Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) – Position Vacant
(ACT-SO) is a youth program of the NAACP that is “designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students.” The year-long program recognizes and awards young people who have demonstrated academic and cultural achievement. Gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with cash awards, are awarded to winners in each of 25 categories. The program is informally named the “Olympics of the mind.”
Armed Services and Veteran Affairs – Position Vacant (Lyndon Tarver, Interim)
Works closely with agencies responsible for providing services to members of the Armed Forces and Veterans to ensure programs are administered fairly and justly to the minority community.
Communication, Press and Publicity – Anita Crawley, Chair
The Committee on Communications, Press & Publicity shall: 1) seek to promote media content consistent with fundamental NAACP goals which include the elimination of racial isolation and fear, and the furtherance of multiracial and cultural understanding; 2) work to eliminate employment segregation and discrimination in those industries, [comprising the communications arts and sciences] (radio, telephone, television, motion pictures, newspapers books, related computer communications, business, cable television); 3) seek to ensure Black minority ownership and control of print and electronic media – both hardware and software; 4) monitor local and national media, especially advertising performance; 5) provide the National Office with research and data on those local businesses engaged in communications arts and sciences; 6) seek to ensure that all people have a meaningful right to choose from and have access to a variety of high quality telecommunications goods and services at reasonable cost; 7) endeavor to secure publicity for the work of the Unit and the Association in the local press and on radio, television and other media; 8) attempt to interest persons in charge of local news media on conditions affecting minority groups; 9) seek to counteract derogatory and erroneous statements in local news media about Blacks and other minority groups; 10) be responsible for forwarding to THE CRISIS items covering Unit activities and important local affairs; and 11) act as far as possible as an agency for the promotion and sale of THE CRISIS. No publicity shall be released without first being approved by the President of the Unit.
Criminal Justice- Ben Cooper, Chair
Works closely with the members of the Regional Prison Coordinator; maintain contacts with and report regularly to the Regional Coordinators; build, cultivate and maintain positive relationships between prison officials; solicit community leaders to assist in carrying out programs National Criminal Justice Committee.
The Committee on Criminal Justice shall: 1) seek to eliminate harsh and unfair sentencing practices that are responsible for mass incarceration and racial disparities in the prison system; 2) support and seek to increase trust and public safety by advancing effective law enforcement practices; 3) fight for the restoration of the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people and the removal of barriers to employment; 4) elevate the voices of crime victim survivors in order to identify and advance systemic breakdowns existing in the criminal justice system that perpetuate crime; 5) resolve to end the war on drugs, for its disproportionate collateral consequences harm communities of color; 6) seek the institution and availability of alternatives to incarceration including education, employment, and mental health services; 7) eliminate zero tolerance policies implemented in our schools which are keeping kids out of the classroom and putting them on a path from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse; 8) investigate programs implemented in our local law enforcement agencies which derail from their main purpose of safety, and order to conduct the work of federal agencies for which they do not have the capacity; and 9) seek budget modifications in states where incarceration receives more funding than education.
Education – Roslyn Green, Co-Chair and Brian Copening, Co-Chair
Seeks to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education, study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; investigate the public school system and school zoning; seek to stimulate school attendance; keep informed of school conditions and strive to correct abuses where found; promote parental involvement in education.
The Committee on Education shall: 1) seek to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education; 2) study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; 3) investigate the public school system and school zoning; 4) familiarize itself with textbook material there from which is racially derogatory; 5) seek to stimulate school attendance; 6) keep informed of school conditions and strive to correct abuses where found; 7) investigate the effects of standardized and high stakes testing practices; 8) teacher certification; 9) promote parental involvement in education; and 10) aim to be a center of popular education on the race question and on the work of the Association.
Finance – Kristian McKenith, Chair
The Finance committee shall consist of the President, Treasurer and at least one other member. Studies the financial needs of the Branch and shall be responsible for drafting an adequate annual budget.
Health Committee – Vanessa Lopez-Littleton, Chair
Work to promote, protect and maintain the health of African Americans; assess the health needs of the community; advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment, and research for all Americans; sponsor health-related activities such as health forums, fairs and workshops highlighting issues of importance to people of color and support health initiatives of the organization. National NAACP: Health
Labor and Industry – Active, No Chair
Works to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and government, wage differentials based on race, unequal opportunities for training, promotion and unfair dismissals, securing the enactment of state and federal fair employment practices legislation and working for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training.
The Labor and Industry Committee shall seek ways to improve the economic status of minority groups by: 1) working to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and government, wage differentials based on race, unequal opportunities for training, promotion and unfair dismissals; 2) encouraging greater participation in the trade union movement; 3) working to end discriminatory practices in labor unions; 4) securing the enactment of state and federal fair employment practices legislation; and 5) working for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training.
Legal Redress Committee – Position Vacant
The Legal Redress Committee shall: (1) investigate all cases reported to it; (2) supervise all litigation in which the branch is interested and; (3) keep the National office and the branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give legal advice.
Membership Committee – Active, No Chair
The Membership Committee shall: 1) work throughout the year to maintain and increase the membership of the Association; 2) be responsible for planning and organizing the annual membership campaign; and 3) be responsible on a continuous basis for soliciting new members and for securing renewals; and 4) initiate all possible means to obtain Life Members and sponsor a continuing program towards this end.
Political Action Committee – Wes White, Chair
The Political Action Committee shall: 1) seek to increase registration and voting; 2) work for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political and economic status of minority groups; 3) seek the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation; 4) work to improve the administration of justice; 5) work to secure equal enforcement of the law; and 6) the Branch President & Executive Committee keep the National Office informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority group. The Committee shall be nonpartisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.
Religious Affairs – Ruthie Watts, Chair
The mission is to enlist the support of religious leaders to promote an educational program to give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle. To work with religious groups on the membership, fundraising and political empowerment activities.
The Religious Affairs Committee shall include ministerial and lay religious leaders who are members of the Unit. It shall: 1) promote an educational program designed to give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle; 2) interpret the work of the Association to organized religious groups of all faiths; 3) enlist the support of such organized religious groups for membership, fundraising, and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; and 4) provide resource assistance for religious education and social action activities, associated with the improvement of race relations.
Youth Work Committee – Position Vacant
The mission of the NAACP Youth & College Division shall be to inform youth of the problems affecting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities; to advance the economic, education, social and political status of African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities and their harmonious cooperation with other peoples; to stimulate an appreciation of the African Diaspora and other people of color’s contribution to civilization; and to develop an intelligent, militant effective youth leadership.
WIN (Women in the NAACP) – Position Vacant
WIN shall address within the framework of the NAACP, civil rights issues affecting women and children and shall provide financial support to the Branch. The purpose of WIN is (1) enhance the leadership role of women; (2) to serve as an advocacy vehicle to address the social, economic, political, educational, health and welfare issues affecting women; (3) to advocate for the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual development of children and (4) to support the policies as well as the on-going mission and vision of the NAACP.