COMMUNITY COORDINATION – Joyce Russell, Chairperson
Enlist the support of other community organizations on issues affecting the interests of minority groups and promote positive communication between the Branch, county and community organizations.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Dr. Sam Horton, Chairperson
Promote economic empowerment within the Tampa Bay communities. Particular effort is given to support and strengthen the outreach efforts of the area’s major institutions, while working to strategically connect or engage the minority and women-owned businesses and those challenged in accessing information and opportunities within these institutions. Additionally, the Empowerment Center was launched to assist existing minority and women-owned businesses as well as new or start-ups with increased access to information.

EDUCATION – Brenda Jordan, Chairperson
Seek to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education; study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; investigate the public school system and school zoning; become familiar with textbook materials and ensure that they are racially acceptable; seek to stimulate school attendance and parental involvement; keep informed of school conditions, strive to correct abuses where found, and aim to be a center of popular education on the race question and on the work of the Association.

HEALTH – Cynthia Keeton, Chairperson
Ensure equitable access to the health care system; review local policies for health care of low income families and minorities.

HOUSING – Sharon West, Chairperson
Study housing conditions in the local community; receive and seek to address complaints of discrimination; oppose all restrictive practices whether public or private, disseminate information and render such other assistance which may eliminate discrimination in housing.

LEGAL REDRESS – Investigate all cases reported; supervise all litigation in which the Branch is interested and keep the National Office and Branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give legal advice.

MEMBERSHIP – Shall work throughout the year to maintain and increase the membership of the Association; be responsible for planning and organizing the annual membership campaign and be responsible on a continuous basis for soliciting new members and securing renewals.

POLITICAL ACTION – Robin Lockett, Chairperson
Shall seek to increase registration and voting; work for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational and political process and work to improve the administration of justice; work to secure equal enforcement of the law; keep the National Office and the Branch informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The Committee shall be nonpartisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS – Rev. Shafter Scott, Chairperson
Shall include ministerial and lay religious leaders who are members of the Branch; promote an educational program designed to give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle; interpret the work of the Association to organized religious groups of all faiths; enlist the support of such organized religious groups for membership, fundraising and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; to provide resource assistance for religious education and social action activities associated with the improvement of race relations.

ACT-SO – Dr. Olivia Shepherd Chairperson
Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a year-long enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community leaders in serving as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. The categories are: Architecture, Biology, Chemistry, Compute Science Entrepreneurship, Mathematics, Physics/Electronics, Physics/Energy, Physics/General, Music Composition, Original Essay, Poetry, Playwriting, Dance, Dramatics, Music, Music Instrumental/Classical, Musical Instrumental/Contemporary, Oratory.

YOUTH & COLLEGE DIVISION – Tanya Jackson-Akbar, (Tampa Youth Council Advisor) – Pat Baptiste-McDonald (Plant City Youth Council Advisor) USF College Chapter – Dr. Sam Wright-Advisor – U-T College Chapter – Jerome Fulton, Advisor
The NAACP believes strongly the future leaders must be developed today, and such development is ongoing in the Youth & College Divisions, created in 1936. Today there are more than 400 Youth Councils and College Chapters actively involved in voter registration. The NAACP has one of the largest organized groups of young people of any secular organization in the country. Some 67,000 youths are involved with the NAACP through its Youth Councils and College Divisions. Its objectives are to inspire, motivate, and create interest in civic activities and to provide young people with an understanding of pertinent issues; develop organizational skills for implementation of community-related activities and encourage active participation in the activities.

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Please contact our Branch Office – 23-I-VOTE (234-8683) to get further information regarding becoming involved in any of the above listed areas of interest. Administrative Office hours are 9am – 4pm, Monday through Friday.