BALTIMORE (July 11, 2019) The NAACP will recognize 68 Graduates from the inaugural 2018 NAACP Next Generation (NextGen) Young Professional Leadership Program during a graduation ceremony and reception at the NAACP 110th National Convention in Detroit, MI on Tuesday, July 23, from 5:00 pm to 7:00. The graduation ceremony will feature the pronouncement of the 2018 NEXTGEN class, highlight the social justice work of the graduates, and award graduation certificates by NAACP National Leaders. Rev. Dr. William Barber, II, member of the NAACP National Board of Directors and architect of the Moral Monday’s Movement, will offer the keynote address to the graduating class.
NextGen is a 12-month leadership development training program for young adults between the ages of 21 and 35 to develop civil rights competencies and leadership skills necessary to be active and effective social justice advocates. The NextGen program features a series of webinar & classroom trainings, case studies, and group exercises. The NextGen curriculum encompasses leadership development, legislative action, unit administration, communications, fundraising, budgeting, intergenerational relations, ethics in leadership, advocacy, and program planning consistent with NAACP strategic plan: Game Changers for the 21st Century.
The inaugural class launched in January 2018 and concluded in December of the same year with a total of 68 graduates. The ceremony will also recognize six Scholars of Excellence, which are 2018 participants that will continue in 2019 to complete the curriculum.
NEXTGEN Graduates are actively involved in their local Branches as subscribing life members of the NAACP, elected officers and executive committee members. They have recruited hundreds of new members, developed voter action plans for their local communities and have become actively engaged on a wide range of social justice issues. The 2018 graduating class includes NAACP leaders from 29 different states.
To learn more about the 2018 NEXTGEN Graduates, visit here: NEXTGEN Leaders.
To attend the NAACP NEXTGEN Graduation Ceremony & Reception, please RSVP here.
2018 NEXTGEN GRADUATES
California
Jeridel Banks, North San Diego Branch
Kailin Scott, Riverside Branch
Connecticut
Julie M. Jones, Stamford Branch
DC
Brittney Calloway, DC Branch
Carmel Henry, DC Branch
Rikki O’Reilly Jones, DC Branch
Solomon Waller, DC Branch
Florida
Valerie Cambridge, Seminole County Branch
Daniella Pierre, Miami Dade Branch
Vanessa Toolsie, Orange County Branch
Georgia
Kiara Blue
James Woodall, Bulloch County Branch
Illinois
Jonathan Jackson, Chicago Branch
Roy Mazuchowski, Carbondale Branch
Jessica Thomas, Peoria Branch
Indiana
Ellis Gabriel Dumas III, Gary Branch
Iowa
Kameron Middlebrooks, Des Moines Branch
Kentucky
Corbin Snardon, Paducah Branch
Louisiana
Leigh-Ann Williams, New Orleans Westbank Branch
Maryland
Najee Bailey, Howard County Branch
Charnell Ferguson, Prince Georges County Branch
Yanet Amanuel, Prince Georges County Branch
Massachusetts
Zane Crute, Mystic Valley Area Branch
Ayanna Polk, Boston Branch
Maya Saunders, Boston Branch
Michigan
Tami Rey, Kalamazoo Branch
Minnesota
Classie Dudley, Duluth Branch
Leslie Redmond, Minneapolis Branch
Mississippi
Trey Chinn, Laurel Jones County Branch
Jhai Keeton, Moss Point Branch
Nevada
Claret Stephens, Reno Sparks Branch
New Jersey
Ashton Burrell, New Brunswick Branch
Yolanda Melville, Atlantic City Branch
Calvin Pierce, II, Orange Maplewood Branch
Kerwin Webb, Greater Red Bank Branch
New York
Robert Blue, Buffalo Branch
Kanasha Blue, Buffalo Branch
Anthony Ellis, Parkchester Branch
Althema Goodson, Ossining Branch
Jessica Harrison, Parkchester Branch
Robyn Liverpool, Brooklyn Branch
Candace Modeste, Jamaica Branch
LaShanda Myers, Mid-Manhattan Branch
Shanelle Washington, Mid-Manhattan Branch
North Carolina
LaKeisha Brown, Greensboro Branch
Clarence Bradley Hunt, Greensboro Branch
Dawna Jones, Chapel-Hill Carrboro Branch
Ohio
Kayla Griffin, Cleveland Branch
Ronisha Jordan, Cleveland Branch
Danielle Sydnor, Cleveland Branch
Oklahoma
Shalondra Harrison, Oklahoma City Branch
Pennsylvania
Seema Kazmi, Cecil County Branch
South Carolina
Melencia Johnson, Aiken County Branch
Tennessee
Ebony Capshaw, Oak Ridge-Anderson Branch
April Ricks, Memphis Branch
Christy Turner, Memphis Branch
Texas
Tevin Ellis, San Antonio Branch
Brandy Fields, Arlington Branch
Porschia Harris, Houston Branch
Jessica Reyes, San Antonio Branch
Jalyce Taylor, Houston Branch
Virginia
Kenny Boddye, Prince Williams Branch
Roquel Crutcher, DC Branch
Cameron Ricquitta Anderson, Fairfax County Branch
Tavorise Marks, Chesterfield County Branch
Zoel Stackhouse, Prince Williams Branch
Washington
Louis Harris, Snohomish County Branch
Wisconsin
Alex Edwards, Milwaukee Branch
SCHOLARS OF EXCELLENCE
Ashleigh Gaines, Anchorage Branch (Alaska)
Mahogany Blank, DC Branch (DC)
Lauren Poteat, DC Branch (DC)
Jermaine Melton, Greensboro Branch (North Carolina)
Bintou Kone, Mid-Manhattan Branch (New York)
Myeisha Boyd, Brooklyn Branch (New York)
ABOUT NAACP 110TH CONVENTION:
The NAACP Convention brings together over 10,000 activists, organizers, and leaders to set policies priorities for the coming year. Highlights will include a CEO Roundtable, a legislative session, LGBTQ workshop, the awarding of the prestigious Spingarn Medal to Ambassador to Patrick Gaspard, and the signature NAACP Experience retail expo and diversity career fair. More information about the 110th Annual NAACP National Convention, including a detailed schedule of events, may be found by visiting naacpconvention.org.
Media interested in covering the event should apply for press credentials here.
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About the NAACP:
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 six “Game Changer” issue areas here.
