NAACP Salt Lake Branch 107th Annual Life Membership & Freedom Fund Banquet - Friday, October 24th, 2025
Little America Hotel
THEME: The Fierce Urgency of Now
The NAACP Salt Lake Branch cordially invites you to attend and support the 107th Annual Life Membership and Freedom Fund Banquet, Friday, October 24th, 2025, at the Little America Hotel, 500 South Main St., Salt Lake City, Utah.
The evening will begin with a Reception at 6:00 p.m. and Dinner at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom (business attire). The cost is $125.00 for non-members (includes a one-year membership) and $95.00 for NAACP members. Tables are available and seats eight.
The Albert Fritz, President’s, and Life Membership Awards will be presented during the banquet. For additional information or questions, call (801) 250-5088 or email jdwnaacp@att.net. Checks can be mailed to NAACP Salt Lake Branch, P.O. Box 25414, Salt Lake City, UT 84125-0414, or pay online by clicking here.
Vincent Plair
Speaker
Vincent Plair is the former Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS), serving from January 2021 until October 2025, when the agency—after six decades of operation since its founding in the Civil Rights era—was eliminated by the current presidential administration. In this role, he oversaw CRS operations across the Western Region, which included California, Guam, Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, and, at times, Colorado and Utah.
Prior to joining CRS, Mr. Plair built a decorated career in public service through both law enforcement and the military. He served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), where his assignments emphasized community engagement, public information, training, and education. He is especially recognized for his work as a long-time crisis negotiator, collaborating with multiple Southern California tactical teams during high-risk incidents. Parallel to his law enforcement career, he served in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Colonel after a distinguished career as an infantry officer. His military service included a range of tactical, operational, and staff assignments across active duty and reserve components.
For more than twelve years, Mr. Plair has also been an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills; El Camino College; and Colorado State University Global. He teaches undergraduate courses in Administration of Justice and graduate-level courses in Organizational Leadership. Teaching and mentorship are central to his work: he has guided countless students who have gone on to pursue advanced degrees and serve in community-based organizations, law enforcement, and the military.
Mr. Plair holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston, a Master of Business from National University, and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. His research interests include leadership, alternatives to incarceration, social media and branding, and social justice.
Deeply committed to both family and community, Mr. Plair is married to educator Cindy Plair. Together they are raising two children, Ishmael (9) and Naima (7), in Whittier, California.
The Albert Fritz Civil Rights Award
The Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake
“The Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake’s mission “is to serve The People by honoring Native cultures, strengthening health and wellness programs, and cultivating community,” aligned with our vision statement, is designed to effectively address the unique needs of Utah’s urban Indian population. We provide accessible, culturally competent healthcare programs and services for the entire family. Our goal is to allocate resources effectively, supporting and developing comprehensive, limited primary care services, behavioral healthcare services, preventative health screenings, and social services in a holistic and responsive manner.”
Cultural center providing social services, health programs, vaccines, PowWows and community events for Indigenous people.
Frances P. Battle
President’s Award
Frances P. Battle has dedicated her professional life to serving as an educator in the Salt Lake City School District for fifty years. During this time, she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Presently, she is the Onboarding Administrator for new principals on the Salt Lake City School District’s School Leadership and Support Team.
Frances is the recipient of the 1989 Legislative Award for Outstanding Teachers in District 28, 1994 Utah Assistant Principal of the Year; 2003 Huntsman Outstanding Educator; 2007 NAACP Rosa Park Award; 2008 YWCA Outstanding Leader; 2020 Utah Jazz Outstanding Educator, 2024 Impact Magazine Trailblazer and more. Among her many honors, Frances has had many of her past students become educators and excel in various professions.
Whether working with students or adults, she always encourages each to “Be the Best That You Can Be.” Frances walks her talk with her colleagues to be fully invested and provide each student an equitable opportunity to learn, achieve, and succeed. She takes much pride in her profession and knows that each day is a new day on the journey of educating our present and future leaders. Her commitment is to instill the importance of helping all youth be respectful, recognize individual potential, strive for excellence and soar among the stars.
Frances is a graduate of an HBCU, Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Georgia. She received an M.ED from Westminster College, an Administrative Endorsement from Utah State University, and was humbled to be the recipient of a 2023 Honorary Ph.D in education from the University of Utah. She is actively involved in the community and a member of the Point Church. She holds life memberships in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the NAACP, and Morris Brown College Alumni Association. She is also on the Alumni Board at Westminster University, The Pastor France A. Davis Scholarship Board, and an Emeritus Board Member of Ballet West. Frances and her husband, Jerome are the proud parents of one daughter, Gretchen. Frances is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others and appreciates the impact that students have made on her professional journey.
Surae Chinn
Mistress of Ceremonies
Topics at the table, Surae Chinn brings it all five days a week as a full-time host of ‘Good Things Utah.’ ABC4’s live, two-hour, daily lifestyle show is where Surae shares the above along with important, worldly issues, giving a diverse voice and perspective to the community.
Surae joined ‘Good Things Utah’ in June of 2019 after transitioning from the 4:00 pm ABC4 News Anchor position, which she began on August 1, 2016. Surae shared her dedication to health and medicine as ABC4’s Health and Medical Correspondent from 2016-2021, leaving a lasting impression and reminder to always ‘be your own advocate.’
This award-winning journalist came to us here in Utah from WUSA9 (CBS) in Washington, D.C., where she served as the fill-in anchor and reporter. Prior to that, Surae worked in Kansas City, Missouri, as the weekend morning anchor. She was also the weekend anchor in Lynchburg, Virginia, at WSET-TV (ABC), where she received an Edward R. Murrow award for her coverage and 30-minute special on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and an Associated Press award for ‘Best Documentary.’
Souvenir Journal, 2023
2025 Journal
