New leaders of the Lima chapter of the NAACP are sworn in.
LIMA — Local NAACP officers were sworn in to serve the current year. The local leadership will include President Pastor Ron Fails, Vice President Henry Hudson, Secretary Amber N. Basares and Treasurer Charlene Smith-Echols.
The local NAACP chapter is emphasizing six “Game Changers” to address the inequalities facing Lima: economic sustainability; education; health; public safety and criminal justice; voting rights and political representation; and expanding youth and young adult engagement.
The NAACP describes economic sustainability as a chance for all to live the American dream. According to naacp.org, “Every person should have equal opportunity to achieve economic success, sustainability and financial security.” Efforts in this area may include researching and establishing relationships with private or public entities, implementing efforts to promote the growth of local area business ownership, or encourage business development and home ownership.
Education is described as simply getting a free, high-quality, public education for all students and making sure all students have access to great teaching, fair discipline, equal resources and a challenging curriculum.
The chapter will being championing health equality for all Americans to have access to timely, quality and affordable health care.
Public safety and criminal justice concerns are broad. Treatment for addiction and mental health problems are a chief concern. Judicially, policies to end disparities in incarceration, policing strategies and mandatory minimum sentencing are a concern.
As a prioity of the NAACP, voting rights and political representation is allowing every American to experience free, open, equal and protected access to vote on all levels of government.
The local chapter is expanding youth and young adult engagement. Greater efforts to recruit, engage, train and retain young adults will be a key aspect to all local chapter endeavors.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
