Three local African-Americans will be inducted onto the the State Center Community College District’s Wall of Honor at the African American Historical and Cultural Museum on Thursday.
Ms. Dezie Woods, Dr. Isaac Okin and Dr. James Aldredge will be honored for their contribution to Fresno area communities.
“We recognize these people on the Wall of Honor at the African American Museum so young African-Americans would see people who have made a contribution to not only their city, but above and beyond that,” said Dorothy Smith, one of the longest serving members on the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees.
Dezie Woods is honored to be the first female to run for mayor in the city of Oakland. She served as the mayor from 1996 to 1997. Woods has a long history of civic involvement beginning while she was in high school. She was involved in organizing the first Fresno Youth Chapter of the California NAACP and served as the first president of the chapter.
She was also elected to the Oakland City Council in 1991. During Wood’s tenure on the Oakland City Council, she served as the chair of the council and was also a member of several other highly sought out committees. She also hosted her own TV show, Inside the Scoop, and has been featured in news articles, shows, books and magazines. In 2002, Woods was named one of the “21 leaders of the 21st Century,” by Women’s E-news Magazine.
Isaac Okin is a professor at Fresno City College in the African American Studies department. He received a Ph.D. in Urban studies and Public Administration from Claremont University.
Okin’s community involvement includes being of Recreation Leader for the City of Fresno’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation (West Fresno) for 10 years and a community planner for Fresno’s Dept. of Planning and Inspections. He also wrote a book called, A Feasibility Study of Vista Revitalization Neighborhood Program.
Some of Okin’s accomplishments consist of being the first recipient of minority planning award, First African-American to graduate with a Masters of City and Regional Planning at California State University, Fresno. He collaborated in the introduction of the IDILE Program to the African-American Studies at FCC.
James Aldredge, who is an alumnus of Fresno City College (1957) and Fresno State, received an AA and a BA degree in Therapeutic Recreation. In addition to his academic achievements in the Fresno area, Aldredge received a Masters and a Ph.D in Organization Development at the University of Southern California . He also played professional baseball for the Pittsburg Pirates (1957 – 1959).
“It’s mandatory for all citizens to try to better their community,” Aldredge says about community involvement.
The Wall of Honor was established in 1996 to honor African Americans who have participated in one way or another for the State Center Community Colleges. Its initial creators were Dr Bill Stewart, who was the chancellor and Sarah Reyes, a special assistant to the chancellor.
The doors for the event opens at 6p.m. at the African Historical and Cultural Museum located at 1857 Fulton St. Fresno. The event will also include a live band playing Jazz, R&B, blues and Reggie music for entertainment, and free refreshments provided by Sam’s Barbeque Catering Service.
