Programs

The NAACP sponsors a variety of programs to make real the promise of America. Our programs are designed to ensure civil rights compliance, equitable treatment of all Americans under law, the attainment of educational excellence, access to health care, and economic empowerment. Our political empowerment initiative is devoted to that most fundamental right of all Americans, fully participatory democracy.

desegregated busride

Economic Empowerment

In 1981, the NAACP launched the NAACP Fair Share Program to ensure the reinvestment of African American consumer dollars back into the community in the form of jobs and business opportunities. The principle objective of this approach is to promote the growth of entrepreneurship amongst African Americans, and to create employment opportunities with private sector companies.

"The disenfranchisement was not isolated or episodic. State officials failed to fulfill their duties in a manner that would prevent this disenfranchisement."
--U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Voter Empowerment

This non-partisan NAACP Program is an aggressive campaign designed to empower the African American community by increasing awareness and participation in the full political process in local, state, and federal elections.

Defending the Vote:

It is essential to American freedom that all Americans have a voice in our elections! The NAACP is launching a historic voting rights and election reform campaign. We need to fight to preserve and extend the right to vote. Your actions will make the difference if we organize to keep officials accountable to our community.

The Dodd-Conyers "Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act" requires states to meet uniform and nondiscriminatory voting system and technology standards, provide provisional voting, and distribute sample ballots and voting instructions prior to the election.

As a longtime champion of voting rights, the NAACP's process for empowering millions of voters with information, legal defense and legislative advocacy centers around three core principles:

• Access to Voting
• Action Through Voting and Organizing
• Accountability to Voters

Help the NAACP fight for voter empowerment. Change the world.

ACT-SO

NAACP ACT-SO Winners Highlighted On National PBS Show September 21, 2004

Today's youth... Tomorrow's legend... ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a yearlong 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 volunteers and business leaders; to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 25 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts.

Legal Affairs

The Legal Department provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Directors and the President/CEO regarding the activities of the NAACP to ensure maximum protection of the organization's legal rights and to maintain its operations.

"Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work."
Booker T. Washington