To Be Young, Black and Employed?

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.

Payton Wilkins is a panelist for "To Be Young, Black and Employed?" during NAACP's Labor Action Week. 

Kristal Knight is a panelist for "To Be Young, Black and Employed?" for NAACP Labor Action Week. 

Shevann Steuben is a native of San Francisco, CA. She proudly serves as the president of the Texas NAACP Youth & College Division. She is an alumna of Baylor University with a bachelor's degree in corporate communication studies. Shevann is currently an M.B.A. candidate at Johns Hopkins University and will specialize in public and private sector leadership. Shevann reigns as Miss Texas Black International Ambassador 2022 with a platform focusing on voting rights, making sure voting is not A R.A.R.E. Opportunity.

The inception of Shevann's involvement within the NAACP began as a freshman at Baylor University where she became a member. In 2017 she was appointed Political Action Chair of Baylor NAACP and in 2018 was elected President of the Chapter. She served for two terms and led to chapter to become NAACP's 2018 and 2019 National College Chapter of the Year. Upon learning about the leadership opportunities within the organization she became an active participant of the Texas NAACP State Conference. After serving as the Youth State Treasurer in 2018, she was elected Youth State President in 2019. Her first effort as State President was supporting efforts towards Rodney Reed's stay of execution.

Aside from NAACP Shevann lead in many capacities on Baylor's campus such as Chairwoman of the Black Student Coalition (BSC), Chief of Staff to the Student Government External Vice President, Peer Leader for the First in Line Success Academy, Multicultural Affairs Intern, Academy for Leadership Development Intern, Secretary of the 41st Big XII Conference on Black Student Government, President Freshman Action Team. Shevann has been honored with a number of recognitions including the Torchbearer Award, Outstanding Student Assistant Award, Excellence in Student Involvement Award Senior Recipient, A.A. Marjorie Hyden Endowment Scholarship Recipient, Active Engagement Award Recipient, Emerging Leader Award.

Shevann is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a Spring 2019 initiate by way of the Rho Eta Chapter at Baylor University. In 2020, while being the youngest and newest member in the San Francisco alumnae chapter, she was appointed as the Corresponding Secretary. Shevann is currently a member of the Houston Alumnae chapter.

Shevann is continually inspired by the spirit of her peers, the wisdom of her elders, and the future of those who will follow after her. She is passionate about leadership development and also serves as the National Training and Leadership Development Director at Generation Vote. One of her passions is speaking to younger students. She has had the opportunity to speak at events such as "What Truth Sounds Like" at Texas A&M University-Commerce, "Civic Participation: How Youth Can Engage in the Political Process", at Vital Voices Global Partnership, "Let Our Voices Be Heard" for Top Ladies of Distinction. She has also led two webinars with the Youth & College Division: "Community Building Beyond the Pandemic" and "Black Women Lead".

Being a native of San Francisco, CA she noticed significant differences between her home state and her current home. The largest being voting rights and access, which is her advocacy passion lied. To lead in this space she reminds herself to be intentional and bold, and remember she is fearlessly enough.