NAACP Youth Leaders to Center AI, Educational Equity & Safer Communities During 115th National Convention in Las Vegas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2024 

Contact: Alicia Mercedes, amercedes@naacpnet.org 

WASHINGTON - Today, the NAACP Youth & College Division announced a full slate of programming that will take place during the Association's 115th National Convention in Las Vegas. Key programmatic elements and speakers include:

• The State of Black Youth: Gun Violence, a panel discussion on our nation's epidemic featuring Greg Jackson, Terayle Hill, Ruquan Brown, Angela Ferrell-Zabala & more. 
• Rallying for Equitable Access to Education with visionary Kimberlé Crenshaw, DEI Expert & Educational Influencer George 'Conscious' Lee, Mother Jones Video Correspondent & Influencer Garrison Hayes & others. 
• AI Innovation Challenge with Amplify 4 Good CEO Joey Womack, Actor, influencer, & gamer Khleo Thomas & more. 

"The Youth & College Division has long served as the driving force behind NAACP's continued innovation through intergenerational collaboration. This year's convention is exemplary of that continued work," said Derrick Lewis II, Interim National Director, NAACP Youth & College Division. "As young people propel into their rightful positions of power, and fight back against attempts to revert our progress, our Convention provides a unique opportunity for our movement to reflect and recharge. I'm all in on convening this dynamic group of Black leaders as we build towards a better tomorrow." 

The NAACP Youth & College Division encompasses 700 College Chapters & Youth Councils, representing 28,000+ young, Black Americans across the nation. Over the last decade, their leaders and members have led nationwide efforts to advance police reform, cultivate safe school campuses, and create pathways to success for the next generation of leaders. Most recently, the NAACP Youth & College Division led the collective effort to cancel more than $160 billion of student debt, promoting economic equity as essential to racial equity. 

All members of the media are provided with complimentary access to NAACP National Convention programming. Interested parties must complete this form in order to register. 

For more information on Convention programming, visit naacp.org/convention. 

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About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.