[vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1519266182578{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”MS NAACP March 2018 Newsletter” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:44px|text_align:center|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:50px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_custom_heading text=”Making Headlines Across the State” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:28px|text_align:center|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:34px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20italic%3A400%3Aitalic”][grve_divider line_type=”double-line” padding_bottom=”25px”][vc_raw_html el_class=”nl-nav”]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[/vc_raw_html][grve_divider line_type=”double-line”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”color” section_id=”legacy”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1519265172864{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][grve_single_image image=”12907″ image_size=”yes”][vc_column_text]NAACP National President Derrick Johnson Recognized During February Reception

On the eve of the official “reopening” of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the Mississippi State Conference hosted its first annual Legacy Reception to celebrate Immediate Past President Derrick Johnson’s appointment as the National NAACP President and CEO. NAACP members and partners from across the country filled the M.W. Stringer Lodge to support the state conference and honor the newly appointed national president.

“NAACP leaders and members are the lifeblood of our organization. We felt that there was no better time than now to also honor one of our own that’s been charged with leading us into the years to come,” said MS NAACP President Charles Hampton. “This event proved the spirit of activism and advocacy are still alive, and we are extremely grateful for the courageous leadership Derrick has provided for many, many years.”

Throughout the evening, youth from the MS NAACP’s ACT-SO program provided entertainment ranging from singing to tap dancing, electrifying the evening that was punctuated by remarks from President Johnson expressing his gratitude and urging the audience to continue investing in the educational and social institutions in our communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”color” font_color=”#1d2f4f” bg_color=”#ffd249″ padding_top=”50px” padding_bottom=”50px” section_id=”power-apac”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Power APAC School Hosts Black History Event with MS NAACP Leaders” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:28px|text_align:left|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:34px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]“There is no age limit to activism!”

On Tuesday, February 12 President Charles Hampton, Executive Director Dr. Corey Wiggins, and Youth & College Division President Marquise Hunt represented the NAACP on a Black history panel discussion at the Power APAC School in Jackson.

The school organized the assembly to help fourth and fifth grade students contextualize their month-long study of African-American history and the civil rights movement in Mississippi. The conversation connected education—particularly elementary education—with the social justice and activism.

Dr. Wiggins encouraged students by letting them know there is no such thing as being too young to get involved. “There are children in our organization who are aware of social injustices and very active in combatting them,” said Wiggins.

Students relished the opportunity to learn more about the MS NAACP and the remarkable accomplishments members have made over the years. Several students were inspired by the event and hope to find ways to become involved in social justice movements in their communities.[/vc_column_text][grve_single_image image=”12909″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_id=”member-spotlight”][vc_column][grve_single_image image=”12912″][vc_column_text]Dr. Charlotte L. Keys, State Director
MS NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Division

“I don’t want people to forget there is real work to be done.”

For over two decades, Dr. Charlotte L. Keys has worked in her hometown of Columbia, Mississippi and abroad as a drum major for Jesus and justice. Her activism, described as a cohesive intermingling of the two, is focused on addressing the spiritual and environmental needs of her people.

Her journey in the fight for environmental justice began after a toxic chemical explosion in her hometown left residents infected with cancer and other illnesses—and without any relief or knowledge of the cause of their conditions. Understanding the broader implications of the devastation impacting her community, Keys responded by founding the grassroots organization Jesus People Against Pollution (JPAP) in 1994.

Through JPAP, she set out to educate impacted communities about the availability of toxicology and environmental health information so residents could better understand the relationship between exposure to toxic substances in the environment and the possibilities of disease.

“It’s my hope to educate our people on issues that affect them and empower them to use that knowledge to solve their problems,” Keys says. “Without a vision, the people perish, so it’s my hope that those who are forced to live in unlivable conditions will envision better lives and become advocates for change.”

From summoning state policymakers to visit her community to petitioning national entities like the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Keys is committed to ensuring the welfare and well-being of her people do not go ignored or overlooked. Her dedication and ongoing work led her to be officially named State Director of the MS NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Division this year.

Dr. Key’s enduring advocacy efforts and unwavering activism are two of the many reasons she has been named our March 2018 Member of the Month.[/vc_column_text][grve_divider][vc_column_text]ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE JUSTICE DIVISION

The NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program was created to support community leadership in addressing environmental injustice, including the proliferation of climate change. This human and civil rights issue has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low-income communities in the United States and around the world.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_column_height=”equal-column” tablet_portrait_equal_column_height=”inherit” section_id=”act-so”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1522090690486{padding-top: 50px !important;}” font_color=”#ffffff”][grve_single_image image=”12914″][vc_column_text]The 2017-2018 local ACT-SO competitions were held at Henry J. Kirksey Middle School in Jackson. With approximately 50 participants competing in 16 of the 32 ACT-SO categories, the event was a huge success.

