Eye On Annapolis: Nine Women To Be Honored at Fannie Lou Hamer Awards on October 1st

Read here

Chosen from across Anne Arundel County, nine trailblazing women will be honored during the 28th annual Fannie Lou Hamer Awards Reception, held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Md. Many from this year’s group of honorees continue legacies begun by, or in honor of, their families. 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 — Courtney Buiniskis, Delores M. Bullock, Renee Cantori, Betsy L. Harris-Dotson, Everdean P. Holloway, Bridget E. Hutchins, Lamiya Kirby, Adriana Lee, and Renee Mutchnik — 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. 

Carl Snowden, chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, will serve as master of ceremonies. A full dinner will follow the program. Tickets are $50. The event is sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Anne Arundel County. For more information call 301.538.6353 or e-mail arankin58@hotmail.com.  Purchase tickets online at https://mlkmdflh28.eventbrite.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 immigration work by Renee Cantori, the daughter of a Jewish refugee, and Everdean P. Holloway, who helped reclaim a slice of Black Maryland history.

“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 Anne Arundel County a better place for everyone.”

Courtney Buiniskis, of Shady Side, is an educator, union organizer, community organizer, former candidate for Delegate of 30B, and the vice chair of the Anne Arundel Democratic Central Committee. She currently serves as Community Engagement Officer for the County Executive of Anne Arundel County. Buiniskis advocates for residents in southern Anne Arundel County, where she works to improve communities, the environment, constituent services, voting rights, and food insecurity. 

[...]