TLOD Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Top Teens of America

When Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD) conceived the idea of creating a youth-based organization in 1969 to help “alleviate the moral and social problems engulfing youth ages 13-18 in communities and to empower them to become productive members of society,” they knew it would cultivate teens into becoming future leaders that would leave their mark on the world.

Fifty years later, TLOD continues to identify members of Top Teens of America (TTA) who participate in service projects, hands-on mentoring, leadership development, educational opportunities, as well as travel to local and national conferences planned for them to take advantage of cultural, scholastic and social development. This week, current and former TTA members from all over the country will converge on the city of Atlanta for the largest reunion during TLOD’s 41st Syn-Lod conference June 26-July 2, at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.

Led by TLOD National President Lady Drema Lee Woldman, National TTA President, Teen Benjamin E. Chapman, and Honorary SynLod Chairman Danielle Holley-Walker, Ladies, Teens and Lords (husbands of Top Ladies) will commemorate the 50th anniversary of TTA during its biennial meeting. Syn-Lod conference highlights include:

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

7-9 a.m.

TLOD Community Beautification Walk – national service clean-up project with Top Ladies, Top Teens & Lords in partnership with Keep Atlanta Beautiful on Courtland Street.

9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

TTA College & Career Day – representatives from HBCUs, local colleges and national armed forces and professionals will engage Top Teens in roundtable discussions about their college and career paths, a presentation from UNCF about college funding, and a special presentation on careers in STEM.

8 p.m.-12 a.m.

President’s 50th Anniversary TTA Hall of Fame Ribbon-Cutting & Reception featuring a meet and greet with former TTA National Presidents and notable TTA alumni.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

8-11:30 a.m.

TTA Blessings in a Backpack National Service Project - Top Teens will pack 600 backpacks with non-perishable food items to local agencies/schools in the metro Atlanta community in support of TLOD/TTA’s National Community Outreach Initiative Blessings in a Backpack.

8 p.m.-12 a.m.

50th Anniversary TTA Awards honoring former Top Teens for their service efforts in TLOD’s five national thrusts: Service to Youth, Status of Women, Senior Citizens, Community Beautification & Community Partnerships.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

12-2 p.m.

Inaugural National TTA Alumni Association Installation for the newly established alumni organization for former Top Teens.

8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Literacy Café – Top Teens will perform poetry/spoken word, and participate in activities including a speaker's tournament, spelling bee, and talent show and hear from special guest authors who will present their published books.

MONDAY, JULY 1

8-11:30 a.m.

Top Teens Recognition Breakfast featuring Tim King, Founder & CEO, Urban Prep Academies – Top Teens will be recognized for their community service efforts, followed by scholarship presentations and the Blessings in a Backpack donations to Haynes Bridge Middle School, Mary Hall Freedom House, C.H. Gullatt Elementary School, Forest Park High School and Action Ministries Piedmont.

8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Closing Gala featuring National Recording Artist Howard Hewitt – former TTA member Rev. Eric Vincent Thomas, Pastor Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta will receive the TTA Humanitarian Award.

Notable former Top Teens who have made a difference in their communities include:

• Danielle Holley-Walker, Honorary Syn-LOD 2019 Conference Chairman and Dean and Professor of Law - Howard University School of Law
• Georgia State Senator Harold V. Jones, Democratic Whip
• James Shaw, Jr., Waffle House Hero and Tennessee State University Alumnus
• Jeannae McCray-Sims, Transformational Change Consultant at Shell and Former National TTA President
• Rev. Le’Zaire Reese, Senior Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church & Former National TTA President
• Rev. Robert Oten, Former National TTA President

Syn-Lod attendees will also participate in national service projects in the Atlanta community, leadership training, pop-up wellness clinics, and elect new TLOD and TTA national officers. The 41st Syn-Lod Conference is being hosted by Atlanta Peachtree, North Atlanta and NewRock chapters based in metro Atlanta.

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About Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated

Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated (TLOD) is a non-profit professional humanitarian organization, organized in Tyler Texas, in 1964, with the purpose of organizing the talents, energies and skills of women nationally in a collaborative effort to help alleviate the moral and social problems confronting youth. Since its inception, the organization has expanded its objective to include its focus on youth known as Top Teens of America (ages 13-18), improving the status of women, service to senior citizens, community beautification and community partnerships. TLOD’s 100+ chapters nationwide support the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Sickle Cell Disease Awareness (SCDA) and the awarding of national, Area and local scholarships to Top Teens located in each of TLOD’s six geographic areas. In addition, TLOD has been a long standing partner with the March of Dimes, Keep America Beautiful, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), AARP, and recently became partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Balm in Gilead. There are six (6) geographic Areas of TLOD throughout the United States. For more information about TLOD, TTA and programs, visit www.tlodinc.org, follow us on Facebook at TLOD, Inc. – National and @tlodinc1964 on Instagram and Twitter.