recipients of the Fannie Lou Hamer Awards:
Del. Tiffany Alston exemplified resilience and dedication from an early age. She participated in the I Have a Dream program in 5th grade, which provided scholarships for high school graduates. After graduating from Central High School, Alston studied Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland and attended the David A. Clarke School of Law. After law school, Alston was appointed chief of staff to the Maryland Commission of Corrections and obtained her law license in 2004. She founded Alston Gray & Associates, LLC, and spent nearly a decade as a stay-at-home mom. She serves as a delegate for Maryland’s 24th Legislative District. Alston has volunteered with AmeriCorps and worked at the Department of Justice on issues related to date rape drugs. Her extensive community involvement includes roles in the Maryland General Assembly, leading bar associations, and mentoring through the I Have a Dream Foundation.
Gertrude Faye Allen Belt is a retired licensed nurse and activist known for her commitment to the holistic well-being of all individuals, particularly the elderly. She founded Faye’s Angel Network, which provides 24-hour geriatric home care. Belt is a Reiki Master and has been an influential advocate for change in mental health care, collaborating closely with Antonia Hylton, author of the New York Times bestseller “Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum.” Belt is involved in preserving the historical legacy of Crownsville Memorial Park and will present at the American Society of Landscape Architects Conference in New Orleans in October 2025. In addition to her professional pursuits, Belt is a member of various organizations, including Blacks of the Chesapeake, the African American Black Caucus, and Anne Arundel Women Getting Together. Her advocacy for equity, diversity, and inclusion earned her the prestigious Michelle Obama Award in 2024.
Diesha Contee is the founder of Rebuilding/Recreating Our Maternal Village. Through this initiative, Contee has organized coat drives, Easter egg hunts, Thanksgiving and Christmas events, trunk-or-treat events, mother-son dances, and back-to-school braid-a-thons, among others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Contee’s organization worked to help keep neighbors fed. A self-trained chef with a catering business called Emmanuel’s Soul Food, Contee organized Easter basket pickups for children of out-of-work parents, distributed housewares, school supplies, and clothing to families in need, ran the food pantry at Eastport United Methodist Church, and held pop-up free-food days that fed more than 200 people each week. In her “spare” time, Contee is a team mom for her son’s football league, collects diapers for young families, and takes every opportunity to learn how to be a better mother, chef, and advocate for her community.
Alison Flores joined the Anne Arundel County Government after serving as the deputy director for the Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations. She is a professional in communications, public relations, and governmental affairs, and is dedicated to ensuring political, social, and economic inclusion in diverse communities. Flores previously served as the Latino Affairs liaison with the Prince George’s County Executive, where she was responsible for engaging the Latino community and working with key stakeholders to ensure Latino residents have access to government services and programs.
Mary Katharine Fowler is a trailblazer and public servant: she is the first member of her family born in the United States and the first woman in her family to graduate from college. Fowler has dedicated more than 30 years as a public servant who makes the lives of her community better by serving them and providing access to justice. Fowler earned her law degree from the University of San Diego in 1993. After passing the Maryland Bar Exam, she began her career at the Maryland Office of the public defender, where she spent 25 years defending the rights of indigent defendants. She devoted her life to ensuring her clients receive the best legal defense. Fowler fought for her clients to have access to justice and dedicated herself to having her clients treated respectfully and reasonably in all aspects of the criminal justice system. In 2019, Fowler joined the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office as the chief deputy clerk, where she now provides access to justice to the community.
Jaila A. Jackson graduated from Bowie State University with a Bachelor of Science in biology. While at Bowie State, she joined the Exquisite Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she emerged as a campus leader focused on academic excellence, community service, and mentorship. Her involvement in student-led initiatives, particularly Women in Pre-Med, highlighted her commitment to empowering women in healthcare. Jackson mentored high school students interested in medicine and organized service projects, including the Pink Box, which provided care packages to survivors of domestic violence during the holiday season. In addition to her community service, Jackson served as a teaching assistant for the “Heredity and Human Affairs” course. She spearheaded a successful campus-wide voter registration drive and contributed over 1,300 food items to the Child Hunger Initiative Power Pack. Jackson is also a Registered Behavior Technician, assisting children with autism spectrum disorder in developing essential life skills.
