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Hello members and friends:
Our youth writers created another outstanding newsletter filled with exciting and enlightening articles. We hope you enjoy them.
A. Margret Childress, Chair
Communications, Press & Publicity Committee
Patrick Watson, Co-Chair and Branch President
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Introducing New DuPage NAACP President:
Mr. Patrick Watson
DuPage County NAACP President Patrick Watson has devoted his life to community organizing and helping others to realize that they too have a voice, power and choice. He was born in the District of Columbia and grew up in DuPage County, having arrived in the county as a very young boy. He is a graduate of North Central College in Naperville. After college he became a partner in his family business and has been personally successful in pushing its expansion nationally and internationally. He has worked as a staff member and consultant on numerous campaigns including President Barack Obama, Governor Pat. Quinn and Hillary Clinton.
Patrick has also consulted with many non-for-profit organizations to set up organizational structure, training toolkits and how to best maximize fundraising capacity. Patrick has also worked with many community issues-based organizations, as both a volunteer and as a full-time staff member. Patrick continues to serve as a partner in his family business while also being a data/fundraising consultant.
Patrick Watson is a founding member and board member of Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action and has organized
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actions around issues such as affordable healthcare, comprehensive immigration reform, sensible gun legislation, climate change, empowering voter education and workers’ rights.
Patrick initially joined the DuPage County NAACP in 2017 and later was appointed the political action chair and co-chair of the Communications, Press and Publicity Committee. Patrick organized a few of the largest press conferences in branch history which have been covered internationally, including the John Lewis Votercade which brought together dozens of suburban civic groups as a part of a national day of action.
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Stop The Bleed! Lifestyle360 Youth Awareness Outreach Aurora Public Library
By Tim Jones
On May 7th, the DuPage NAACP Health Committee and Youth Council hosted a community workshop in coordination with Lifesafety 365 at the Aurora Public Library. This workshop went by the name of “STOP THE BLEED”, whose purpose was to teach the life-saving skills of controlling bleeding. Alvin and his team at Lifesafety365 taught the students who attended how to identify if a situation is life-threatening, how to ask for consent and how to take action and stop the bleeding. After a brief presentation, these students proceeded to perform what they learned with their partners.
Learn more here:
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Report by President and Political Action Committee Chair, Patrick Watson
Juneteenth weekend the Political Action Committee was spread across key locations in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will and Northwest suburban Cook counties to register voters and sign them up for the new permanent vote by mail lists.
The Political Action Committee will continue to register voters and sign them up for the vote by mail list throughout the year. If you are interested in joining these efforts, please sign up at the link below.
As the Political Action chair, I worked with a coalition of organizations to advocate for a new Anti-Doxing bill in Springfield. I traveled to Springfield with advocates from across the state to urge legislators to pass legislation which would allow victims of doxing to seek civil damages from those who published their private information with the intent to cause harm. I spoke with key legislators on the legislation explaining the importance of this bill. The bill gained bipartisan
support and unanimously passed through both the Illinois House and Illinois Senate.
Hate groups are increasingly using Doxing as a means to intimidate individuals in Illinois and across the country. During the period we also advocated at the state and federal level for an increase to the Nonprofit Security Grants Program. This program allows for vulnerable nonprofit organizations and places of worship to receive grants to pay for extra security from would-be attackers.
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As Political Action chair, I also worked with the Illinois Realtors Association, National NAACP legal office and a coalition of housing advocates to roll back a “crime free housing” ordinance in Elgin. This ordinance was found to be a violation of state and federal law and served to have a disproportionate effect on minority populations and women facing domestic violence victims.
These crime free ordinances are starting to pop up across the state. We are currently working to combat these as they pop up in other municipalities.
Sign up for the Political Action Committee: https://forms.gle/fAgrtnsiGUWEV8UKA
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The History and Future of Juneteenth
By: Tim Jones
On January 1st, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that “all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free.” Union soldiers marched throughout many cities spreading the news of freedom in the Confederate states, but only through the thirteenth amendment did slavery end in the United States. Liberty for all slaves finally came on June 19th, 1865, which we know and celebrate as Juneteenth today. The Legacy of Juneteenth represents the value of never giving up hope in dire times.
This federal holiday was celebrated all throughout DuPage County this year. Naperville Neighbors United hosted its own Juneteenth celebration at Rotary Hill in Naperville. They celebrated Juneteenth with the community through music and education. Our President, Patrick Watson, was present at this event. There were also Juneteenth events held in Kane, Kendall, Will, and Cook Counties.
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The 8th DuPage NAACP S.T.E.A.M. Scholars 2023 Camp, is a full-week camp that focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Coding, Math, Science, Literature, the Arts, and Social Justice. At this year’s camp, ninety-three (93) students (3rd to 8th graders) engaged in science experiments involving physics and rocket propulsion as well as learned how AI impacts our daily lives (GPS, Google, etc.) and how it can be leveraged to address social issues and simplify everyday tasks. Over the course of the week, the students learned that AI is not magic; it’s just code!
