Excerpt from President Ollie Garrett’s Gala Speech:

Good Evening. It is so good to be here tonight and see each and every one of you. It has been three L-O-N-G years since our last gala. At that gala, we celebrated the “Tabor Vision Becoming a Reality.” The Tabor Economic HUB was a dream being born through years of advocacy; planting seeds; hard work and sacrifice. It was a seed planted many seasons ago, with a promise of the harvest to come.

I am grateful to our partners that believed in sowing seeds for business, education and the Black Business Equity Fund. Thank you!

We were challenged. The HUB opened in January, 2020 and the first case of Covid was reported in February, 2020. By March, the world came to a standstill.

In this time of uncertainty, we were like a tree planted by the water. We received nourishment and strength from you. 2022 is here and we are “Prospering Where We Are Planted!”

Covid-19 tried to bury us but we stood still and firm. What Covid-19 didn’t know was that we were planted in good soil. Even with the shutdown; reopening; Covid spacing, masks and sanitizers; the HUB stayed open AND flourished.

In my childhood I planted seeds and pulled weeds with my Aunt in Mississippi. I know that the harvest is determined by seeds you sow, and I know what it means to be PLANTED IN GOOD SOIL & TO PULL THOSE DARN WEEDS.

The legacy of Langston Tabor is prospering because of seeds you helped plant. You watered them and tended to the soil. We knew that we were fighting for the survival of our businesses, our children and our community. Your support helped Tabor nurture the seeds and continue the work that allowed the HUB; aided students and businesses in our community flourish.

This is good work. Important work. Whole community work. We remain focused on our vision; thriving in our purpose; anchored in integrity; and prospering where we are planted!

Thank you for trusting me, thank you for Trusting Tabor 100 to flourish so that the fruits of our labor can ripen.

I leave you with this question tonight… What Seeds are You Planting Today?