The following news article was printed in the Tri-County Bulletin/Long Beach Leader on Thursday, November 3, 2011.

NAACP STATE CONFERENCE: “We Are Not Going Back”

The delegates at the 24^th Annual Conference of the California/Hawaii NAACP enthusiastically embraced the conference theme of “We Are Not Going Back” through the well attended workshops, plenary sessions, and attention to the keynote speakers. Alice Huffman, President of The California State Conference of the NAACP, declared the State Conference held October 21-23 at the Marriott Hotel Newport Beach a huge success.

Alice Huffman

The California State Conference of the NAACP meets on an annual basis to review the past years activities and to chart a progressive course for the upcoming year. Huffman stated, “The times have been challenging since the election of President Barack Obama. Racism has raised its ugly head in our society, in politics, in our government’s regressive tactics harming the poor and hardworking families in our communities. There have been racist statements and action on the internet, on our college campuses, and in the political arena. Our friends in Congress are trying mightily to fight the good fight to move us all forward with a vision of social justice, civil rights, and equal opportunity and the NAACP remains in the struggle.”

The array of keynote speakers stayed true to the theme of the conference. The dynamic Roslyn Brock, chair of the board of the NAACP gave a rousing and inspirational speech on the importance of caring for the “very least of us in the community.” Each branch of the NAACP must reach back and bring the community forward. Reverend Nelson Rivers, Vice President of Stakeholder Development and the annual speaker at the president’s dinner also emphasized that the branches of the NAACP cannot just complain now, or rest on our accomplishments, but must move forward and continue the fight for our civil rights. The very able chair of the California Assembly’s Labor Committee, Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, carried the cause of working families and the demise of the middle class that the union movement helped to establish. This is the time to support the labor movement more than ever. Timothy Simon, Commissioner with the California Public Utilities Commission, in the dinner keynote, recognized the importance of the youth movement in the NAACP. He emphasized the challenges we face in education, business, and job opportunities. The legendary Willie Brown, Jr., former Speaker of the California Assembly and Mayor of San Francisco, with his keen since of African American history and Black politics, called the NAACP, delegates to political engagement and action. Joel Young, Director at Large for the Alameda Contra Costa Transit Board spoke briefly to the Youth Dinner about their obligation to learn from the past but move ahead with a since of focus and purpose.

Along with Assemblyman Swanson, the California Legislature was represented by Assemblyman Mike Davis (D-L.A.) and Assemblyman Isadore Hall (D-Compton). The United States Congress was represented by Congresswoman Laura Richardson and Congresswoman Karen Bass. State Controller Jun Chiang was also on hand to address the conference delegates. All spoke about he dire economic conditions tut also about the opportunities that abound if we have a vision for future growth and support President Obama’s jobs initiative. President Huffman Stated, “The universal underscoring theme of our progressive elected officials is that if we are to not only maintain the civil rights strides we have made but to move forward, we must exercise our right to vote and fight back against the far right forces in our government.”

NAACP Action Items

Alice Huffman announced the California/Hawaii NAACP 2012 Voter Registration Goals: 22,500. This action will be accomplished by the approximately 45 active unites of the California/Hawaii NAACP.

Highlighted Resolutions target support for the American Jobs Act; and support of the NAACP national initiative to end the death penalty. Quality education is a major priority of the NAACP. The California/Hawaii State conference of the NAACP passed educational resolutions that included: creation of programs and projects among NAACP units to address high drop-out rates; and, continue NAACP efforts to pass legislation to include history of the Civil Rights Movement in K-12 education. The California NAACP reiterated its commitment to addressing and examining the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans in the prison system and increasing the need for more rehabilitation and job training for ex-felons. During the coming year, The Executive Committee of the NAACP will discuss the NAACP units increased participation with issues regarding health and mental health; social security benefits; economic development through federal and state government contracting opportunities for minority business; and, the lack of full-time and part-time positions for faculty in the California Community College System. Lastly, the California NAACP will be discussing the creation of a “Together Task Force” focused on increasing coalitions ith other ethnic populations forming a majority of people working to protect the civil rights of all citizens.

Southeast Area Report:

NAACP Units of San Gabriel Valley, Victor Valley, Barstow, San Bernardino, Southwest, Riverside, Oceanside, San Diego, Orange County. Report submitted by Waudieur “Woodie” Rucker-Hughes. In this area, the San Diego unit of the NAACP stands out for their work in intervening in the Associated General Contractors of America vs. California Department of Transportation lawsuit. San Diego joined a coalition of groups to fight a lawsuit that would have dismantled the Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. The case was dismissed but an appeal is pending and San Diego continues in the struggle.