Bethlehem’s NAACP, founded in 1945, calls itself the “eyes and ears” of social justice in the Christmas City and the Lehigh Valley. President Esther Lee, with her spirited style and church lady hats, is known for contentious town halls and frequent demonstrations on equal rights, education, suffrage, fair housing and other issues affecting us all.

But on Feb. 28, the raised fists of the NAACP were holding forks and spoons as over 250 well-wishers of all races celebrated “the pursuit of liberty and justice for all” at the 71st annual Freedom Fund Banquet held at the Meadows.

One of the accomplishments celebrated was the first African American secretary to be hired in the Bethlehem Area School District. Latoya Small will work at Broughal MS. Superintendent Joseph Roy was among those who congratulated her.

In addition to Roy, the banquet was also attended by Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez, Police Chief Mark DiLuzio and State Rep. Steve Samuelson. All are frequent guests at NAACP panels throughout the year.

Songs, poetry and piano playing preceded keynote speaker Lowes Moore. He graduated from the University of West Virginia and went on to play for several years in the NBA before becoming the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club in Mount Vernon, N.Y., where he grew up.

That’s basketball country. At least seven of Moore’s peers have gone on to play in the NBA. At 6 foot 1 inch, Moore was told he was too small for professional basketball.

“It’s not about height; it’s about heart,” he’d answer naysayers. During his time as a Division I and NBA baller, “I carried around with me all those who didn’t make it.”

As much as he loved the limelight, he said that everything he did in college and professional sports set him up for his real life’s work - children. Moore, who is married with four childre, brought his wife and a few cousins to the banquet. Admitting that he will never live in a gated community, Moore proudly spoke of each of his four children and said he and his wife have mentored about 30 children.

“God has always provided,” he said.

He called the NAACP “an act of love” and added, “[e]very community deserves an Esther Lee.”

Bonita Crowe, president of the Easton NAACP, and Fred Montgomery, first vice president of the Allentown NAACP, also attended the banquet.

This year’s Distinguished Citizen Award went to Winston Alozie, program director at the Bethlehem Boys and Girls Club. Alozie was also the banquet’s pianist.

Alozie is a 2005 graduate of Freedom HS. In 2010, he earned a degree in developmental psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Student Appreciation Awards were conferred on Liberty HS’s Victor Santiago and Unique Small, as well as Freedom HS’s Tahlia Suggs, Spencer Oliver and Shayla Marshburn.