NAACP of Georgia kicking off state convention in Albany

ALBANY — The Albany State University chapter of the NAACP is hosting the NAACP of Georgia’s 76th annual state convention.

This year’s conference theme is “Defeat Hate. Vote.” The four-day event featured a community mass meeting Thursday evening at Union Missionary Baptist Church — and was to follow by a Veterans Affairs workshop, a criminal justice reform summit, a “Women in the NAACP” workshop, networking opportunities for students, a Maynard Jackson documentary, vendors as well as multiple other workshops and educational sessions.

Much of it will take place at Albany State’s East Campus.

Ward I Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard welcomed the NAACP of Georgia to Albany on Thursday and said he is happy to seeing young adults at ASU get involved with the civil rights organization.

“I was telling one of the young ladies that it’s time for individuals like me and others to pass the torch,” Howard said. “We want to make sure that we drill them and ingrain in them the importance of being active in the community and being active in a statewide and national organization.”

Wane Hailes, communications and publicity chairman for the NAACP of Georgia, said this conference is his first at the state level. He talked about his excitement surrounding talking to younger people about ways they would like to be involved in the NAACP.

“With all the things going on — the voting, with young men and women being killed today, with all the problems we have — it’s an opportunity to come together and let’s talk about the problems,” Hailes said. “I can sit over here all day long and come out with policies and procedures, but unless I’m in the streets talking to people (about) what’s really going on, nothing really happens.

“It’s good to come together for a weekend and everybody leaves happy. Then nothing goes on, and it’s a whole year and we’re coming back with the same issues, the same problems. That’s my hope; that this weekend, we can leave here with some real action steps that we can really work through.”

Jasmine Browner, president of the ASU chapter of the NAACP and Decatur native, said she has been active in the university organization for three years. She joined in her freshman year.

“Ever since then, I’ve just been working, fighting for the civil rights of all people,” Browner said. “This was an issue that I felt was my duty to be a part of. It’s not often that you see youth — especially African-American youth — care about something like this. My freshman year, I realized that God brought me to Albany for a reason. I needed to be here to be a part of this.”

Browner said she expects “at least about 50-75 students” and volunteers to attend the convention.

Maggie Bell, an NAACP member, said this is her first time being involved with the organization but is looking forward to learning more.

“I feel like it’s really important for the young people to understand that people actually had to fight for the right to vote,” Bell said. “I feel like this is my first time even being involved in the NAACP, but I’m very excited about this state convention. I’m ready; I’m excited. I want to learn something from this conference, take it out and teach other people what they can do.”

Today’s schedule kicks off at 8 a.m. and is set to include multiple workshops, mandatory training for officers and executive committee members, American Red Cross training and a delegates reception from 7-9 p.m. On Saturday, there are more workshops planned beginning at 8 a.m. ahead of the Freedom Fund banquet from 7-9 p.m at the ASU West Campus.

On Sunday, the conference will conclude with the Ecumenical Service Hour from 9-10 a.m.