Nominated by African People’s Solidarity Committee Chairwoman Penny Hess, this is what she had to say about Comrade Matos:
I am nominating Matos Kaumba for Comrade of the Quarter.
I had the honor of working with Matos during the process of building the recent tour featuring Chairman Omali Yeshitela of the African People’s Socialist Party, Secretary-General Luwezi Kinshasa of the African Socialist International, Deputy Chair Ona Zene’ and myself in Cologne, Germany in June 2013 following African Liberation Day.
During the process of building the tour over the past several months, I have seen Matos undergo a transformation from a new, less experienced comrade who perhaps had a bit of “fear of responsibility,” to a real leading force of the Uhuru Movement in his city and region.
Matos has proved himself to be a true problem-solver, always struggling to make things happen in the best way, to find solutions to contradictions and to put in place the protocols laid out for the work.
Through his leadership, Matos was able to pull together other Party and movement comrades in his region to construct a growing organizational unity and the sense—perhaps for the first time—of how a Party organization must move and function.
This process, which involved struggle and leadership, built a strong esprit de corps among the comrades.
Matos created a division of labor, enabling the other comrades to rise up to their best selves by carrying out key roles in the tour process.
He very systematically raised all the resources called for by both the African Liberation Day and Tour committees through creative fundraising methods, consistency and determination.
He also proved to be an excellent organizer, drawing all kinds of people into the work to build the event and bringing out about 80 people to the event to see the Chairman.
Matos made sure that the logistics went very smoothly and that all the details needed for the comfort and well-being of the Chairman and other Party guests were attended to.
He was a generous host!
Matos slept on the floor of the kitchen of the apartment where the guests were staying.
He also volunteered to accompany the guests to Berlin, the next stop on the tour, where he provided invaluable service as translator and guide to navigating the public transportation system.
The work and stance that Matos took during the process of building and carrying out the tour was outstanding.
His leadership and dedication were exemplary.
As the winner, Matos will receive the following:
A $50 gift card
The Biko Lumumba Comrade of the Quarter Plaque
An article in the Burning Spear Newspaper
Recognition on UhuruNews.com and on UhuruRadio.com
Recognition at an Uhuru Event
Other Nominees:
We also want to recognize the other great nominees whose work did not go unnoticed by the committee.
Cara Locke, Volunteer Coordinator of Uhuru Foods, Oakland, CA
-Nominated by Wendy Snyder, Uhuru Foods and Pies, Oakland, CA
Charles A. Oliver, Graphic Designer of the Office of Economic Development, St. Petersburg, FL
-Nominated by Ona Zene' Yeshitela, Deputy Chairwoman of the African People’s Socialist Party
Recognition Committee:
Luwezi Kinshasa, Secretary General of the African Socialist International, London, England
Dedan Sankara, Interim Director of Agit-Prop, Cleveland, OH
Ushindi Watu, Membership Director of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement, Newark, NJ
Maureen Wagener, Director of Uhuru Foods and Pies, Oakland, CA
Tiffany Murphy, Project Director of One Billion Strong, Philadelphia, PA
William Lockett, Managing Editor of The Burning Spear newspaper, Chicago, IL
Jesse Nevel, National Outreach Coordinator and Local Chair of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement, St. Petersburg, FL
Ona Zene' Yeshitela, Chair Recognition Committee, St. Petersburg, FL
Tammy Harris, Vice-Chair Recognition Committee, St. Petersburg, FL
