Forester, past NAACP president honored

Earl Ford, past president of the Vancouver branch of the NAACP, was honored Saturday morning at the Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration at Clark College.

Ford earned the Mosaic Compass Award for outstanding community service and diversity advocacy in the event hosted by the Vancouver-based consulting and recruiting firm Mosaic Blueprint.

The event featured performances by jazz vocalist Clairece Rosati, poet Emmett Wheatfall, a presentation by Dr. Terryl Ross and a sermon by Pastor Matthew Hennessee of Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in Portland.

Ford serves as natural resources and land management planning staff officer for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

He has also served as past president of the Longview chapter of the Society of American Foresters, served for 10 years as president of the Vancouver chapter of the NAACP and for four years was vice chairman of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs.