Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Introducing Benjamin Todd Jealous the 17th President of the NAACP


This letter is a bit late to hit the blog, but all the more important,


Next week a new chapter will begin at the NAACP when Benjamin Todd Jealous, 35, becomes only the 17th President of the NAACP in its 99-year history. Mr. Jealous has spent his professional life working for the very social justice concerns for which the NAACP advocates. We believe that he is a perfect match, and I think you will agree.


A life-long community activist, Mr. Jealous organized his first voter registration drive at age 14, with a determination that stemmed from being raised in a family that has actively supported the NAACP for five generations.


He began his career as a community organizer with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund working on issues of healthcare access in Harlem. At age 21, Jealous moved to Mississippi to work as a field organizer as part of a successful campaign to stop the state's plan to close two of its three public historically black universities, and convert one of them into a prison.


During that time, he took a job at Mississippi's Jackson Advocate newspaper investigating human rights abuses. His reporting for the frequently firebombed weekly paper was credited with exposing corruption amongst high-ranking officials at notorious Parchman State Prison. His investigations also helped to acquit a black small farmer who had been wrongfully and maliciously accused of arson.


He soon became Managing Editor at the Advocate, and eventually went on to serve as Executive Director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of more than 200 black community newspapers. While at the NNPA, he rebuilt its 90-year old national news service and launched a web-based initiative that more than doubled the number of black newspapers publishing online.


His career path has also included leadership positions at Amnesty International, where he directed the U.S. Domestic Human Rights Program and published their widely acclaimed 2004 report, Threat and Humiliation: Racial Profiling, Domestic Security, and Human Rights in the United States, leading efforts to rebuild public support against racial profiling post 9/11.
Most recently, Mr. Jealous served as President of the Rosenberg Foundation, an independent institution that supports civil and human rights advocacy related to the economic interests of working people.


A Rhodes Scholar as well as an accomplished activist, Mr. Jealous is one of the best and brightest of his generation; and he represents a new generation for the NAACP. To learn more about him, visit the NAACP website.


I hope you will join me in welcoming Benjamin Todd Jealous to our organization. I know we can expect great things from his leadership.


Sincerely,


Julian BondChairman of the Board, NAACP

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

2009 Calendar of Events

March 18, 2009
Century Luncheon
McAlisters, noon-1 PM
$25 for lunch and discounted membership

March 21, 2009
Film and Discussion with Famous Director Kevin Wilmont
CSA: Confederate States of America
Langston Hughes Theater, 6 PM

At 6 p.m., on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Lincoln University Langston Hughes Theater, don’t miss the highly acclaimed Sundance Film fest award winning showing of “CSA: Confederate States of America” followed by a discussion and Q&A after the show lead by the film’s director, Professor Kevin Willmott. The Jefferson City NAACP Branch and Lincoln University’s NAACP Student Chapter host the event. Tickets for students are free with a valid ID and $5 for non-students.

Call Rod Chapel at 816-309-5009 or e-mail at rod_chapel@embarqmail.com for more details.

March 25, 2009
Century Luncheon
McAlisters, noon-1 PM
$25 for lunch and discounted membership

April 25, 2009
Prayer Breakfast
A salute to 100 years of the NAACP making CIVIL RIGHTS a REALITY for all
Lincoln University Scruggs University Center
8:30 AM

April 28, 2009
Century Luncheon
McAlisters noon-1 PM
$25 for lunch and discounted membership

May 18, 2009
Bowling Tournament
Westgate Lanes, 7 PM
Teams of 5 at $20 per person
More information -Glen Bonner 573-690-1097

May 20, 2009
Century Luncheon
McAlisters, noon-1 PM
$25 for lunch and discounted membership

June 6, 2009
Missouri NAACP State Quarterly Meeting
Hilton Garden inn, 3300 Vandiver Dr., Columbia MO
David Williams, acting Director for MoDOT Equal Opportunity & Diversity Division will be present.
573-814-5464
Columbia, 10 – 5 pm

July 10-12, 2009
Missouri Legislative Black Caucus
Kansas City Missouri
http://www.mlbcf.com/


July 11-16, 2009
NAACP 100th Centennial Convention
New York, NY

August 10, 2009
Bowling Tournament
Westgate Lanes, 7 PM
Teams of 5 at $20 per person
More information -Glen Bonner 573-690-1097


September 26, 2009
Missouri NAACP State Quarterly Meeting
Columbia, 10 – 4 pm

October 3, 2009
Freedom Fund Dinner
6 PM

General Body Meetings the 3rd Monday of every month from 7-8 PM at the Jefferson City Community Center located at 608 E. Dunklin, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Visit us on the web at http://jcnaacp.blogspot.com/