BALTIMORE (October 19, 2018) – During its board meeting in Baltimore, MD, Leon W. Russell, NAACP Chairman, National Board of Directors, announced a partnership with former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama’s organization, When We All Vote.
From #NAACP Board Meeting: “When We All Vote is proud to partner with the NAACP to make sure every eligible American participates in each and every election” – @WhenWeAllVote @Kyle_Lierman pic.twitter.com/puSipjlQOB
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
“Now more than ever, there needs to be a concerted effort to turn out the Black vote on November 6,” said Leon W. Russell, NAACP Chairman, National Board of Directors. “We are very excited for what this partnership means for the African American community. Together, we can rally our people to Vote! Our lives depend on it.”
“When We All Vote is proud to partner with the NAACP to make sure every eligible American participates in each and every election,” said Kyle Lierman, CEO of When We All Vote.
The partnership is part of NAACP’s civic engagement campaign to mobilize low and moderate propensity African American voters for the 2018 midterm elections and beyond.
The meeting marked a land-breaking moment as NAACP solidified partnerships with several historic pillars of social justice in the African American community: The National Action Network, the National Bar Association, and organizations within the National Pan-Hellenic Council including, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
As the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the country, NAACP has long been friendly with these organizations and on October 19, 2018, it celebrated a joyous moment as it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with each of the organizations.
“The partnership announcements and MOU signings today are a testament to NAACP’s return to our activist roots,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “Social justice is not a competition, and as the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, we have a duty to bring together all the different groups and organizations that have played a crucial role in uplifting the Black community.”
In attendance to represent their various organizations were:
Deborah Catchings-Smith
International Grand Basileus
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated
From #NAACP Board Meeting: NAACP signs MOU with #SigmaGammaRho pic.twitter.com/HEAsmZ6ByW
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
Thomas L. Battles, Jr.
Grand Polemarch
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Incorporated
Gayle Lyke
Maryland State Director
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
From #NAACP Board Meeting: NAACP signs MOU with #ZetaPhiBeta pic.twitter.com/M3y6k8cWNc
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
Daryl A. Anderson, Sr.
International Executive Director
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated
From #NAACP Board Meeting: NAACP and #PhiBetaSigma sign MOU pic.twitter.com/OPhue7Kh4s
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
Deborah Wilder
Member, National Social Action Committee
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
From #NAACP Board Meeting: NAACP and #DeltaSigmaTheta sign MOU pic.twitter.com/hflGuQ4ld8
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
Joseph Drayton, Esq.
President
National Bar Association
From #NAACP Board meeting: NAACP signs historic partnership with #NationalBarAssociation pic.twitter.com/T2eOV04L8s
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
Ebonie Riley
D.C. Bureau Chief
National Action Network
From #NAACP Board Meeting: two civil rights pioneers join forces as NAACP and National Action Network sign MOU pic.twitter.com/SKQxbVDyi8
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 19, 2018
