LANSING – Longtime NAACP member and Lansing resident Harold A. Pope has been elected president of the Lansing Branch NAACP. The swearing-in ceremony will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5 at the former Otto Middle School located at 500 East Thomas Street. All of the branch officers will receive the Oath of Office at the ceremony with participation of the executive committee and other branch members.
Pope, a Lansing resident since 2008, has served in various capacities on the Lansing Branch including vice president, chair of military and veteran affairs and as parliamentarian. His main goals are to grow the branch’s membership and work with the Greater Lansing community to eliminate disenfranchisement within Black communities and other marginalized groups.
“I’m looking forward to working with the new officers and executive committee members as we continue to grow this branch,” Pope said. “I am keenly focused on retaining current members and growing our younger membership both in the branch and within its Youth Council. I’d also like to see those members that haven’t been as active return to help our efforts to fight for democracy. I am fired up and ready to serve.”
Carrie Owens, a Lansing resident since 1964 and a longtime Lansing Branch member, feels optimistic about the new leadership and the direction of the branch.
“We are grateful for our new officers and various committee members and their commitment for the next two years,” said Owens, a retired educator. “We need to demonstrate that we deserve all of the equal rights, privileges, justice and freedom for all people.”
In addition to Pope, the new officers include First Vice President Versey Williams, Second Vice President Melvin Coleman, Third Vice President Derrick Knox Jr., Secretary Yolanda Bennett, Treasurer Nicole Evans, and executive committee members Dr. Pamelajune Anderson, Robbin Bell, Fonda Brewer, Sharon Civils, Haywood Edwards, Dr. Lee June, James McCurtis Jr., Melvin McWilliams, Dan Segalman, Dr. Lee Taylor, Toni Wheeler and Winston Williams.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. On April 14, 1919, the Lansing Branch was chartered under the leadership of Branch President C.A. Campbell. Lansing Branch is one of 2,220 branches in the association with the mission to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
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