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Greetings DuPage County NAACP members and friends:
We are pleased to bring to you, another engaging newsletter and a new look. It doesn't get much better than that! We hope you enjoy this edition.
Make it a great day and stay safe.
A. Margret Childress, Chairperson and
Patrick Watson, Co-Chairperson
Communications, Press and Publicity Committee
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If you are a new member of DuPage County NAACP and have not attended an orientation session, please register for an upcoming orientation HERE!
CALL-TO-ACTION - ATTENTION DUPAGE COUNTY NAACP MEMBERS
The Communications, Press & Publicity Committee along with all other committees welcomes you to join as a new member. If you have questions please contact the chairperson of your preferred committee. Their email can be found on the website HERE!
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President's Corner
As we close out black history month, remember our history is one of lifelong learning and experiences. We have a rich and illustrious past. We have an even brighter future. In just 12 short years we’ve had our 1st black president, our 1st black Vice President and now President Joe Biden has named Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the 1st Black woman to the Supreme Court. I can’t predict what the future holds but I know we are a talent-rich people and the sky is our only limit.
It is up to each and every one of us to continue to write and tell our stories. Every day we must look for opportunities to pass them on to our future generations, born and unborn.
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Committee Chair: Tyronne Johnson
On January 23rd, the DuPage County NAACP hosted a vaccine clinic and health screening event in partnership with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) and First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove. This offered the community free services ranging from blood pressure, diabetes, and skin cancer screenings to Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations.
On February 27th DuPage County (DPC) NAACP participated in an event at Naperville North High School, District 203. The SUCCESS (School, Using, Coordinated, Community, Efforts, to Strengthen Students) organization partnered with HBCU alumni and community members to deliver this unique experience. Alumni, Fraternities, Sororities, Youth Groups, and Civil Rights organizations took part in Black History Month by celebrating Historic Black Colleges and Universities.
DPC NAACP Youth Council presented great visibility. DPC NAACP Health Committee focused on Health literacy, COVID-19 mitigation with hand washing techniques, and vaccine booster pins.
View a short video highlighting the event. Click Below
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Committee Chair: Kijuana Boulrece
The video “It Takes a Village”- A Journey of Courage, Culture, and Perseverance in celebration of African American culture and history, produced by Mrs. Antonia Harlan, education committee member, was shared by the education committee as part of celebrating Black History Month. The video chronicles in part the African American story from the land of Africa to the present, exploring the great cultures of Africa to life in America for those of African
descent.
The NAACP in collaboration with Unity Partnership, Inc and members of the Naperville Community met with Chief Arres of the Naperville Police Department. This collaboration of prominent community members addressed representation and inclusion in marketing materials presented to a diverse community. The meeting was facilitated by Mrs. Regina Brent, Founder
and President of Unity Partnerships, Mrs. Kijuana Boulrece, Education Committee Chair, and Dr. Elaine Mosley, Education Committee member.
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Committee Chair: Patrick Watson
Promoting Equity IL Coalition – Housing access in IL: What will it Take?
On March 3rd, the Dupage County Political Action Committee partnered with panelists and explored affordable housing and tenant’s rights in Illinois.
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On January 27th, the Dupage County NAACP Political Action Committee held an event called “Confronting the Rise of School Board Disruptions.” Expert panelists spoke about misinformation surrounding mask mandates, the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights, and the way race is being taught in our schools. They discussed possible ways we could come together to support school boards and staff in our area.
The Dupage County Political Action Committee also met with the Illinois Realtors on Elgin’s Crime-Free Housing Ordinance. The NAACP’s National Legal Defense has sent a letter to the city council outlining how the ordinance can discriminate against people of color.
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Committee Chair: Connie Schmit
On December 18th at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve, a Native American Winter Solstice ceremony was held. As part of this ceremony, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President Daniel Hebreard acknowledged that Churchill Woods Forest Preserve sits on Native American land. As part of this land acknowledgment, President Hebreard remembered and honored the land as the home of Native peoples, many of whose names are lost to history.
At the ceremony, President Hebreard shared, “We honor, with gratitude, the land itself and the Indigenous peoples who have been caretakers of the land throughout generations, past and present.” Indigenous history is American history, and by learning the cultures and histories of Indigenous People, we honor those histories for this generation and those to come.
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Honoring Our Local Black Leaders
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"Someone You Should Know"
Written By Ella King
Attorney Louisa Nuckolls has been working as a DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney for 18 years. Currently, she is in the “First Offender Call Unified for Success (F.O.C.U.S.)” courtroom, a program that earned DuPage County a national award for targeting first-time drug offenders. The F.O.C.U.S. program’s goal is to provide non-violent first-time drug offenders the necessary treatment, counseling, education, and support needed to successfully complete their term of probation and to ensure they remain on the road to recovery and rehabilitation. The program works to limit recidivism and gives people a second chance.
Stated during her interview “it wasn't always easy”, however, she appreciated taking a longer path as opposed to getting this high-profile job straight out of law school because it gave her life lessons on being bold enough to ask for what she wants. Are you aspiring to become an attorney? Do you have dreams of working in a courtroom? Attorney Nuckolls recommends that hard work, discipline, stress management, and self-care are necessary attributes to becoming an Assistant State’s Attorney.
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Biography
The idea of becoming a attorney came to Attorney Nuckolls at the age of 14 years old after being inspired by a friend and an attorney in her family. At a young age, Attorney Nuckolls engaged in healthy debates and drew attention by her skills and ability to hold arguments.
Attorney Nuckolls attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for undergraduate school then continued on to DePaul University for law school (1993-1996). Several opportunities were presented to Attorney Nuckolls from insurance to traffic law until she finally landed in criminal law. The position which she holds today at the DuPage County State’s Attorney's office was the result of her readiness and preparation. She is also a member of the DuPage NAACP's Criminal justice committee.
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North Central College Celebrates Black Histoy Month | *Image courtesy of North Cental College | |
"Naperville's North Central College kicked off their Black History Month celebration with former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion Spencer Paysinger. The hit show All American is based on the life story of Spencer Paysinger. Mr. Paysinger shared part of his life story and how he is leveraging his success to create opportunities for others." | | |
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Donna J. Service Award
Mrs. Joy Bowling, far right, Former 2nd Vice President and Education Chair Member was a recipient of the Donna K. Williams MLK Service Award for her work in Aurora, IL. Mrs. Bowling has served over 40+ years as a voter registrar in addition to providing registrar training.
Congratulations Joy Bowling!
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Chicago Suburbs Native Brings Black History to the Big Screen
Since Nicole Benson's Graduation from Naperville's Neuqua Valley High School, she has been on a mission to utilize film for a greater purpose. Benson graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor in Radio, TV, and Film, (otherwise known as Communications) and a Masters in Film and Video Studies (Documentary Focus) from American University. She began her career working as a junior video editor at a startup in Chicago which allowed her to hone her skills as a woman in production.
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In 2020, she was blessed to make the transition to MasterClass, where she's really been able to blossom and grow into both an Associate Producer/Producer Role. In her first 5 months, she was given the opportunity to produce a class from start to finish featuring a person she's admired all her life, LeVar Burton. She also had an opportunity to work with Nancy Pelosi and provide the microphone for her sit-down interview. | |
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Finally, her career led her to the role of Associate Producer on the highly anticipated and well-received class, "Black History, Black Freedom, and Black Love" (Part 1, Part 2, & (coming soon) Part 3). | |
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| Editor and Facilitator: Dr. Elizabeth Boone |
Contact the Communication, Press, and Publicity Committee: [email protected] |
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