NAACP

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of over 250,000 slaves in Texas at the close of the Civil War. The holiday is now celebrated nationwide. The celebration takes its name from June 19, 1865, the day federal troops arrived in Galveston to enforce the  Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Proclamation had taken effect on January 1, 1863, it freed few, if any, slaves at that time.

News of the war’s end did not reach Texas until well after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox . Many speculate that the news was deliberately withheld so that slave owners could bring in one last crop. Others believe that the news was delayed because the messenger traveled by mule while some believe the original messenger was murdered en route. (more…)

Benjamin Todd Jealous

President and CEO

Benjamin Todd Jealous served as President of the Rosenberg Foundation- a private independent institution that supports advocacy efforts to make significant improvements in the lives of California’s working families and recent immigrants. He was the fourth person to hold the position since the Foundation was founded in 1935.

Mr. Jealous was Director of US Human Rights Program at Amnesty International. While there he led its efforts to pass federal legislation against prison rape, rebuild public consensus against racial profiling in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and expose the widespread sentencing of children to life without the possibility of parole. He is the lead author of the 2004 report Threat and Humiliation: Racial Profiling, Domestic Security, and Human Rights in the United States, the release of which received coverage by major media outlets in most states and on six continents.

Formerly, Mr. Jealous served 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 spearheaded the creation of a proprietary software system that enabled dozens of local papers to begin publishing online. (more…)

On March 29, 2008, the NAACP of Otero County will host its annual Educator of the Year Award Banquet at the Desert Sand’s Club at Holloman Air Force Base. Social Hour begins at 6:00 PM and the Program begins at 7:00 PM. Keynote speaker is Dr. Joyce Hill of New Mexico State University – Alamogordo.

Cost/Meal Selection
(Corporate Tables $200.00)

Brisket/Slow Roasted Chicken: $20.00
Vegetable Lasagna: $19.00

Come out and pay tribute to our 2008 Educator of the Year. Price includes the cost of the meal. All Member First receive a $2.00 discount. For more information, contact Ms Monica Hunter at 921-4502. RSVP no later than March 25, 2008!

If you need a ride there and back, call the Transportation Coordinator, Virgil George, at 572-3610.

NAACP Hosts Upcoming Leadership 500 Summit in Arizona

Gathering will set agenda, create continuing network of nation’s emerging leaders

“Leadership By Design: Ensuring Our Legacy” is the theme of the 4th Annual NAACP Leadership 500 Summit, being held at the Phoenician Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona May 22-25. Participants will attend two and a half days of workshops, interactive panel discussions and facilitated general sessions led by prominent private sector, non-profit, corporate and community leaders. (more…)

The New Mexico State NAACP Annual Conference is being held in Alamogordo, NM and hosted by the Otero County NAACP Branch on October 19 and 20, 2007. Our theme this year is “Into the Future: Honoring the Past.”

The Keynote Speaker will be Marsha K. Hardeman. Ms Hardeman is a graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a Masters of Arts in Public Administration. She was later awarded her Juris Doctorate by the University Of New Mexico School Of Law. Hardeman owns and operates her own management/training practice, IMAGES, Ltd. and
travels throughout the United States as a management trainer, consultant and speaker. (more…)

Friday, October 19, 2007

Registration at Elks Club: Noon-6:00 p.m.

State Executive Board Meeting: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Conference Organization meeting: 3:10-4:30 p.m.

Social Hour with Entertainment by New World Drummers: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Dinner at Elks Club: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Honor Guard: Holloman AFB
Invocation and Welcome: Rev. Warren Robinson, President NAACP of Otero County

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Registration at Elks Club: 8:00 a.m.-Noon

8:45-9:30 a.m.-Workshop I: Youth, Prevention and Intervention-Ms. Carolyn Scott, CYFD; Main Room
9:45-10:30 a.m.-Workshop 2: Historically Speaking-Johnnie Scott and Florence Hamilton; Main Room
10:45-11:30 a.m.-Workshop 3: Topic TBA-Dr. Anita Raynor, Adult Basic Education Director, NMSU-A
10:45-11:30 a.m.-Workshop 4: Family Justice Campaign: Designed for establishing and maintaining relationships on state legislation between NM NAACP branches and their local legislators; Bob & Agnes Moses, Reena Szcaepanski of Santa Fe; Lodge Room (more…)