We would like to congratulate all of the participants, parents and partners who helped to make this year’s event so memorable. The following students will represent the MS NAACP in the national ACT-SO competition from July 12-15 in San Antonio, Texas.[/vc_column_text][grve_single_image image=”12915″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_id=”reading”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1519268069036{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”What We’re Reading” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:28px|text_align:center|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:34px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]

Join the wave and see what we’re reading this month!

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][grve_single_image image_type=”image-link” image=”12922″ align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahoganybooks.com%2F9780807012826||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Energy Democracy: Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions by Denise Fairchild, et al

Take a look at this anthology of racial, cultural, and generational perspectives on the global fight to save our planet.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][grve_single_image image_type=”image-link” image=”12921″ align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLocal-People-Struggle-Rights-Mississippi%2Fdp%2F0252065077||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Black Politics 2.0: The post-Obama generation is so done with the Democratic Party’s old ways by Marcia Davis (Article)

Across the country, a wave of Black candidates, strategists and grass-roots activists are making bold moves. This new cohort of Black politicians is fiercely progressive and isn’t asking anyone’s permission to make their case before voters. By and large, they don’t come from privilege, with deep-pocketed donors at the ready or with their own millions to finance a run. It’s their humble beginnings, many say, that help them connect with voters, and not solely Black ones.

Read the entire article[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”color” font_color=”#1d2f4f” bg_color=”#ffd249″ padding_top=”50px” padding_bottom=”50px” section_id=”adv-act”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Advocacy and Action: House Bill 957 Dies in Senate” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:28px|text_align:left|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:34px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]This month, the Senate struck down House Bill 957, a pernicious piece of legislation devised to dismantle the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and shortchange already underfunded public schools by almost $300 million annually.

On behalf of students and parents across our state, MS NAACP would like to thank the policymakers who took a stand in support of public schools in the often overlooked and under-resourced communities.

We must work to ensure the next generation of leaders in our state has access to quality education, and this fight will be a collaborative effort between our members and partners. We remain committed to ensuring every student of color receives a quality public education that leads to skills that allow for meaningful contributions to the community and broader society.

We firmly believe education will continue to be the great equalizer, and we encourage all who desire the best for our state to remain steadfast and committed to the ongoing fight for access to quality, fully-funded public education.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_id=”kidney”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Kidney Disease Awareness Month” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:28px|text_align:center|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:34px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Did you know that African-Americans are 3 times more likely to experience kidney failure? Because kidney disease often has no symptoms, it can go unnoticed until it is very advanced. Taking steps to live a healthy lifestyle can go a long way towards reducing risk, and early detection and treatment can slow or prevent the progression of kidney disease.

Kidney Disease Quick Facts:

• African-Americans suffer from kidney failure at a significantly higher rate than Caucasians – more than 3 times higher.
• African-Americans constitute more than 35 percent of all patients in the U.S. receiving dialysis for kidney failure, but only represent 13.2 percent of the overall U.S. population.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in African-Americans. African-Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as Caucasians. Approximately 4.9 million African-Americans over 20 years of age are living with either diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes.

On March 15, the NAACP, in collaboration with community partners, hosted a kidney health workshop in Clarksdale. We encourage all members to educate themselves on kidney disease and take steps to remain healthy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_id=”in-the-news”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”NAACP in the News” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:28px|text_align:center|color:%231d2f4f|line_height:34px” google_fonts=”font_family:Arvo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]

Join the wave and see what we’re reading this month!

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers retires
WLTX.com | March 20, 2018
http://www.wltx.com/article/news/nation-now/civil-rights-leader-myrlie-evers-retires/465-57a452d5-ed52-4acf-ac0d-3f29a7bda889

Family of Mississippi Man Said to Commit Suicide by Hanging at Ex-Girlfriend’s House Suspects Foul Play
Inquisitr | March 15, 2018
https://www.inquisitr.com/4827986/family-of-mississippi-man-said-to-commit-suicide-by-hanging-at-ex-girlfriends-house-suspects-foul-play/

Civil Rights History: Myrlie Evers is born
The Clarion-Ledger | Mar 12, 2018
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/journeytojustice/2018/03/12/week-civil-rights-history-march-12-through-18/416562002/
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The Racist Roots of Disenfranchising Voters
Jackson Free Press | February 28, 2018
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/feb/28/racist-roots-disenfranchising-voters/

Racial disparity conspicuous among Mississippians banned from voting
Mississippi Today | February 22, 2018
https://mississippitoday.org/2018/02/22/racial-disparity-conspicuous-among-mississippians-banned-voting/

FBI Investigating Black Man Found Hanging from Tree in Mississippi
EBONY.com | February 19, 2018
http://www.ebony.com/news-views/fbi-black-man-hanging-tree-mississippi[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]