Camp mornings began with a snack, greetings and one of the student’s favorite classes - Chess. Elite Chess offered our students fun-filled, engaged instruction in strategy and applications of life. Chess helps students understand rewards systems as well as improves critical thinking skills. From there, the students had their choice of technology courses: Beginners Mindful Coding, Music Coding, Video Game Design and Sportsense.
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The students received instruction in math, expressive writing and science. They also had the opportunity to meet with Computer Science professionals and career professionals from Traveler’s Insurance, Fermi Lab, CSG and Nicor Gas.
Students also learned the importance of social and racial justice, the importance of the NAACP and its relevancy to their lives. They chose and researched important social topics that matters to them. The week ended with a stellar showcase where students presented their projects to their peers, lots of ice cream, prizes and swag bags.
The DuPage NAACP S.T.E.A.M. Scholars 2023 camp is facilitated by the DuPage NAACP Branch Education Committee in partnership with Northwestern University and The Center for Success. The Education Committee warmly thanks our Financial Partners: Travelers Insurance, The Links, Raymond James-Fountain Wealth Management, Rhea of Hope, Nicor Gas and The Top Ladies of Distinction.
The Committee eagerly welcomes other community partners to join with them in this important work of educating and inspiring the next generation.
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DuPage County ACT-SO Students Win Big
at the 2023 National NAACP ACT-SO Competition
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Pictured from left to right: Antonio Agnew, Providence St. Mel High School; Raina Ford, Fenwick High School; Chandler Brady, Timothy Christian High School; Amalachukwu Agwuncha, Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy. (Photo Courtesy of DuPage ACT-SO)
The NAACP sponsors the youth enrichment program known as ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics). ACT-SO is designed to encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students. It features three components: mentoring, academic enrichment, and the opportunity for students to participate in a local competition. Local Gold medalists advance to the National ACT-SO Competition to compete against 800-900 other students for scholarships, cash, and other prizes. There are 33 ACT-SO competition categories under the broad headings of STEM, Humanities, Performing Arts, Business, Visual Arts, and Culinary Arts.
Four students from the DuPage County NAACP branch received national recognition at the 45th National NAACP Convention held this year in Boston, Massachusetts:
- Amalachukwu Agwuncha - Gold Medalist in Biology/Microbiology - Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy - 11th grade
- Chandler Brady - Gold Medalist in Chemistry - Timothy Christian High School - 10th grade
- Raina Ford - Gold Medalist in Entrepreneurship – 2023 Fenwick High School Graduate - Howard University Incoming Freshman
- Antonio Agnew - Silver Medalist in Poetry Written - 2023 Providence St. Mel High School Graduate - Connecticut College Incoming Freshman
Thomas Reed, Chair of the DuPage County ACT-SO Program remarked,” We are so incredibly proud of our national medalists for their overall excellence at this year’s competition. Each of the students in our program commits to a mentoring experience that is beyond their schoolwork and extracurricular commitments. I want to acknowledge their hard work and growth during this program year. DuPage County ACT-SO continues to be one of the most successful programs in the nation because of the commitment of our families, devoted volunteers and our ongoing partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, and Lewis University.”
Since the inception of the National ACT-SO competition in 1978, nearly 300,000 students have received mentoring from highly skilled professionals in every field of endeavor. Notable ACT-SO Alumni include Anthony Anderson, Lauren Hill, Alicia Keys, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Kanye West.
August 26th marks the kick-off of the 2023-2024 program year for DuPage County ACT-SO. For more information about the program and upcoming orientation dates, please visit: www.dupageact-so.org.
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Dr. Caputo, College of DuPage President and Vice President Wendy Parks recently hosted DuPage County NAACP's 1st Vice President, Dr. Elizabeth Boone at COD to exchange ideas regarding future educational partnerships. Senior Manager Jen Duda, Coordinator Joan DiPiero and Director Wendy McCambridge also joined the discussion. | |
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Clotilda: The Exhibition
By Tim Jones and Blake Cooper
NAACP member and Unity Partnership Founder, Ms. Regina Brent visited the Clotilda Exhibition at the African Heritage House in Mobile Alabama that officially opened on July 8th, 2023. According to ebony.com, this exhibition contains 2,500 square feet of rich, multi-sensory space including pieces of the Clotilda. It is also coupled with compelling stories and images from Africatown, an independent community that arose despite its origin story.
In 1860, the Clotilda sank in the waters of the Mobile River in Alabama. Although the United States had banned the importation of slaves in 1806 through Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution, decades later plantation owners still demanded the importation of slaves.
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The Clotilda illegally transported 110 people from West Africa to Mobile, Alabama. Once the Clotilda arrived in Mobile, the captives were unloaded and the ship was burned and sunk to conceal the crime. After the 13th amendment was passed and emancipation was in full effect around all of America, the Clotilda captives saved their money to start their own community in Alabama. This community is known today as Africatown, residing in southern Alabama.
The Clotilda was the last slave ship known to enter the United States. Historians searched for the wreckage until finally discovering it in 2019.
