Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his dream and his vision for the future was revisited at the annual NAACP of Martha’s Vineyard dinner last Saturday night at the Grill on Main. The evening was an opportunity to pay tribute to the efforts in the past and look hard to the future. It was also a social dinner, an opportunity for the sharing of lighthearted fellowship.

Opening the gathering, Laurie Perry-Henry, local chapter president, welcomed and called on all those who came to be vigilant in recognizing the need for justice and encouraging equality among all people.

The annual dinner honored three Island residents who had done much to help the community. This year’s award recipients, three local activists, were Karen Achille, Armen Hanjian and Connie Texeira.

“We are blessed to have people who go above and beyond what is asked of them in our community, and it is an honor to recognize them for the important work they do to make tomorrow a little brighter,” Mrs. Perry-Henry said.

Ms. Achille was recognized for her work as a member and president of the board of directors of Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, for her work with the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging, the town library and also with the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group. She was unable to attend due to a prior commitment, and the award was accepted on her behalf by past chapter president Marie Allen.

Mr. Hanjian was honored for his 15 years of volunteer work as a coordinator for the Island Food Pantry and his work with Habitat for Humanity in its earliest years on the Vineyard. He has also served as a United Methodist Church minister for 35 years, among other roles.

Ms. Texeira was cited for her many contributions, especially for her role as a Dukes County associate commissioner for the homeless and her work with the Regional Network Policy Board for the Homeless. She was also singled out for her work with a number of other regional organizations: Dukes County Health Council, Vineyard Transit Authority Board and as a long-standing member of the local NAACP chapter.

The three awards were delivered by Colleen Morris, a member of the chapter’s membership and awards dinner committee. The program included two keynote speakers, Lucy Hackney and Rose Styron, in a conversation about their efforts for human and civil rights. The talk was moderated by Elizabeth Rawlins.

Another theme arose out of the dinner gathering: There need to be more young people involved in the future, for the mission is ongoing.