Local NAACP Chapter Retool’s For The Future

The DuPage County Chapter of the NAACP is reborn.

In January, the organization marked the installation of a newly elected executive committee and soon thereafter, ushered in a period of reflection—aligning goals and objectives in addition to spending time on team development, clarifying current relevance and providing evidence of recent work.

Embracing a proactive stance, the board seeks to form a broad range of partnerships as they blaze a trail into the future.

On Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the DuPage County NAACP will co-host a "Meet and Greet" at the Diamond Creek Professional Building located at 260 S. Schmidt Rd. (next door to Alpha Baptist Church).

The group has partnered with local black attorney, Anita Scott, who developed, financed, built and operates the Diamond Creek Professional Building.

In a country where black were once excluded from ownership, Scott’s tremendous accomplishment would not be possible if not for the groundwork laid a century earlier by minority-serving organizations like the NAACP.

The community forum extends an opportunity to learn about the recently established NAACP community initiatives and taps into avenues to explore minority business ownership and workforce development.

"We are excited to reach out to the Bolingbrook community,” said DuPage County Chapter NAACP President Mario Lambert. "This opportunity enables us to be more hands on, answer questions and begin new relationships.

"We are approaching a very important and exciting time of the year where activity in the community is high and several initiatives are underway,” he said. “Our initiatives include educating the community about housing rights, financial literacy workshops, entrepreneurship, workforce readiness training, access to scholarships and career path planning and the list goes on."

Cynthia Johnson, second vice president and education committee chairperson said the organization wants to get to know its Bolingbrook-area residents better and incorporate their hopes and dreams for their community in our planning.

"Better still, we invite residents to come on out and join us in the work of the NAACP,” she said. "The NAACP is about ensuring equal rights and eliminating discrimination in our society. The DuPage County Branch, NAACP supports this global mission."

Although based in DuPage County, the chapter’s service area includes Will, Kane and Kendall counties.

"Locally, we are also interested in building sustainable relationships within the community and creating opportunities for advancement,” Johnson said. “The branch serves four counties, each of which has its own strengths and challenges."

Targeting and developing young people’s potential has and continues to be a chapter focus. ACT-SO, a highly successful youth program coordinated in 1997 with the College of DuPage continues to flourish.

And the NAACP recently developed a student led youth council where members learn about excelling academically, student advocacy, juvenile justice, community service, economic and political empowerment and self motivation.

Advisor Valerie Talton said the youth council of the NAACP is an amazing group of students of all cultural backgrounds.

“The high school students that have been involved have increased their commitment to school while serving others,” she said. “Membership is open to all young people who are passionate, driven and like to have a lot of fun!"

Now, the NAACP is in the completion phase of an area minority business directory, the creation of an online newsletter, as well as redeveloping the branch’s website (www.dupagecountynaacp.org).

To learn even more about what the group is doing, plan to attend the meet and greet.