NAACP Committees

The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Chair is Jennifer Escobar-Echols. Please contact her for any additional information. The Committee on ACT-SO shall follow these rules:

1. Must be properly registered annually with the National Office and follow all directives outlined by the National ACT-SO Program;
2. Understand that providing an instrument through which African-American youth are encouraged and inspired toward excellence in academic and cultural pursuits while benefiting from the maximum support of their communities;
3. Uphold its goal of ACT-SO that affords the same respect for African-American Scholastic and cultural achievement that is given to heroes; and
4. Recognizing that ACT-SO conducts annual academic competitions for students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) in NAACP Branches throughout the country in accordance with the published guidelines of the National Office and oversight of the National Director of ACT-SO Program.

Please visit www.ACTSOMontclair.org for information about the Montclair ACT-SO program.

The Armed Services and Veteran’s Affairs Chair is Clarence Jackson. Please contact him for any additional information. The Committee on Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs shall:

1. seek to establish a working relationship with those agencies in government, national, state and local, having the responsibility in the affairs of members of the various Armed Services and Veterans and to see that the programs to which they are responsible are administered fairly and justly in members of the minority community;
2. study conditions pertaining to veterans and members of the Military Service and their dependents and/or survivors in the community;
3. serve as a center of information on matters affecting the members of Active Military, Reserves, State National Guard and Veterans;
4. maintain a repository of materials, information and forms to be used in assisting veterans and/or dependents of veterans and military personnel with their problems;
5. receive and act on all complaints relative to acts of discrimination on account of race, color, creed, or denial of benefits to which they are entitled because of discrimination;
6. prepare a quarterly report on committee activities to be submitted to the Executive Committee of the unit and the National Director of Armed Services and Veteran Affairs.

The Committee on Community Coordination shall enlist the support of other community organizations on issues affecting the interests of African Americans and other communities of color.  Please contact us if you have an interest in forming collaboratives that help to strengthen the mission of the Montclair NAACP.

The Communications, Press and Publicity Chair is Cary Chevat. 

The Committee on Communications, Press and 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. To 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.

Please contact the Chair for more information on this committee.

The Committee on Criminal Justice shall work to advance the Smart and Safe Campaign at the state and local levels by promoting alliances, research, legislation and initiatives that will reform criminal justice policies and advocate for public safety as a civil right.

The Committee on Economic Development shall implement local efforts and support national programs to preserve and expand economic empowerment among African-Americans and other communities of color by:

1. researching and establishing relationships with private and public entities; supporting the work of the National Office in monitoring the progress and
2. activity of private and public efforts entities designated by national programs; and
3. implementing local efforts to promote the growth of business ownership;
4. increasing employment and job creation; and
5. encouraging business development and home ownership.

The Education Committee is chaired by James Harris. Please Contact Mr. Harris with any questions regarding the Education Committee. 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.

The Freedom Fund Committee is chaired by Beverly Bussey. Please contact Ms. Bussey with any questions you may have about the Freedom Fund Committee. The Freedom Fund Committee shall plan and conduct fundraising activities, entertainment and other projects, for local and national purposes within the scope of the Association’s program. It shall work closely with the Finance Committee. Please visit www.NAACPFreedomFund.org for information about past and upcoming Freedom Fund Events

The Health Committee is chaired by  Rosita Dotson. Please contact Ms. Dotson with any questions regarding the Health Committee. The Health Committee shall:

1. Work to promote protect and maintain the health of African Americans;
2. Assess the health needs of the community;
3. Advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment and research for all Americans;
4. Sponsor health-related activities such as health forums, fairs and workshops highlighting issues of importance to people of color; and
5. Support health initiatives of the Association.

The Housing Committee is chaired by William Scott. Please contact Mr. Scott with any questions regarding the Housing Committee. The Housing Committee shall:

1. Study housing conditions in the local community;
2. Receive and seek to address complaints of discrimination;
3. Oppose all restrictive practices whether public or private; and
4. Disseminate information and render such other assistance which may eliminate discrimination in housing.

The Branch is actively recruiting a volunteer to serve as Chairperson of the Labor and Industry Committee.  This 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.

The Legal Redress Committee is chaired by William J. Ewing, Esq. Please contact Mr. Ewing with any questions you may have of the Legal Redress Committee. The Legal Redress Committee shall:

1. Investigate all cases reported to it.
2. Supervise all litigation in which the Unit is interested; and
3. Keep the National Office and the Branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give general legal advice.

The Branch is actively recruiting a volunteer to serve as Chairperson of the Membership and Life Membership Committee. Please contact President Pelham if your strength is in recruitment.     This 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;
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.

You may purchase your membership online here!

The Political Action Committee is chaired by Mr. Roger Terry.  Please contact him with any questions you may have about the Political Action Committee. 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. Keep the National Office and the Unit informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The Committee shall be nonpartisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

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.

State/State-Area Conferences Branches, Prison Branches and Young Adult Councils of the Association may organize Women in NAACP (WIN) committees subject to the control of the Executive Committee and to such rules and regulations as the Board of Directors many enact WIN committee shall consist of a Chairperson and/or Co-Chairperson and at least three (3) other members. WIN shall address within the framework of the NAACP, civil rights issues affecting women and children and shall carry out other civil and cultural activities to enhance membership and provide financial support to the Branch. [/dropdown_box]

The committee shall be the function of the Young Adult Committee to:

1. Support all branch activities;
2. Stimulate interest through and solicit membership of 21-40 year olds;
3. Create a multidirectional mentorship program (Branch to Young Adults and Young Adult to Youth Units) to serve as support bridge from Youth and College to Branch participation;
4. Provide networking and social opportunities for young adults in the local community; and
5. Encourage the participation of young adults in all activities and leadership within the Branch.

The Committee on Youth Work for the State/State-Area Conferences shall consist of all Youth Council Advisors, Youth Council Presidents and five (5) persons appointed by the State/State-Area conference President. The Committee on Youth Work for Branches shall consist of the Youth Council Advisors(s), the Youth Council President(s), and five (5) persons appointed by the Branch President. The Youth Council Advisors and the Youth Work Committee shall choose the chair of the Committee. The Youth Work Committee shall develop and coordinate the programs of the senior and youth groups. The Branch Committee on Youth Work shall turn the names, addresses and membership dues of youth solicited by the Branch over to the appropriate National Office recognized youth group, if any, in their community. The Youth Work Committee shall monitor the youth membership in the Branch. If there is no local youth unit recognized by the National Office, the Committee shall recommend the Branch apply to the National Office for a Youth Charter and organize the appropriate youth group.