Wieckowski to Honor African American Community Leaders

From the office of Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski

Fremont – Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) will recognize four African Americans for their contributions to our community by hosting the African American Heritage Leadership Awards at noon this Sunday, February 26 at the Centerville Presbyterian Church gymnasium at 4360 Central Avenue in Fremont.

Among the honorees will be Arminta King, who is Assemblymember Wieckowski’s selection as the 20th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year. King has served as a volunteer coordinator at the Centerville Free Dining Room for more than a decade and has dedicated her life to caring for the hungry and homeless.

“Arminta is a very compassionate activist who has directed the serving of hundreds of meals, week after week, year after year to people in the Tri-Cities community,” Wieckowski said.  “She is tireless in her efforts to help people, to make them feel comfortable and welcomed.”

In addition to King, Wieckowski will also honor:

• Heidi Oatis founder of .  The clinic helps its patients cope with crisis, move on with dignity and regain their confidence.  It’s a one-of-a-kind specialty clinic, for men, women and children who are undergoing radiation treatment, chemotherapy, Burn Trauma or Alopecia.  All staff persons are licensed by the state or certified by the Board for Orthotist Prosthetist Certification. (BOC).  Among the services Oatis provides are a range of seminars and classes filled with techniques and knowledge on non-surgical hair replacement and non-stressful hair weaving systems.

• Gene Daniels, the chairman of the Newark Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. A graduate of Cal State East Bay, Daniels is a State Farm insurance agent who is active in education and business issues.  As a charter member of the Fremont/Union City/Newark Rotary Club (F.U.N. Sunset Rotary Club), he is a part of numerous community service projects.  Daniels is a Newark Memorial High School mentor and is on the Nishanti Advisory Board of Ohlone College. 

• Anthony “Tony” Alexander is an active member of the San Jose Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).   Alexander is political director for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, whose members work primarily in retail grocery stores and meatpacking and meat processing plants.  Every year UFCW 5 teams up with the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council for an annual toy drive that delivers hundreds of toys to children throughout the county.  Alexander has served on the board of the San Jose Conservation Corps, the Mayor’s Gang Task Force and organized a Solidarity Rally last year on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination.