The Pasadena Senior Center auditorium was jam packed with the City’s finest Thursday morning to celebrate the 20th Annual Black History Breakfast and recognize the accomplishments of black Americans both locally and nationally who continue to shape our society for generations of the future.

The early morning breakfast is a two decade strong tradition that is hosted by the San Gabriel Valley Chapter National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and brought Pasadena Police, Fire, local leaders and residents under one roof to break bread and honor black history in a welcoming community setting.

“What’s important about hosting the Black History Breakfast is that it brings us all together, it gives insight into black history in and of itself. We have this breakfast to share our historical events and what African Americans lend to society as a whole,” said Pasadena Police Commander Cheryl Moody.

Moody is the Pasadena’s first black female Commander and is also one of the founding members of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of NOBLE. In 2014, she was elected to a position on the National Executive Board as the Region VI Vice President.

NOBLE has nearly 60 chapters and represents over 3,000 members worldwide that represent chief executive officers and command-level law enforcement officials from federal, state, county, municipal law enforcement agencies, and criminal justice practitioners.

The organization serves more than 60,000 youth through its major program components that include Mentoring, Education, Leadership Development, and Safety.

“NOBLE’s motto is ‘Justice By Action’ so lot of the things we do in our community really relates to promoting that motto,” said Pasadena Police Officer Domino Scott-Jackson who is an Executive Board Member of the NOBLE San Gabriel Valley Chapter.

“The importance of celebrating black history in this way allows all of us in the community as well as police personnel and fire personnel to get together and celebrate our accomplishments,” Scott-Jackson added.

Breakfast attendees included Mayor Terry Tornek, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez and several other community leaders.

“It’s very important to celebrate Black History. Many of the things that African Americans have done over the years here in this country have made this country much better than it would have been otherwise and so we’re here to celebrate that. Also, another part of history is to make sure we understand some of the challenges that we’ve gone through over the years and so we don’t want those challenges to happen again for others,” said Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington.

Congresswoman Judy Chu presented a certificate of congressional recognition that honored NOBLE’s continuous efforts in the Pasadena area.

“Today we have come a long way and certainly we see this in Pasadena. We’ve had black Americans who have been outstanding leaders of this community,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu. “I know that together we can work together to make sure that things are hopeful for the next generation,” Chu added.

John Muir High School Class of 2016 graduate John Marshall Pointer also received a certificate of recognition for his extensive community involvement as an ambassador of the next generation of Pasadena youth.

“It’s really great to see the representatives of police and fire that serve this community and we know that in Pasadena, African Americans and blacks in this community mean a lot and they have done so much and made so many sacrifices for all of those that live in this community and today is a day to honor that and to honor that history,” said District 1 Councilmember Tyron Hampton.

For more information about the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), visit www.noblenational.org/home.aspx