April 14, 2009
By Mrs. Gretchen Woods, Youth Works Advisor
What’s going on with the NAACP Des Moines Youth and College Division? The NAACP Youth and College Division involves both the Des Moines Youth Council and the Drake University College Chapter. The NAACP Des Moines College Chapter continues its membership drive. Currently, with more than 30 members, it has elected officers and submitted its application for reactivation to State Conference President, Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr. and the national office. College students from all greater metro colleges and universities are welcome to join and become involved in our nation’s oldest civil rights organization.
Officers elected are: Jessica Avant, President. Jessica is a freshman at Des Moines Area Community College. Arnold Woods, III, Vice President is a junior at Iowa State University, Eric Hall, Secretary is a freshman at Drake University, and Ria Thompson, treasurer is a senior at DMACC. Ms Sokish Sands, DMACC is their advisor.
The College Chapter officers attended the state conference mandatory leadership training held March 7th and conducted by Rev. Gil Ford, Director Unit Capacity Building, NAACP. The College Chapter is developing its programming that will increase membership, address relevant issues, and impact change in our community.
The NAACP Des Moines Youth Council continues to implement strong programming in the community. Middle and high school students from Des Moines, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, and Valley have joined together for a common purpose to give a voice to youth issues and to take a leadership role in impacting change. Programs and events like the Martin Luther King Legacy program and the Black History Banquet celebrate the history and heritage of the African American community. The Teen Summit and College Prep Day provide information and educational opportunities for all high school students.
On Friday, April 3rd, Youth Council presented the ACT-SO awarding winning play ‘The “N” Word, written by Jessica Avant and directed by Kenneth Matt Martin. Kenneth is a freshman from Little Rock, AR. Cast included both Youth Council and College Chapter members. The production was an opportunity to kick off the local ACT-SO program, celebrate Jessica’s national 3rd place win, and expand the opportunities of participating in the ACT-SO program.
Although ACT-SO is an educational program under the NAACP adult branch, many Youth Council members compete in this program. ACT-SO competitors also receive a Youth Council membership. The 2009 local ACT-SO competition was held on Saturday, April 4th. Twenty students competed in 15 categories of competition. Winners advancing to the national competition are: Ambreyana Jones (East High School) Music Composition, Aaron Williams (Roosevelt High School) Original Essay, Napoleon Douglas (Roosevelt High School) Dance and Oratory, Kamillah Camp-Bey (Roosevelt High School) Dramatics, Sharane Calister (Roosevelt High School) Vocal Music Contemporary, Sarah Oyibo (Urbandale High School) Instrumental Music Classical, Drawing, and Painting, Tamera Peake (Urbandale High School) Sculpture and Royannah Marbale (East High School) Business. The National ACT-SO competition will be held July 8-12th in New York. ACT-SO celebrates 31 years as the national organization will celebrate its centennial year.
Other award winners include: Jasmyn Richardson, Kerri Ashworth, Britney Cameron, Darien Traywick, Faith Gachii, Jasmine Johnson, Kandace Klacik, and Rachel Avant. The 2009 ACT-SO Showcase will be held on Sunday, June 21st 3:30 p.m. at the Mercy Medical Conference Center, East auditorium. The Showcase will be a brief competition review and awards ceremony. ACT-SO is sponsored by the NAACP Des Moines Adult Branch Mrs. Linda M. Carter-Lewis President.
As the NAACP prepares for its annual convention and to celebrate its centennial year, the Adult Branch, College Chapter and Youth Council are preparing to send delegates to the convention. A major responsibilities of the delegates is to represent the Des Moines units, participate as voters as the NAACP establishes its national policies, and return to Des Moines ready to contribute to quality and institute change where appropriate in the areas of education, health, economic empowerment, civic engagement, criminal justice, and increasing membership.
Youth Council is doing a tremendous work in the community and has developed programs and community collaborations such as College Prep Day with Drake University, Iowa College Student Aid Commission, Iowa College Access Network and ASK Resource. Youth Council collaborates with Jack and Jill of America, Inc. teens in presenting the Teen Summit. Youth Council has helped develop youth leaders such as, Eric Hall the 2009 I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa Youth Heritage Legacy Award, Kameron Middlebrook, Region IV Youth Representative to the NAACP National Board of Directors, Quinnetta Claytor, an honors student at University of Iowa, Arnold Woods, III an honors student at Iowa State University, Aisha Newsome an honors student at Morgan State University, Courtney Petty a 2007 graduate from Spellman College and currently a Drake University Law student, and many others.
The Des Moines Youth Council is the strongest and most recognized NAACP youth unit in the Iowa/Nebraska State Conference. The Drake College Chapter is the only college chapter in Iowa. (Creighton University has an active college chapter. Carissa Smith, a former Des Moines Youth Council Vice President and a freshman at Creighton has become very active and involved in the Creighton chapter.)
So, what’s going on? Membership engagement is constant. During the next two months, Youth Council will be fundraising to help with the expense of traveling to the national convention. Your support will be greatly appreciated. Fliers are being distributed throughout the community. Please help support our youth leadership. For more information about NAACP Youth Council, contact Napoleon Douglas, membership chair 480-4813 or call Mrs. Gretchen Woods, Youth Council Advisor 515-254-1947 or gretchenahw@peoplepc.com.
