Standing Committees
Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO):The Committee on ACT-SO shall follow these rules: (1) must be properly registered annually with the National Office and follow all directives outlined by the National ACT-SO Program; (2) understand that it is a major project of the NAACP. With ACT-SO, the NAACP is providing an instrument through which African-American youth are encouraged and inspired toward excellence in academic and cultural pursuits while benefiting from the maximum support of their communities; (3) uphold its goal of ACT-SO that affords the same respect for African-American Scholastic and cultural achievement that is given to heroes; and (4) recognizing that ACT-SO conducts annual academic competitions for students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) in NAACP Branches throughout the country in accordance with the published guidelines of the National Office and oversight of the National Director of ACT-SO Program.
2. Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee
The Committee on Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs shall: (1) study conditions pertaining to veterans in the community; (2) serve as a center of information on material issued affecting African American veterans; (3) serve as a source of information to veterans and their families seeking information on government agencies serving veterans and; (4) receive and act on all veterans’ complaints relative to discrimination on account of race, color or creed, or denial of benefits in local areas because of discrimination.
The Committee on Community Coordination shall enlist the support of other community organizations on issues affecting the interests of African Americans and other communities of color.
The Committee on Criminal Justice shall: (1) seek to eliminate harsh and unfair sentencing practices that are responsible for mass incarceration and racial disparities in the prison system, (2) support and seek to increase trust and public safety by advancing effective law enforcement practices, (3) fight for the restoration of the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people and the removal of barriers to employment, (4) elevate the voices of crime victim survivors in order to identify and advance systemic breakdowns existing in the criminal justice system that perpetuate crime, (5) resolve to end the war on drugs for its disproportionate collateral consequences harm communities of color, (6) seek the institution and availability of alternatives to incarceration including education, employment, and mental health services, (7) eliminate zero tolerance policies implemented in our schools which are keeping kids out of the classroom and putting them on a path from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse, (8) investigate programs implemented in our local law enforcement agencies which derail from their main purpose of safety and order to conduct the work of federal agencies for which they do not have the capacity, and (9) seek budget modifications in states where incarceration receives more funding than education.
The Committee on Economic Development shall implement local efforts and support national programs to preserve and expand economic empowerment among African-Americans and other communities of color by: (1) researching and establishing relationships with private and public entities; (2) supporting the work of the National Office in monitoring the progress and activity ofprivate and public entities designated by national programs; and (3) implementing local efforts to promote the growth of business ownership; (4) increasing employment and job creation; and (5) encouraging business development and home ownership.
The Committee on Education shall: (1) seek to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education; (2) study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; (3) investigate the public school system and school zoning;(4) familiarize itself with textbook material there from which is racially derogatory; (5) seek to stimulate school attendance; (6) keep informed of school conditions and strive to correct abuses where found; (7) investigate the effects of standardized and high stakes testing practices; (8) teacher certification; (9) promote parental involvement in education; and (10) aim to be a center of popular education on the race question and on the work of the Association.
The Employment & Empowerment Committee has historically been a special branch committee that assists those seeking gainful employment, educational enhancement, and advancement for self-betterment.
9. Environmental & Climate Justice
The Environmental and Climate Justice Committee shall: (1) seek to address environmental inequities at the local level and advocate for civil rights issues; (2) develop a comprehensive and holistic agenda to reduce pollution; (3) advance energy efficiency and clean energy; (4) build disaster resilient infrastructure policies and practices.
The Finance Committee shall consist of the President, Treasurer, and at least one other member. It shall study the financial needs of the Unit and shall be responsible for drafting an adequate annual budget.
11. Freedom Fund
The Freedom Fund Committee shall plan and conduct fund-raising activities, entertainment and other projects, for local and national purposes within the scope of the Association’s program. It shall work closely with the Finance Committee.
12. Health
The Health Committee shall: (1) work to promote, protect and maintain the health of African Americans; (2) assess the health needs of the community; (3) advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment and research for all Americans; (4) sponsor health-related activities such as health forums, fairs and workshops highlighting issues of importance to people of color; and (5) support health initiatives of the Association.
13. Housing & Community Planning
The Committee on Housing &Community Planning shall: (1) study housing conditions in the local community; (2) receive and seek to address complaints of discrimination; (3) oppose all restrictive practices whether public or private; and (4) disseminate information and render such other assistance which may eliminate discrimination in housing.
14. Juvenile Justice
15. Labor & Industry Committee
16. Legal Redress Committee
The Legal Redress Committee shall: (1) investigate all cases reported to it; (2) supervise all litigation in which the branch is interested and; (3) keep the national office and the branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give legal advice.
17. Membership & Life Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall: (1) work throughout the year to maintain and increase the membership of the Association; (2) be responsible for planning and organizing the annual membership campaign; and (3) be responsible on a continuous basis for soliciting new members and for securing renewals. The Life Membership Committee shall consist of a Life Membership Chair and or Co-Chairman and at least three other members. It shall be the function of the Life Membership Committee to initiate all possible means to obtain life members and sponsor a continuing program toward this end.
18. Political Action Committee
The Political Action Committee shall: (1) seek to increase registration and voting; (2) work for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political and economic status of minority groups; (3) seek the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation; (4) work to secure equal enforcement of the law and; (5) keep the national office and the branch informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The committee shall be non-partisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.
19. Press & Publicity Committee
The Press & Publicity Committee shall: (1) seek to promote media content consistent with fundamental NAACP goals which include the elimination of racial isolation and fear and the furtherance of multiracial and cultural understandings; (2) work to eliminate employment segregation and discrimination in those industries, comprising the communications arts and sciences (radio, telephone, television, motion pictures, newspapers, books, related computer communications, business, and cable television); (3) seek to insure Black minority ownership and control of print and electronic media – both hardware and software; (4) monitor local and national media, especially advertising performance; (5) provide the national office with research and data on those local business engaged in communications arts and sciences and; (6) seek to insure that all people have a meaningful right to choose from and have access to a variety of high quality telecommunications goods and services at reasonable costs.
20. Religious Affairs
The Religious Affairs Committee shall include ministerial and lay religious leaders who are members of the Unit. It shall: (1) promote an educational program designed to give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle; (2) interpret the work of the Association to organized religious groups of all faiths; (3) enlist the support of such organized religious groups for membership, fundraising, and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; and (4) provide resource assistance for religious education and social action activities, associated with the improvement of race relations.
21. Women In NAACP (WIN) Committee
Women in the NAACP (WIN) is an official committee of the NAACP established to enhance the leadership role of women in the Association, to serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children, to advocate for the positive development of children, and to support the ongoing work of the NAACP and its units, especially civil and cultural activities to enhance membership. Each Region has a coordinator designated as Regional Vice Coordinator, and each state designates a WIN State Chair. Each local NAACP branch may also establish a local WIN chapter.
22. Youth
23.Young Adult
The Committee on Young Adult shall consist of Branch members twenty-one (21) –forty (40) years of age. It shall be the function of the Committee to: (1) support all branch activities; (2) stimulate interest through advocacy training and solicit membership of twenty-one (21) –forty (40) years of age; (3) create a mentorship program (Branch to Young Adults and Young Adults to Youth Units) to serve as a support bridge from Youth and College to Branch participation; (4) provide networking and social opportunities for young adults in the local community; and (5) encourage the participation of young adults in all activities and leadership within the Branch.