The National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s San Francisco chapter hosted its 10th annual “Bridging the Generations – Golden Girls Hats and Gloves Tea” Saturday, March 14 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

In honor of Women’s History Month, hundreds of women sported pastel suits, floral dresses and decorative hats high above the San Francisco skyline in the hotel’s palatial Crown Ballroom to salute some very deserving achievers.

With radio personality Christie James as mistress of ceremonies, NCBW leaders I. Lee Murphy Reid and Maxine Hickman honored eight outstanding leaders.

Carolyn Hoskins, founder and owner of Domini Hoskins Black History Museum, was awarded the Arts Award.

“Whenmy grandson Domini asked why there aren’t any other Black people who had done anything other than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I created the museum,” she said. “Our history is so rich. We must take advantage of it and celebrate it every month.”

Community Service Awardee Betty Reid-Soskin works as the park ranger for the Rosie the Riveter World War II/Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond and was one of the founders of Reid’s Records.

At 93 years of age, Soski has lived through Plessey versus Ferguson, the deaths of MLK, Malcolm, Emmett Till and more recent historic events, including, Occupy, I Can’t Breathe protests and the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Let no one tell you that time does not bring about a change,” she said.

Gwendolyn Westbrook, CEO of the United Council of Human Services, received the Community Service Award for continuing the legacy of “Mother Brown,” serving the most vulnerable populations of the Bayview Hunters Point district.

“We feed over 8000 people a month, but we desperately need a shelter in our neighborhood so the homeless have a place to sleep and don’t have to die in the streets,” she said.

Education awardee and principal of Jose Ortega Elementary School Jolynn T. Washington shared her story about “Paloma,” a child who other educators considered a problem child. Washington stayed the course with the student and proudly read a recent letter the shared she was graduating from A & M Prairieview University with a degree in Civil Engineering.

“Children are our greatest resource, and as educators we must ensure their academic success,” said Washington.

Andrea Baker of Andrea Baker Consulting received the Entrepreneur Award, and Linda Oubre, Dean of the College of Business at San Francisco State University was awarded the Trailblazer award.

Cecilia Thomas, program manager of the Community Health Programs of the California Pacific Medical Center received the Advocacy Award, and the Health Award was presented to Dr. Mary Ann Jones, CEO of Westside Community Services for her dedication to health.

Chapter President Dr. Maxine Hickman announced the I. Lee Murphy Reed Scholarship. “This is such an honor and surprise,” said NCBW-SF Founding President I. Lee Murphy Reed.

For more information visit: ncbwsf.org.

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