Special to arkadelphian.com
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — For more than 20 years, the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus has honored individuals and organizations that have contributed positively to the state. On Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, eight individuals and one organization will be recognized in North Little Rock for their outstanding contributions to their communities.
Zach Bledsoe of Arkadelphia will receive the President’s Award this year. Since 2021, Bledsoe has served as chair of the Democratic Party of Clark County. He was elected Clark County Justice of the Peace by just five votes the following year. He became the first LGBTQ+ elected official in Clark County. Bledsoe was re-elected this past November by 18 votes and remains a strong advocate for the Clark County Library.
Bledsoe also served as president of the Arkansas Stonewall Democrats for three years. Recently, he was appointed interim secretary of the Democratic Party of Arkansas. He is currently a visiting professor at Henderson State University. In addition, he teaches political science at the University of Arkansas-PTC in Little Rock as an adjunct instructor.
Other honorees include:
Irma Hunter Brown Women’s Leadership Award
Jill Floyd, Arkansas State Director, USDA Rural Development, Little Rock, AR
Thomas E. Patterson Educational Award
Claudine James, National Board-Certified Teacher and social media content creator, Malvern, AR
Annie McDaniel Abrams Community Service Award
Alpha Gamma Theta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., North Pulaski County, AR
Dr. Jerry Jewel Government Leadership Award
Waymond Brown, Judge, Arkansas Court of Appeals, Pine Bluff, AR
Calvin King Economic Development Award
Cory Anderson, Chief Innovation Officer, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Little Rock, AR
President’s Award
Faith Seahorn, Owner, FS Event Services LLC, Bryant, AR
Barry Jefferson, President, Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP, Jacksonville, AR
Lifetime Achievement
Lottie Shackelford, Chair, Democratic National Committee Women’s Caucus, Little Rock, AR
A scholarship will also be awarded to a deserving student who is committed to public service and attends one of the four Arkansas Historically Black Colleges and Universities including Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, Shorter College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The event will be held at the Venue at Westwind, 7318 Windsong Drive. There will be a pre-awards reception at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and a program beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 each. Visit ARKdemocraticblackcaucus.org for more information on sponsorships and tickets.
The Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus (ADBC) was established in 1982 as an extension of the Arkansas Democratic Party. It addresses African Americans’ concerns within the party. It aims for a proportionate representation of African American Democratic candidates, promotes and monitors elected officials’ performance, and disseminates information to the African American community. The president is Debrah Mitchell of North Little Rock.
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