The National Teacher Shortage and Unpacking Student Debt Relief

Derrick Johnson serves as the 19th president and CEO of the NAACP, a role he has held since October 2017. With a long history of leadership within the NAACP, including vice chairman of the National Board of Directors and president of the Mississippi State Conference, he has been instrumental in guiding the Association through a period of reinvigoration and transformation.

Under Johnson's leadership, the NAACP has taken on numerous impactful initiatives to advance racial justice, expose systemic inequities, and amplify the organization's advocacy for Black communities across the nation. Most recently, he spearheaded the launch of NAACP Capital, a fund of funds aligned with the NAACP's mission of achieving equity, political rights, and social inclusion for Black people and all persons of color. In 2020, Johnson led the "We Are Done Dying" Campaign, which exposed systemic inequities in American healthcare and beyond, further amplifying the NAACP's advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership in 2019, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in America. 

As the Biden Administration came into office in 2021, Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position dedicated to advancing the nation's issue of racial justice. His efforts culminated in President Biden signing an Executive Order to eliminate systemic racial barriers, ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity.

A seasoned civil rights advocate, Johnson has consistently been on the frontlines of the nation's most pressing issues. From calling out instances of racial insensitivity, like Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's use of Blackface; to condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, he has been an unwavering voice for justice. His leadership also included testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr's nomination and overseeing the NAACP's historic vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in 2019.

One of Johnson's top priorities is financial empowerment for Black Americans. He is working to close the wealth gap by supporting Black entrepreneurs through micro grants and resources. His advocacy also extends to keeping future presidential administrations focused on policies that benefit Black Americans, while actively combating harmful agendas.

Johnson envisions the NAACP as a leader in data-driven civic engagement, shaping the most comprehensive Black voter mobilization efforts to date. By leveraging technology and cutting-edge research, he aims to transform how the NAACP engages with communities across the country. Under his leadership, the organization is becoming the leading authority on Black culture, expanding its legacy from civil rights to fighting for equity across multiple arenas of American life.

Among his recent achievements, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Champion Award for his relentless work to eliminate menthol cigarettes and the industry's predatory marketing toward Black communities. He also received the 2024 Tougaloo College Light of Justice Award and the 2022 Warrior of Justice Award, recognizing his steadfast dedication to justice and equity.

Born in Detroit, Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Mississippi before earning his JD from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. He has furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Johnson's career as a veteran activist is defined by his commitment to defending rights and improving lives — whether through advocating for equitable education in Mississippi or pushing for national civil rights reforms.

Johnson is a frequent voice on networks such as CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC, where he advocates for the Black community and all those impacted by systemic oppression and injustice.

Ericka leads and oversees efforts to provide governance while keeping a focus on engagement and growing the base of member leaders, volunteers, and affiliates of the NAACP. Ericka also implements and drives initiatives around compliance support and financial training for units, members, and stakeholders to advance the Association's campaign goals.

Ericka has a deep-rooted background with the Association and has served in many capacities for over 25 years. We are pleased with her commitment to help shape our future success and we look forward to watching Ericka integrate her experience with our mission.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Ericka Cain is a Civil Rights Leader, youth advocate, and Social Justice Activist. Ericka has a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice, Rehabilitation, Sociology and Community Service from the University of North Texas and a Volunteer Management Certification in Community Service (UNT). She is a proud mother of her son Jaxson.

For over a decade, Ericka has served as State Youth Advisor for the NAACP's Texas Youth & College Division and a member of the State Conference Executive Committee. Ericka was elected as the Vice Chair for the National Youth Work Committee in 2016 and currently serves as the Secretary for the National Youth Work Committee. She has served in several leadership capacities within the association including former University of North Texas NAACP President, Assistant Secretary for the Texas State Conference, Youth & College President, and Financial Freedom Campaign Chair, amongst a host of other noteworthy positions. During her tenure as Advisor she has led the Youth through numerous issue-based and electoral campaigns on the local, state, and national level. She has worked tirelessly to ensure the members of the Youth & College experience mobilizations including the March on Washington 50th Anniversary and 10.2.10 March for Jobs, Quality Education, Economic Development, and Affordable Housing. Ms. Cain established a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club to supply mentors for the State's Mentoring Program. During the early 2000s, she implemented Town Hall Meetings on Texas college campuses to address the N-Word and its connotation in the novel Huckleberry Finn. Ericka effectively engaged members of the Texas NAACP Advisory Committee by ensuring sponsorship of annual Great Debates and African American Knowledge Bowls. Companies including Wal-Mart and Dell supplied IPads, IPods, Laptops, and Gift Cards for teams winning and participating in the competitions.

