NAACP EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS INC

EVENTS- CONVENTION: NAACP CONSTITUTION MANDATES AN ANNUAL CONVENTION OF ITS MEMBERS, BOARD AND OFFICERS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TO ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE COMING YEAR.- IMAGE AWARDS: THE NAACP IMAGE AWARDS (THE AWARDS) HONOR PROJECTS AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL RACES WHO HELP PROMOTE POSITIVE IMAGES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE AWARDS TAKE PLACE ANNUALLY AND USUALLY AIR LIVE ON NETWORK TELEVISION.- ACT-SO: THE AFRO-AMERICAN, CULTURE, TECHNOLOGIES AND SCIENTIFIC OLYMPICS (ACT-SO) PROGRAM PREPARES, RECOGNIZES AND REWARDS AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH WHO EXEMPLIFY SCHOLASTIC AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE. THE NAACP LOCAL UNITS, COLLEGE CHAPTERS AND YOUTH COUNCILS CONDUCT ANNUAL COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. PARTICIPATING BRANCHES HOLD LOCAL COMPETITIONS IN THE CATEGORIES OF SCIENCE, HUMANITIES, AND PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS. THE TOP WINNERS FROM THE LOCAL COMPETITIONS COMPETE AGAINST WINNERS FROM OTHER CITIES AT THE NATIONAL ACT-SO FINALS HELD DURING THE NAACP'S ANNUAL CONVENTION.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NAACP NATIONAL OFFICE SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES WORK WITH THE VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION. THEY ASSIST IN ENGAGEMENT IN GROUP ACTIVITIES, AND CAMPAIGNS THAT ADDRESS ISSUES OF CONCERN AND PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO JOIN IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NAACP MISSION. - HUMAN RIGHTS: THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT SEEKS TO APPLY A HUMAN RIGHTS NORM AND UTILIZE INTERNATIONAL FORUMS TO RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERN TO NAACP, SUCH AS THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF PERSONS WITH FELONY CONVICTIONS, AND THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. - VOTING RIGHTS: THE VOTING RIGHTS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF NEW RESTRICTIONS ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS OCCURRING AT THE STATE LEVEL. NAACP EMPOWERMENT IS ANALYZING THESE NEW RESTRICTIONS AND DETERMINING WHEN LEGAL ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND IN OTHER INSTANCES EDUCATING POTENTIAL VOTERS ABOUT THE NEW REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IS PROTECTED. - NEXT GENERATION PROGRAM: THE NAACP NEXT GENERATION PROGRAM (NEXTGEN) IS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21 AND 40 TO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY TRAINING TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES TO BECOME EFFECTIVE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS. THE NEXTGEN PROGRAM FEATURES A SERIES OF TRAININGS, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LEGISLATIVE ACTION, UNIT ADMINISTRATION, ADVOCACY AND PROGRAM PLANNING CONSISTENT WITH THE SIX NAACP GAME CHANGER AREAS, WHICH INCLUDE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, POLITICAL ACTION, AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.