Waterbury
Black American and (Black) African American Community, Civic, and Cultural Leaders and Influencers (partial list)

  • James Monroe
    • Waterbury Neighborhood Council Neighbor of the Year as Person of Highest Integrity and Lifetime Commitment and Contribution
    • President of the Scoville Homes Neighborhood Association (SHNA)
    • President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
    • Vice-President, Waterbury Neighborhood Council (WNC)
    • Citizen’s Advocate
    • Community Advocate
    • Ethical and Race Relations Liaison Advisor to the Waterbury Neighborhood Council

  • James H. Gatling, PhD
    • Mayor for the Day
    • New Opportunities  President and Chief Executive Officer
    • Waterbury Regional Chamber Board of Directors Chairman
    • Connecticut Association for Community Action President
    • Waterbury Hospital Board Trustee
    • Waterbury Development Corporation Board of Directors Member
    • Waterbury Palace Theatre Board of Directors Member
    • Low-Income Energy Advisory Board Member
    • Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation Member
    • Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education Member
    • State of Connecticut Commission on Health Equity Member
    • United Way of Greater Waterbury Board of Directors Member
    • Connecticut Association of Human Services Board of Directors Member
    • Country Club of Waterbury Member
    • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Brother
    • Grand Lodge of Connecticut Free & Accepted Masons 3rd° Mason
    • Goodwill Lodge of Elks Elk
    • Waterbury Chapter of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Life Member
    • Afro-Latin-Indian Festival & Scholarship Founder & Chairman
    • Bobby Bonds Memorial Scholarship Classic Founder & Chairman
    • Malcolm Baldrige Leadership Award Recipient
    • 2011 Waterbury Black Mayor for the Day
    • 2010 One of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut
    • 2011 One of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut
    • 2014 One of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut
       
  • Ryan Gomes
    • Basketballer
    • Born in Waterbury
    • Crosby High alum
 
  • Gary Alvin Franks
    • United States Representative
    • Born in Waterbury
 
  • Sean Mosley
    • Waterbury's Diversity Committee
    • Charter Revision Commission
    • Teacher
    • Political Activist
    • Chair of the Ethnic Minority Affairs Commission for the Connecticut Educators Association
    • Connecticut Health Foundation Community Advisory Committee
    • Waterbury Police Commission
    • Waterbury Juneteenth Celebration Committee
    • ​Mayor for a Day
     
  • Hubie Williamson
    • ​Mayor for a Day
 
  • Jahana Hayes
    • Waterbury Teacher of the Year
    • Connecticut Teacher of the Year
    • United States Teacher of the Year
    • United States Representative
    • Congressional Black Caucus Member   
  • Kevin Johnson
    • Elks State President

  • Vernon L. Riddick, Jr.
    • Longtime Waterbury Police Officer
    • Chief of Police
    • Patrick Ridenhour
    • Police officer 
​
  • Kevin Taylor
    • Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury President and Chief Executive Officer
    • Main Street Waterbury Volunteer​
 
  • Monroe Webster
    • Administrative Aid to the Mayor
 
  • ​​​María Luisa Almeida
    • Cape Verde Mayor for the Day, 2023
 
  • Gregory Hadley, Sr.
    • Alderman
    • Walnut-Orange-Walsh (WOW) Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) Community Learning Center Director
    • Community Advocate
 
  • Jeffrey Hunter
    • Alderman
 
  • Isaiah Wright
    • Footballer
    • Born in Waterbury
    
  • Arlanda Brantley
    • Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association President
    • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Advisor
    • Clara Luper Youth Advisor of the Year
    • Community Advocate
    • Community Activist
 
  • Jimmy Griffin
    • Community Activist
 
  • Cicero Booker
    • Alderman
    • Community Activist
 
  • Jade Gopie
    • Mayor for the Day
    • Community Activist
 
  • Adrienne Dean Parkmond, Attorney
    • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Awardee as the Most Influential Black in Connecticut
    • The Workplace Chief Operating Officer
 
  • Larry B. Butler
    • Connecticut State Representative
    • Community Advocate
 
  • Avery J. Gaddis
    • Director of Urban Affairs for the Senate Republicans
 
  • James H. Gatling
    • President and CEO of New Opportunities, Inc.
 
  • Kevin Johnson
    • Elks State President
 
  • Vernon L. Riddick, Jr.
    • Longtime Waterbury Police Officer
    • Chief of Police
    • Patrick Ridenhour
    • Police officer
 
  • Kevin Taylor
    • Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury President and Chief Executive Officer
    • Main Street Waterbury Volunteer
​​
  • ​​​María Luisa Almeida
    • Cape Verde Mayor for the Day, 2023
​2012 Freedom Fund Award Winners:

1] Dr. James Gatling, Waterbury Regional Chamber, Humanitarian of the Year,
2] Rev. James Lilley, Pastor, 1st Assembly of God Church, Religious Service,
3] Dr. Louis Padua, Principal, Crosby H.S. and
4] Daisy De Filippis, President, NVCC, Education Service,
5] Hon. Michael Ferguson, Legal Service and
6] Marie Baskerville, Director, Unity Dance Ensemble,
7] Monica Dorkins, President, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and
8] Jeff Hunter, President, J&J, Inc., Community Service.