Lakeview thanks a leader

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Reed was one of several honorees at the event, which included hundreds of members from NAACP branches across Long Island. The awards recognize those who are civil rights activists in their communities and who play significant roles in improving their local NAACP branches.
Family members and friends describe Reed, 69, as a leader, a “giver” and a staunch advocate of doing what is right. She is so dedicated to increasing membership in the Lakeview branch of the association, they say, that she is never without a membership application.
Before presenting Reed with her award, Lakeview branch President Bea Bayley suggested that “steadfast” should also be used to describe Reed’s character. “Rener is steadfast in her commitment to the NAACP, steadfast in her commitment to our community and steadfast in her commitment to her family,” Bayley said. “We truly appreciate our civil rights pioneer.”
As a resident of Lakeview for 45 years, Reed said, she has witnessed many positive changes in race relations on Long Island. This, along with her passion for improving educational opportunities for the next generation, is what motivates her to remain active in her community. “No matter what, I always want to work to make the community better,” said Reed, a wife, mother of four and grandmother of seven. “We have to keep moving forward and make our country better for our young people, so I am going to continue to do what I can to help.”
Reed has been at the forefront of many changes in the Malverne School District, which serves residents of Malverne, Lakeview and Lynbrook. Most notably, she worked to unite district parents by helping to create the Better Education Organization in 1978. That year she spearheaded efforts to secure bus transportation for students living less than a mile from the district’s elementary schools.
“We took a bus up to Albany the summer of 1978 to get the kids approved for transportation,” Reed explained. “Gordon Ambach, who was the state’s education commissioner, ruled in favor of giving the students transportation and it was just a short time before the school year began.”
Reed also played an instrumental role in establishing initiatives to unite the diverse Malverne district. She helped implement the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which features inspirational musical performances by students in honor of King’s birthday. At the celebration, administrators present teachers, coaches and others who are active in the district with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for continuing King’s legacy. Reed became the first recipient of the award in 1987.
“Rener is a big supporter of the Malverne School District ... and she always encourages young people to do their best,” said her husband, Claude. “She is a big advocate for education ... and she really wants to see the youth excel in school and in life.”
Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, who represents Lakeview, and the Lakeview Youth Federation also honored Reed at the luncheon for her 40 years of service in the district. “Rener Reed has really been a pioneer here in District 12 because she has worked to improve relations with all of the kids, parents, teachers and residents in the district,” said Charles Nanton, the federation’s chairman. “She has devoted her life to public service, and she is all about progress ... and we’re very blessed to have someone like Rener here in our community.”
The theme of this year’s NAACP luncheon was “Still Relevant After 100 Years,” in honor of the organization’s 100th anniversary on Feb. 12. The luncheon, held at the Brentwood Campus of Suffolk Community College, also featured a speech by the Rev. Al Sharpton.
With the recent election of President Barack Obama, and with the country celebrating its annual Black History Month, NAACP officials noted that the racial equality that so many black leaders fought for throughout history is coming to fruition in America. “We have made it,” said Hazel Dukes, the NAACP’s New York State Conference president. “We still have many hills to climb and many more valleys and rivers to cross ... but we will continue to move forward in this positive direction.”
Since its inception in 1909, the NAACP has aimed to “ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination,” according to its Web site. For many, it is the most influential civil rights organization in America.
“What was great about the luncheon was that hundreds of people came together to recognize all of the great things people have done to make their communities better,” Reed said. “The NAACP is really a remarkable organization, because it fights against injustice and unites people of all colors ... and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
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