Tierra Lanae Parker is a dedicated advocate for service and education. From an early age, she volunteered with her church, Community Baptist, where she learned the importance of helping others. As a student at Bowie State University (BSU), Parker has held numerous leadership positions, including Chief of Staff and Treasurer of the Student Government Association (SGA), and was crowned Freshman “Miss Bowie State.” Her internship with Senator Cheryl Green provided insight into the legislative process, which inspired her to co-found the Bowie State University chapter of the BSU-University of Maryland Social Justice Alliance. As a graduating senior majoring in criminal justice, Parker has made a significant impact as the 2024-2025 SGA president, advocating for student needs and ensuring support for her peers.
Deirdre Peters is an advocate for her community. She has registered voters in the Newtowne 20 neighborhood and, through the Bywater Planning Action Committee, worked at the Allen Apartments to help the Spanish-speaking community register to vote. Peters supported young learners through the Homework Club and helped build leadership skills in the Torch and Keystone Clubs at the Bywater Boys and Girls Club. She introduced youth to innovation and technology through STEM pop-up camps at the Eastport Recreation Center and mentored students through the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum after-school program, creating meaningful opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. Today, Peters mentors middle and high school students, guides early-career professionals, and supports her peers in personal and professional growth.
Romey Pittman has dedicated over 30 years to transforming education, focusing on culturally relevant curriculum and community-based learning for marginalized youth. She is the founder of New Village Academy, an emerging charter high school in Annapolis. Pittman’s journey began as a tutor and outdoor educator for incarcerated youth, and she has consistently addressed the disconnect between students and traditional educational structures. Her work also includes serving as a consultant and coach with Expeditionary Learning and returning to her roots as a classroom teacher at Annapolis High School. At Annapolis High, Pittman worked with students to form the Youth Advisory Board for New Village Academy. This collaborative effort involves community leaders, families, and educators to ensure students are recognized as individuals and empowered to shape their own educational pathways. Beyond her work in schools, Pittman volunteers with local historical organizations and national groups that promote dialogue across differences, such as Coming to the Table and Braver Angels, furthering her commitment to social justice and community engagement.
Georgia Noone-Sherrod, the executive director of the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center, is a distinguished leader in social justice with experience in civil rights and community well-being. Her career includes leadership roles in nonprofit organizations such as the ACLU and NAACP, where she has excelled in business development, coalition-building, and securing multimillion-dollar investments for initiatives. Appointed by Governor Wes Moore to Maryland’s State Advisory Group, Noone-Sherrod has also served as chair and vice chair of the Advisory Group and Anne Arundel County’s Human Relations Commission, fostering relationships with local organizations and facilitating dialogues in crisis situations. She is recognized for her conflict resolution expertise, legal remedies, and as a master trainer, having developed advocacy programs and compliance systems. Noone-Sherrod has also worked with the U.S. Department of Justice and completed fellowships with the United Nations Association and the Maryland Comptroller’s Office, enhancing her impact on community equity and engagement.
Cpl. Dannette Smikle’s law enforcement career spans over two decades, beginning in 2003 with the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in St. Croix, before joining the Annapolis City Police Department in 2011. Throughout her tenure with Annapolis Police, Smikle has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service and youth intervention programs. Her key assignments include leading the Juvenile Offenders in Need of Supervision (J.O.I.N.S.) Program in 2014; working with the Neighborhood Enhancement Team from 2016-2017, where she established pop-up food pantries to address food insecurity; and serving in the Reentry Unit’s Positive Impact Program from 2020-2024 to reduce recidivism through vocational training and support services. After a brief assignment to Patrol Squad C in 2024, she returned to the Chief’s Office in 2025 as the department’s J.O.I.N.S. officer, continuing her dedication to youth diversion programming and community outreach initiatives.
