Combining the Efforts of Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics of the Mind (ACT-SO) and the Back-to-School, Stay-in-School Program to Assist in the Demolishing of High School Drop-Out Rates among African- American Students

WHEREAS, one of the original concerns of the NAACP founders on education stated that high school training should be adequately provided for all, and college training should be the monopoly of no class or race in any section of our common country, and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama urges the country to get involved in community work; and

WHEREAS, in the history of the Civil Rights Movement issues originate from common grass roots citizens; and

WHEREAS, Vernon Jarrett, founder of the NAACP Afro Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics of the Mind (ACT-SO) Program, originally wanted the program to reach out to those students who need an extra boost to stay focused on completing school; and

WHEREAS, W.E.B. Dubois called upon the Talented Tenth Percent of the Black race to reach back and elevate the masses.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirm its efforts to reach out to family, friends and neighbors who have dropped out of school and tutor, support, and encourage those students to re-enter high school with the assisted help of the NAACP Back–to- School Program and ACT-SO; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP enlist those drop-out students in the ACT-SO Program with mentors to work with them for a full year in preparation for the annual local and national competition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all NAACP units support their youth units in combining the efforts of the ACT-SO and Back-to-School, Stay-in-School Programs in a campaign to eradicate the high drop-out rate among African-American students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP work diligently to find a way to bring together the members of the Youth and College Division membership with the ACT-SO and Back-To-School, Stay In School Programs so that these talented Youth become Active members of the Youth and College Division; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the determination of Active in the Youth and College Division be the sole responsibility of the Unit President and Youth Advisor; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that participants in the ACT-SO program be encouraged to join and participate in the Youth Council through membership and attendance at Youth Council meetings.