The Pasadena Rotary Club will host Brandon Lamar, president of the Pasadena branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as their featured speaker on July 23.
Lamar will present on “Making a Difference: From Yesterday to Today” at the club’s weekly luncheon meeting.
“This victory is not just a win for me—it is a win for our community, our history, and our future. It is my hope to merge generations, bridging the wisdom of those who paved the way with the innovation and passion of our youth, to bring transformative solutions that resonate both locally and beyond,” Lamar said following his election as president of the Pasadena branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Lamar, who serves as vice chair of Pasadena’s Rental Housing Board, has dedicated his career to addressing community challenges including housing displacement. “About 15 to 20 years ago, we were 21 percent of the population. Now it is 6 percent, but 33 percent are homeless,” Lamar noted in a recent interview.
Born and raised in Pasadena’s District 3, Lamar formerly chaired the city’s Human Relations Commission for seven years.
He founded Merge Black Pasadena to address generational gaps in community engagement.
“I think I am the youngest person active in the Pasadena branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and I’m 32 years old. If we don’t get the younger generation involved, there will be no National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in the future,” Lamar said.
The Pasadena branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has a more than 100-year history in the city, having been chartered in 1919 as the 16th charter issued by the national organization.
The Rotary Club of Pasadena is the largest club in District 5300 with more than 200 members and typically more than 100 attendees at weekly meetings.
“Pasadena Weekly Club Meeting“ runs on Wednesday July 23, 12:00 p.m. At University Club of Pasadena, 175 N. Oakland Ave. in Pasadena. For more call (626) 683-8243 or visit https://www.pasadenarotary.com.