U.S. Army Veteran Kelly M. Smith has more than 20 years of distinguished leadership. She served as a counterintelligence agent during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later as an intelligence research specialist during the January 6th crisis. As a former Advancement Via Individual Determination educator, Smith mentored students from underserved backgrounds, equipping them with vital skills for college and career success. Smith is active in her community advocacy. She represents District 32 on the Democratic Central Committee and has served on boards such as the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, focusing on equitable policies for vulnerable youth. A lifelong volunteer, her commitments range from coaching soccer to leading Girl Scouts. Smith is currently running for Anne Arundel County Council District 1, where she emphasizes her commitment to quality education, safe neighborhoods, and a responsive government. She also serves as president of the Anne Arundel County alumnae chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., leading initiatives that strengthen the community.
Valecia Winston is a dynamic leader and advocate for social action and justice, deeply rooted in the community. Winston has worked for the Federal government at the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where she has dedicated her expertise to public health. Beyond her professional commitments, Winston volunteers with organizations including the Federally Employed Women and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, where she leads initiatives focused on economic empowerment, financial literacy, and community support, such as school supply drives and workshops. As the current president of the Continental Societies, Incorporated’s Anne Arundel County chapter, Winston has spearheaded impactful community programs, including a successful Back2School Supply Drive, providing over 75 filled backpacks and free haircuts for children. Her leadership extends to organizing social events for local families and facilitating scholarships for high school students pursuing higher education.
A committee of community residents choose outstanding women each year from a list of nominees who live and/or or work in Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel is the only jurisdiction in the State of Maryland to celebrate Hamer’s memory with awards of this nature.
“We are living right now in a world that is fighting for change on many levels, from social unrest in our cities, to expansive international crises,” said former Sen. Mikulski, a 2009 Hamer honoree. “And while the news may seem grim, there is inspiration every day around the world as people come together to bring about peaceful change.”
Fannie Lou Hamer was the youngest of 20 children born to Mississippi sharecropper parents. She was instrumental in organizing Mississippi Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and later became the vice-chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, attending the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., in that capacity.
Hamer’s plainspoken manner and fervent belief in the Biblical righteousness of her cause gained her a reputation as an electrifying speaker. She ran for Congress in 1964 and 1965, and was seated as a member of Mississippi’s official delegation to the Democratic National Convention of 1968, where she was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War.
Hamer worked on other projects, including grassroots-level Head Start programs, the Freedom Farm Cooperative in Sunflower County, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign. She died at the age of 57. Her tombstone is engraved with one of her famous quotes, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
The Annapolis-based Martin Luther King Jr. Committee Inc., founded in 1988, hosts two major events each year: The first is the annual Fannie Lou Hamer Reception in October honoring woman of different racial backgrounds who have made contributions to the community. The second event is the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Dinner held in January to honor those local citizens whose leadership in civil rights has helped keep Dr. King’s legacy alive. The proceeds from these events are being used to pay off the debt incurred by building the Civil Rights Foot Soldiers Memorial.
The MLK Jr. Committee has successfully placed four memorials to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of civil and human rights activists in Anne Arundel County, funded by private donations. A bronze statue of King was erected at the Anne Arundel Community College in 2006 after the Committee raised more than $250,000. In 2011, the Committee dedicated a plaque and garden tribute to Dr. King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, at Sojourner Douglass College in Edgewater, Md. In 2013, the Committee erected a monument in Annapolis to the Civil Rights Foot Soldiers who marched in the famous 1963 “I have a dream” civil rights march on Washington. In 2021, the Committee was the lead sponsor for the “Guardians of the First Amendment” memorial that honors the five lives lost at The Capital newspaper during a 2018 mass shooting that was the largest killing of journalists in U.S. history. For more information, write to MLK Jr. Committee, PO Box 371, Annapolis MD 21404; call 443-871-5656; or visit www.MLKJr.org.
