2026 NAACP Visionary Awards Gala Honors Community Change Makers
Dr. Nyeema C. Watson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Strategy and Engagement at Rutgers University Camden, accepts her award at the NAACP Camden County East Visionary Awards on May 15, 2026. Photo by Kadaysha Little.
BY KADAYSHA LITTLE | For AC JosepH Media
BLACKWOOD — On Friday, May 15, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Camden County East Chapter, held the Visionary Awards Gala.
The event was held at The Forum, located on 109 N. Black Horse Pike in Blackwood. The NAACP Camden County East Chapter invited the community to celebrate people who have made positive contributions to others in Camden County.
The Forum overflowed in excellence, filled with Black professionals of all kinds and the friends and family of awardees. To kick off the event, Chapter President Maisha Aziz invited guests to join an organized prayer and collective singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. Attendees wore elegant gowns, culture rich garments and suits. Guests that were in attendance were given assigned seats for their dining experience, which included a variety of meats, desserts and appetizers.
Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett, the first president of color for Camden Community College, was awarded at the ceremony for her contributions in education and her dedication to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities.
“A keystone of my administration was really trying to reach out more to justice-impacted students,” Pugh-Bassett stated.
Pugh-Bassett attended the award ceremony after the Camden County Community College commencement ceremony earlier in the day. There, she graduated hundreds of students, around 70 of which previously “stopped out” or took a long pause away from furthering their education.
“We are providing a pathway for students who need a first, second, third, fourth, fifth chance. We know that we all fall, but we got to get back up.” said Pugh-Bassett.
Pugh-Bassett was amongst a large group of honorees given the Visionary Leader Award, including Dr. Jubril Oyeymei, Wayne Sheriff, Pamela Mack-Brooks BSN MSN, Sioma Wedderburn LSW, Shia Tekhna and Dr. Nyeema C. Watson.
Watson is Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Strategy and Engagement at Rutgers University Camden, who works towards University’s increased civic engagement with the youth of Camden.
“We run a sweep of programs under our access and pathways initiative, where kids in grade three all the way up until grades 12 get after school programs, summer programs and weekend programs,” Watson shared.
Watson is committed to making a lasting impact through community involvement, education, and youth development. “I do the work I do, because I feel like it’s really important,” she said.
Similarly to. Watson and Pugh Basset, the work and development completed by honorees were done out of true faith in building an evolving community in Camden. Additional awards included the Paul C. Harris, Sr President’s Award presented to Masjid Freehaven and the Youth Impact Award presented to Garrett Winn Jr.
Passionate about storytelling and public engagement, Kadaysha Little has been in several roles involving communications since graduating from Thomas Jefferson University. She flourishes in the opportunity to combine voice, values, and vision to make an impact. She can be reached at kadaysha.sjejp@gmail.com.
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