The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, announced the award recipients who were honored at its Access, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting, June 30 – July 1. The Summit was held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center, 500 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh. The Summit theme: “The Work goes on, the Cause endures and the Dream shall never die,” is based on a speech given by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and the association remembered the Senator at the Summit.

This year, the AAAA’s awardees are: the Job Accommodation Network and Military Missions in Action, Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award; Cheryl Queen and Rick Stone, Compass Group North America, Cesar Estrada Chavez Award; Major General Joseph A. McNeil, Franklin E. McCain, and Jibreel Khazan of the “Greensboro Four,” Rosa Parks Award; RiseSmart, Champion of Diversity Award; and Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr., Director, Urban Investment Strategies Center, Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Drum Major for Justice Award.

AAAA President ReNee S. Dunman commended the awardees for their contributions to the cause of equal opportunity, access and diversity in their various fields. “All of these award recipients have shown through their good works an outstanding commitment to equal opportunity. They are to be commended for their lives in service to the disadvantaged and are distinguished role models for the next generation,” she said.

Receiving the Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award was Military Missions in Action (MMIA), located in Fuquay – Varina. MMIA provides needed services to veterans who have suffered serious injury resulting in disabilities. The majority of Military Missions in Action's services involve home modifications needed to enable independent living for disabled veterans on their return from service.

The Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award is presented to an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding service to a community based organization or issue.