Branch Committees

Based on NAACP Bylaws https://naacp.org/resources/bylaws-units

Communications, Press  & Publicity - The     Committee     on Communications,  Press and  Publicity  shall:    (1)  seek  to  promote  media content  consistent  with  fundamental  NAACP  goals  which  include  the elimination  of  racial  isolation  and  fear  and  the  furtherance  of  multiracial and cultural understanding; (2) work to eliminate employment segregation and  discrimination  in  those  industries,  [comprising  the  communications arts    and    sciences]    (radio,    telephone,    television,    motion    pictures, newspapers,  books,  related  computer  communications,  business,  cable television);  (3)  seek  to  ensure  Black  minority  ownership  and  control  of print  and  electronic  media —both  hardware  and  software;  (4)  monitor local  and  national  media,  especially  advertising  performance;  (5)  provide the  National  Office  with  research  and  data  on  those  local  businesses engaged  in  communications  arts  and  sciences;  (6)  seek  to  ensure  that  all people  have  a  meaningful  right  to  choose  from  and  have  access  to  a variety   of   high   quality   telecommunications   goods   and   services   at reasonable cost; (7)  endeavor to secure publicity  for the work of the Unit and  the  Association  in  the  local  press  and  on  radio,  television  and  other media;  (8)  attempt  to  interest  persons  in  charge  of  local  news  media  on conditions  affecting  minority  groups;  (9)  seek  to  counteract  derogatory and  erroneous  statements  in  local  news  media  about  Blacks  and  other minority groups. No publicity shall be released without first being approved by the President of the Unit.

Criminal Justice - The  Committee  on  Criminal  Justice  shall:  (1)  seek  to eliminate  harsh  and  unfair  sentencing  practices  that  are  responsible  for mass  incarceration  and  racial  disparities  in  the  prison  system, (2)  support and  seek  to  increase  trust  and  public  safety  by  advancing  effective  law enforcement  practices,  (3)  fight  for  the  restoration  of  the  voting  rights  of formerly  incarcerated  people  and  the  removal  of  barriers  to  employment, (4)  elevate  the  voices of  crime  victim  survivors  in  order  to  identify  and advance  systemic  breakdowns  existing  in  the  criminal  justice  system  that perpetuate   crime,   (5)   resolve   to   end   the   war   on   drugs   for   its disproportionate  collateral  consequences  harm  communities  of  color,  (6) seek   the   institution   and   availability   of   alternatives   to   incarceration including   education,   employment,   and   mental   health   services,   (7) eliminate  zero  tolerance  policies  implemented  in  our  schools  which  are keeping  kids  out  of  the  classroom  and  putting  them  on  a  path  from  the schoolhouse to the jailhouse, (8) investigate programs implemented in our local  law  enforcement  agencies  which  derail  from  their  main  purpose  of safety and order to conduct the work of federal agencies for which they do not  have  the capacity,  and  (9)  seek  budget  modifications  in  states  where incarceration receives more funding than education.

Economic  Development - The  Committee  on  Economic  Development shall  implement  local  efforts  and  support  national  programs  to  preserve and expand economic empowerment among African-Americans and other communities  of  color  by:   (1)  researching  and  establishing  relationships with  private  and  public  entities;  (2)  supporting  the  work  of  the  National Office  in  monitoring  the  progress  and  activity  of private  and  public entities  designated  by  national  programs;  and  (3)  implementing  local efforts  to  promote  the  growth  of  business  ownership;  (4)  increasing employment  and  job  creation;  and  (5)  encouraging  business  development and home ownership.

Education - The  Committee  on  Education  shall:    (1)  seek  to  eliminate segregation  and  other  discriminatory  practices  in  public  education;  (2) study   local   educational   conditions   affecting   minority   groups;   (3) investigate  the  public  school  system  and  school  zoning; (4)  familiarize itself  with  textbook  material  there  from  which  is  racially  derogatory;  (5) seek   to   stimulate   school   attendance;   (6)   keep   informed   of   school conditions  and  strive  to  correct  abuses  where  found;  (7)  investigate  the effects  of  standardized  and  high  stakes  testing  practices; (8)  teacher certification; (9) promote parental involvement in education; and (10) aim to be a center of popular education on the race question and on the work of the Association.

