MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As State President, I am honored to receive the first-ever NAACP Activist of the Year Award at the 51st NAACP Image Awards. I am also honored to serve my third term as your President of the NAACP IL State Conference. The theme under my leadership is “One Illinois, One NAACP.” This year’s National theme is “When We Fight, We Win! We have fought for a lot of improvements in our communities. All of the Branches fought to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. We also fought for funding to conduct outreach for the 2020 Census. We partnered with the Illinois Chiefs of Police Associations and got them to sign onto the resolution of shared principles that are designed to bridge the gap of mistrust between police and communities of color. 10 Principals. In the resolution, we value life, build trust in the Community, train our citizens to be proactive instead of reactive and we want everyone to go home safe.
We held press conferences and town hall meetings against Marijuana Legalization. Although Marijuana Legalization was passed, we were able to get up to 25% of the revenues which will go back to areas that were directly impacted by the “War on Drugs” and have expungement of criminal records pending for 800 people convicted of minor marijuana offenses. We worked to address housing issues and racial profiling from Cairo to Chicago and Danville to Quincy. I worked to increase the number of Youth Councils and College Chapters. I testified before the USEPA on the effects that Coal Ash will have on poor communities and people of Color including health concerns from asthma and other breathing concerns to different forms of cancers and birth defects. We have also provided information regarding the Clean Energy Jobs Act. I met with Millennials who took to the streets to demand transformative action to address the climate crisis. I worked with members of Congress and the US Senate to pass the Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act and National Park Service Legislation.
I am pleased that we will address the following issues at this convention: Environmental & Climate Justice Breathing Clean Air Is a Right, Not a Privilege! 2020 Census – Make Sure You Are Counted, 100th Commemoration of the 1919 Chicago Race Riots.”
At the National Convention, we held a successful “All White Party” and networked with other Branches across the country. I served on the Governor’s Transition Committee on Equality, Equity, and Opportunity. I reminded the task force of the contributions that Blacks have made throughout the years.
Again, if we are not satisfied with what’s happening at the local, county, state, and federal levels, it is our responsibility to get involved in the election process. The only way to change things is to actively engage by attending city council, county board, and school board meetings and speaking up when we see something wrong. Don’t sit on the sidelines and wait for others to dictate to you how we should run our America!
NAACP is heavily involved in the 2020 Census and redistricting! We need to educate the Black community on the ways you can register for the 2020 Census, door-to-door, online, telephone and mail-in. This should be done through social media, the churches and by word of mouth. We will continue to monitor the works of labor unions and procurement to ensure funding for Black business through contracts, hiring and funding through ongoing negotiations.
As President, I will continue to work with the Sororities and Fraternities and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons State of Illinois and Eastern Stars to Get out the Vote and ensure that blacks are completing the 2020 Census because we can’t afford to not be counted!
I will continue to ensure millennials have a fresh perspective/space in our organization. Under my leadership, Millennials will continue to serve on panels and answer the tough questions about Race Relations in America Today.
Under the Executive Officers, Illinois State Conference NAACP, we will continue to focus on the Civil rights that our parents and grandparents fought for. Please continue to support the NAACP with membership and financial contributions. And always remember, WHEN WE FIGHT TOGETHER, WE WIN!
Teresa Haley, President
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As State President, I am honored to receive the first-ever NAACP Activist of the Year Award at the 51st NAACP Image Awards. I am also honored to serve my third term as your President of the NAACP IL State Conference. The theme under my leadership is “One Illinois, One NAACP.” This year’s National theme is “When We Fight, We Win! We have fought for a lot of improvements in our communities. All of the Branches fought to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. We also fought for funding to conduct outreach for the 2020 Census. We partnered with the Illinois Chiefs of Police Associations and got them to sign onto the resolution of shared principles that are designed to bridge the gap of mistrust between police and communities of color. 10 Principals. In the resolution, we value life, build trust in the Community, train our citizens to be proactive instead of reactive and we want everyone to go home safe.
We held press conferences and town hall meetings against Marijuana Legalization. Although Marijuana Legalization was passed, we were able to get up to 25% of the revenues which will go back to areas that were directly impacted by the “War on Drugs” and have expungement of criminal records pending for 800 people convicted of minor marijuana offenses. We worked to address housing issues and racial profiling from Cairo to Chicago and Danville to Quincy. I worked to increase the number of Youth Councils and College Chapters. I testified before the USEPA on the effects that Coal Ash will have on poor communities and people of Color including health concerns from asthma and other breathing concerns to different forms of cancers and birth defects. We have also provided information regarding the Clean Energy Jobs Act. I met with Millennials who took to the streets to demand transformative action to address the climate crisis. I worked with members of Congress and the US Senate to pass the Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act and National Park Service Legislation.
I am pleased that we will address the following issues at this convention: Environmental & Climate Justice Breathing Clean Air Is a Right, Not a Privilege! 2020 Census – Make Sure You Are Counted, 100th Commemoration of the 1919 Chicago Race Riots.”
At the National Convention, we held a successful “All White Party” and networked with other Branches across the country. I served on the Governor’s Transition Committee on Equality, Equity, and Opportunity. I reminded the task force of the contributions that Blacks have made throughout the years.
Again, if we are not satisfied with what’s happening at the local, county, state, and federal levels, it is our responsibility to get involved in the election process. The only way to change things is to actively engage by attending city council, county board, and school board meetings and speaking up when we see something wrong. Don’t sit on the sidelines and wait for others to dictate to you how we should run our America!
NAACP is heavily involved in the 2020 Census and redistricting! We need to educate the Black community on the ways you can register for the 2020 Census, door-to-door, online, telephone and mail-in. This should be done through social media, the churches and by word of mouth. We will continue to monitor the works of labor unions and procurement to ensure funding for Black business through contracts, hiring and funding through ongoing negotiations.
As President, I will continue to work with the Sororities and Fraternities and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons State of Illinois and Eastern Stars to Get out the Vote and ensure that blacks are completing the 2020 Census because we can’t afford to not be counted!
I will continue to ensure millennials have a fresh perspective/space in our organization. Under my leadership, Millennials will continue to serve on panels and answer the tough questions about Race Relations in America Today.
Under the Executive Officers, Illinois State Conference NAACP, we will continue to focus on the Civil rights that our parents and grandparents fought for. Please continue to support the NAACP with membership and financial contributions. And always remember, WHEN WE FIGHT TOGETHER, WE WIN!
Teresa Haley, President