Contact:people helping people
Dana Vickers Shelley
Fifty-one years ago this week, NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Wylie Evers was murdered for organizing blacks to register and to vote in Mississippi. In 2014, too many restrictions still limit access to the ballot box for blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, the elderly, youth and low-income citizens. Our basic rights are in jeopardy, and we must act.
As the Congressional leadership shifts, it is essential that Congress work in a bi-partisan manner to protect the right to vote – the sacred franchise that is the hallmark of a true democracy. Through the legislative process — beginning in the Senate and continuing in the House — the Voting Rights Act Amendment must be supported and passed. It is the only guarantee for all citizens to be heard and for all votes to be counted.
The National NAACP will honor the memory of Medgar Evers by issuing a call to action for full civic participation and representation in 2014, including:
  • Engaging directly with Members of Congress to call for hearings in the Senate and the House on the Voting Rights Act Amendment;
  • Enlisting registered voters to assist elders and first-time voters with securing all required documents and identification to register and vote;
  • Encouraging faith leaders to educate their congregations on the importance of being registered and of voting in all elections; and
  • Educating and deploying our network of 2.5 million digital activists to support unfettered access to the polls, and to urge that every vote be counted.
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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our five “Game Changer” issue areas here.

 NAACP Strategic Plan: Game Changers for the 21st Century

For more than a century the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has worked to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Inspired by the force and commitment of The Call of 1909, which denounced the growing oppression of people of color and mobilized thousands to work to bring this discrimination to an end, the NAACP seeks to establish a strategic direction as it embarks on developing The New Call for the 21st Century.

In the fall of 2011, the NAACP launched a process to develop its strategic direction and plan, creating a powerful vision for the future, and setting organizational goals that would focus its work for the 21st Century.

The five NAACP Game Changers below address the major areas of inequality facing African Americans that are the focus of the NAACP’s work.

Economic Sustainability

A chance to live the American Dream for all

Every person will have equal opportunity to achieve economic success, sustainability, and financial security.

Education

A free, high-quality, public education for all

Every child will receive a free, high quality, equitably-funded, public pre-K and K-12 education followed by diverse opportunities for accessible, affordable vocational or university education.

Health

Health equality for all Americans including a healthy life and high-quality health care

Everyone will have equal access to affordable, high-quality health care, and racially disparate health outcomes will end.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Equitable dispensation of justice for all

Disproportionate incarceration, racially motivated policing strategies, and racially biased, discriminatory, and mandatory minimum sentencing will end. Incarceration will be greatly reduced and communities will be safer. The death penalty will be abolished at the state and federal level, as well as in the military.

Voting Rights and Political Representation

Protect and enhance voting rights and fair representation

Every American will have free, open, equal, and protected access to the vote and fair representation at all levels of the political process. By protecting democracy, enhancing equity, and increasing democratic participation and civic engagement, African Americans will be proportionally elected to political office

Making these game changers a reality will require the Board of Directors’ leadership, broad outreach in venues such as regional and state conferences, an effective program to educate national, state, and local leaders about the plan and participation of the units.

The program for units will contain clear messages regarding strategies and plans and will provide training so that members can adapt the aims of the plan to the needs of their community and move it to action. Member feedback will be brought into national level discussions in order to identify the resources and support needed for members to be successful
in their local communities.

NAACP Staff will work closely with members, providing training, support, and expertise on the Game Changers and will periodically review work plans to ensure alignment with local needs.

 

By CCNM

I have functioned as a Business and Media Consultant over the past sixteen years and spent many years developing my capacity to function in our ever evolving use of technology, communication, education and training.