Environmental & Climate Justice - The    Environmental    and    Climate Justice  Committee  shall: (1)  seek  to  address  environmental  inequities  at the   local   level   and   advocate   for   civil   rights   issues   (2)   develop   a comprehensive and holistic agenda to reduce pollution (3) advance energy efficiency  and  clean  energy  (4)  build  disaster  resilient  infrastructure policies and practices.

Finance -  The   Finance   Committee   shall   consist   of   the   President, Treasurer,  and  at  least  one  other  member.    It  shall  study  the  financial needs of the Unit and shall be responsible for drafting an adequate annual budget.

Freedom  Fund - The  Freedom  Fund  Committee  shall  plan  and  conduct fund-raising  activities,  entertainment  and  other  projects,  for  local  and national purposes within the scope of the Association’s program.  It shall work closely with the Finance Committee.

Health - The  Health  Committee  shall:    (1)  work  to  promote,  protect  and maintain  the  health  of  African  Americans;  (2)  assess  the  health  needs  of the  community;  (3)  advocate  for  equal  access  to  health  education,  care, treatment  and  research  for  all  Americans;  (4)  sponsor  health-related activities such as health forums, fairs and workshops highlighting issues of importance  to  people  of  color;  and  (5)  support  health  initiatives  of  the Association.

Housing - The   Committee   on   Housing   shall: (1)   study   housing conditions  in  the  local  community; (2)  receive  and  seek  to  address complaints of discrimination; (3) oppose all  restrictive practices whether public  or  private;  and  (4)  disseminate  information  and  render such  other assistance which may eliminate discrimination in housing.

Labor and Industry - The Labor and Industry Committee shall seek ways to  improve  the  economic  status  of  minority  groups  by:    (1)  working  to eliminate    discriminatory    employment    practices    in    industry    and government,  wage  differentials  based  on  race,  unequal  opportunities  for training,   promotion   and   unfair   dismissals;   (2)   encouraging   greater participation   in   the   trade   union   movement;   (3)   working   to   end discriminatory  practices  in  labor  unions;  (4)  securing  the  enactment  of state  and  federal  fair  employment  practices  legislation;  and  (5)  working for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training.

Legal Redress - The  Legal  Redress  Committee  shall:    (1)  investigate  all cases  reported  to  it;  (2)  supervise  all  litigation  in  which  the  Unit  is interested; and (3) keep the National Office  and the Branch informed on the progress of every case.  It shall not give general legal advice.

Membership - The  Membership  Committee  shall:  (1) work throughout the year to maintain and increase the membership of the  Association;  (2)  be  responsible  for  planning  and  organizing  the annual  membership  campaign;  (3)  be  responsible  on  a  continuous  basis for soliciting new members and for securing renewals; and (4) initiate all possible   means   to obtain   Life   Members   and   sponsor   a   continuing program towards this end.

Political Action - The  Political  Action  Committee  shall:    (1)  seek  to increase registration and voting; (2) work for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political and  economic  status  of  minority  groups;  (3)  seek  the  repeal  of  racially discriminatory  legislation;  (4)  work  to  improve  the  administration  of justice; (5) work to secure equal enforcement of the law; and (6) keep the National  Office  and  the  Unit  informed  of  all  proposed  legislation  which affects  minority  groups.    The  Committee  shall  be  nonpartisan  and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

Religious Affairs - The   Religious   Affairs   Committee   shall   include ministerial  and  lay  religious  leaders  who  are  members  of  the  Unit.    It shall:  (1)  promote  an  educational  program  designed  to  give  moral  and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle; (2) interpret the work of the  Association  to  organized  religious  groups  of  all  faiths;  (3)  enlist  the support  of  such  organized  religious  groups  for  membership,  fundraising, and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; and (4) provide resource assistance  for  religious  education  and  social  action  activities,  associated with the improvement of race relations.

Young Adult - The  Committee  on  Young  Adult  shall  consist  of  Branch members  twenty-one  (21) –forty  (40)  years  of  age.    It  shall  be  the function  of  the  Committee  to:  (1)  support  all  branch  activities;  (2) stimulate  interest  through  advocacy  training  and  solicit  membership  of twenty-one  (21) –forty  (40)  years  of  age;  (3)  create  a  mentorship program (Branch to Young Adults and Young Adults to Youth Units) to serve as   a   support   bridge   from   Youth   and   College   to   Branch participation;  (4)  provide  networking  and  social  opportunities  for  young adults  in  the  local  community;  and  (5)  encourage  the  participation  of young adults in all activities and leadership within the Branch.

L Joy Williams