Ericka has proved that she is committed to developing a New Generation of Civil Rights and Community Leaders. She is the 7 time winner of the NAACP State Youth & College Division Advisor of the Year.

Ericka continues to live by these words… "There's nothing permanent in life except Change!

The former Johnnie Raye McMillian, received her Bachelor's Degree from Fayetteville University and a Masters of Education Degree from the University of Miami. After that she was certified by the State of Florida in areas of: Elementary Education, Educational Leadership, Guidance and Counseling, Social Studies, Mental Retardation, and Specific Learning Disabilities. She retired from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools after a 39 year successful career that took her from the classroom to an Educational/Placement Specialist, ESE; Interim ESE Director, Region IV; Interim Principal, Westview Elementary and Summer Principal, Floral Heights Elementary School. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Miami-Dade College, Florida Memorial and Nova University. At the Miami Dade County Public School District level, she served as Director, Title I Program and District Director, Alternative Education Programs, where she was directly responsible for Juvenile Justice and Teen Parent Programs. She is the proud mother of three adult children, Ronald, Norman, II and Treska; and the loving grandmother of Amber, Chalice, Khari and Destinee.

Adora Obi Nweze is a devoted member of New Harvest Missionary Baptist Church, Miami, FL; member of Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and serves as the  Associate Matron, Angels of Adora Chapter #99, Order of Eastern Star, PHA. Her NAACP affiliation includes being a Diamond Life member of the NAACP; President of the Florida State Conference NAACP, member of the NAACP National Board of Directors; member, NAACP Special Contribution Fund/Board of Trustees. She serves on the following National Board Committees: Chair, ACT-SO Committee; Chair, NAACP Education Committee; member, NAACP Advocacy and Policy; member, NAACP Memberships and Units; member, NAACP Convention Planning; member, NAACP Membership sub-committee; member, Environmental Justice/Climate Control Subcommittee; and member, Gulf Oil Taskforce.

She was appointed in 2010 as a member, National Advisory Council (NAC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and as Chair, Affirmative Action Committee FL Democratic Party.  Previously held positions include: Appointed by former Governor Charlie Crist as Special Advisor for Minority Affairs; member, Search Committee for NAACP President/CEO 2007/2008; member, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Advisory Committee which developed a Post Katrina Report. Adora, has served as Chair of the National 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board and was the President for the Miami-Dade Branch (11 years) and the Opa-Locka Branch (2 years); member, Federal Communications Commission, Special Committee on Post Katrina; Coordinator, Disaster Relief and Region V, Coordinator Women In NAACP (WIN) Committee.  She spearheaded lawsuits that were filed by the Florida State Conference to include: the One Florida Initiative, the Voting Irregularities of 2000 and Voter Disenfranchisement, the Department of Corrections, School Vouchers, Felony Disenfranchisement, and Affirmative Action. Recently, she has been an out spoken advocate in seeking Justice for the murder of Martin Lee Anderson.  Because of her strong belief in community, she has been successful in building NAACP partnerships with the Florida Departments of Education, Health, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, the Florida Bureau of Elderly Affairs, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.  She has implemented strategies and activities with the Department of Health/HIV/AIDS Division to bring about an awareness of the impact that HIV/AIDS has on the Black and Minority Communities throughout the State of Florida.

Adora has been on the forefront for many initiatives to include but not limited to: Successful fundraising efforts at the local, state, region and national levels; organized successful NAACP memberships Drives yielding hundreds of new regular and Life Members; Daisy Bates Education Summit; ACTSO Competitions; Criminal/Juvenile Justice, Religious Affairs, Health, Education, Environmental Justice, Legal Redress, Telecommunications, Economic Development, Veteran Affairs Activities. Adora is also an advocate for youth and increasing young adult participation in the NAACP. She has organized meetings that have resulted in increasing young adult participation with Branch, Youth Council and College Chapters throughout and raised financial support for youth involvement to attend State Conferences, Regional and National Conventions. Also, she organized a State Young Adult Committee.

Adora's community service is legendary. She is a much sought after speaker for workshops and conferences at the local, state, and national levels. In addition, she continues to be an inspiration and role model for those aspiring to be community leaders in the future. She is known as a challenger, motivator and orator, through her demonstration as President of the Florida State Conference NAACP. President Nweze believes that we must proactively seek to eradicate voter apathy in our communities through the dutiful and diligent dissemination of information affecting every aspect of our community. Education, Healthcare, Unemployment, Criminal and Juvenile Justice, as well as Housing are a few of the issues negatively impacting our communities daily that are addressed under her leadership.

The awards and recognitions from the local community as well as from the NAACP have been numerous. Listed below are a few of the recognitions:

• Kelly M. Alexander Sr. State Conference President's Award
• Dr. Benjamin Lawson Hooks, Keeper of the Flame Award
• Civil Rights Award, Florida Conference on Civil Rights
• Rutledge H. Pearson Leadership Award, Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches
• Adora Obi Nweze, Intergenerational Award, Youth and College Division, Florida State Conference
• Presidents Award, Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches
• Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award, National Alliance of Black School Educators Sojourner Truth Award, Miami Chapter, National Association of Negro
• Business and Professional Women
• W.E.B. Dubois International Award, NAACP Regional Conference
• Medgar Wiley Evers Award, Region V NAACP
• Adams/Powell Civil Rights Award, Miami-Dade Branch NAACP
• Pioneer Award, Florida Democratic Black Caucas
• Humanitarian Award, Top Ladies of Distinction
• WMBM AM 1490 Community Service Award (Award is now named the Adora Obi Nweze Award for Community Service)
• Florida Education Association (FEA) President's Award
• Education Award, Imperial Court Daughters of Isis
• Outstanding Community Service, Gamma Zeta Omega Wish Foundation
• University of Miami/Minority Organ Tissue and Transplantation (MOTTEP) Outstanding Leadership Award
• March on Tallahassee/Coalition of Conscience, Leadership Award

Wisdom O. Cole is the Senior National Director of Advocacy for the NAACP. 

In his previous role as National Director for the NAACP Youth and College Division, he served more than 700 youth councils, high school chapters, and college chapters actively involved in the fight for civil rights. 

Wisdom brings extensive experience in civil rights advocacy training institute, electoral action training, grassroots organizing, issues toolkits, and webinars at the local, state, and national level. He has managed national campaign efforts focused on building Black political power through youth leadership development, advocacy, and direct action organizing for the past 5 years with the NAACP, formerly as the National Campaigns & Training Manager.

In his time at the NAACP, he has worked on campaigns around the cancelation of student debt, removing police from schools, as well as increasing voter access for young Black people. He has been featured on Politico, NPR, VICE, NBC Washington News, Brooking Institute, and The Economist as an advocate for Black youth voter turnout through issue-based campaign organizing. In 2023, he was recognized in Politico's Recast Power List 2023, honoring those who are changing the world through race and politics.

Wisdom was previously a field and state conference organizer for the Afrikan Black Coalition (ABC), the largest Black collegiate organization in California. In 2014, he collaboratively organized the Afrikan Black Coalition conference that featured keynote speakers such as Marc Lamont Hill, Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, and Attallah Shabazz. For this effort, he received the Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity in recognition for outstanding contributions to furthering diversity, inclusion, and excellence at UC Santa Cruz.

Wisdom grew up in California where he earned a B. A. in Chemistry, with a minor in STEM Education, from UC Santa Cruz as well as a M. A. in Teaching from the University of San Francisco.