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Bailey’s Catering LLC
Father’s Day Brunch
by Ella King
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Bailey's Catering LLC sponsored a community Father’s Day Brunch celebration at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bolingbrook IL. NAACP member, Dr. Elizabeth Boone signed up a new member during the event. The brunch was a resounding success with partners and sponsors such as the DuPage County NAACP, Andrea Davenport and PAHM of Meridian, whose support was instrumental in making it possible. The presence of sponsors helped to elevate the event and make it truly special, providing an opportunity for participants to connect with the community and engage with important issues.
The event featured a captivating speech by renowned guest speaker and father Mark Hopkins, who shared insights from his acclaimed book "What's Stopping You?" The author's speech left attendees feeling inspired and motivated. Hopkins' book has been praised for its practical advice and actionable steps to overcome obstacles and achieve success, and his talk at the event only served to further reinforce its value.
Father's Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the heritage of fatherhood and the beneficial effects that fathers have on society. Whether or not a person has a prominent father role in their life, Father's Day is a significant holiday for everyone. It's a moment to think back on the good male role models who have made a significant difference in our lives, like uncles, grandfathers or close family friends. It's an occasion to honor the love and support of other significant individuals who have given advice and mentorship. In the end, Father's Day is a time to honor the relationship between fathers and their children.
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The Wanda “Butterfly Effect” Scholarship
By: Timothy Jones
After the passing of Wanda Hunter, a Kendall County business woman, her son, Joshua Hunter, former NAACP Youth Council President, has dedicated his time to creating the Wanda “Butterfly Effect” Scholarship. The scholarship is dedicated to students studying cosmetology and barbering. Joshua Hunter’s mom, Wanda Hunter, owned Genesis Beauty Supply in Montgomery, Illinois. She was widely known for creating her very successful beauty store, Genesis, which brought diversity within the beauty supply industry where many beauty supply stores are not minority-owned.
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Joshua Hunter honors the passing of his mother through the Wanda “Butterfly Effect” Scholarship since Wanda always loved to help the youth. To qualify for this scholarship, the applicant must be an Illinois resident and be enrolled in a cosmetology or barber school for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The application deadline is September 4th, Labor Day 2023. Interested? Apply Here: Application Form | |
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Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration
Congratulations to Inland Real Estate Group SVP Government Relations, Daniel Wagner, and Unity Partnerships President, Regina Brent, for being awarded the Rainbow Push Coalition Push for Excellence Award for organizing the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Advisory Committee.
Pictured above: DuPage County NAACP President, Patrick Watson, and Inland SVP Government Relations, Daniel Wagner, attending the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Advisory Committee hosted this month at DuPage AME Church.
The Advisory Committee is working to reinstate the annual celebration commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday in DuPage County. Leaders from across the county meet once a month at varying locations throughout DuPage County representing various cultures. The Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration will be held at Drury Lane in January of 2024.
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Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA)
Opens A Women-Led Credit Union
Written by: Joshua Hunter
"Shout Out" for the work of The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for opening up a “For Members Only” (FMO) credit union in Chicago. This credit union is the first women-led and African-American-owned digital banking system in the history of the United States. This credit union opened on July 12th, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. July 12th is not only a significant date for the opening of the credit union but it is also the date of the 115-year-old sorority’s leadership conference. The AKA’s credit union is open to AKA members, their immediate family members, AKA staff, and credit union employees. The credit union will be chartered, regulated, and insured through the National Credit Union administration. The credit union currently offers primary savings, loans, and other banking services for the first year but will continue to expand.
For more information about the credit union, click here: ABC article:
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COPS Day Picnic
On July 21, 2023 the Hanover Park Police Department held its COPS Day Picnic at the Hanover Park Park District. The COPS Day Picnic is an annual event where police officers can interact with community members in a fun, safe, and informative environment. This goal of this community policing event is for officers to form partnerships with the residents and organizations they serve, and for residents to get to know the men and women who police their neighborhood to improve trust and problem solving between them.
At this year’s COPS Day Picnic, Police Chief Andrew Johnson was joined by members of the DuPage County NAACP, President Patrick Watson and Second Vice President Michael Childress, in adopting the “Ten Shared Principles”. The “Ten Shared Principles” is a collaboration between the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois State Conference of the NAACP to foster a commitment to working together to grow trust, improve relationships, and keep our communities safe.
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(Pictured from left to right)
DuPage NAACP President Patrick Watson, Hanover Park Chief of Police Andrew Johnson and DuPage NAACP Second Vice President Michael Childress
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(Pictured from left to right)
Village of Hanover Park Trustee Herb Porter, DuPage NAACP President Patrick Watson, Hanover Park Chief of Police Andrew Johnson, DuPage NAACP Second Vice President Michael Childress and Hanover Park Village President Rodney Craig
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Mr. Norm Parish Visits
the DuPage NAACP Newsletter Team
By Tim Jones
Award-winning journalist and Chicago native, Mr. Norman Parish III attended the July 2nd NAACP Communications and Publicity Youth Newsletter Team meeting to share his experiences as a journalist. He is a Deputy Managing Editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and has been a journalist for almost four decades.
As a high school student, Mr. Parish was introduced to audio, video, film, and reporting while being recognized by a teacher as a potential journalist. Following high school he furthered his education at Southern Illinois University and received his master's degree in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Working as a reporter for Black weekly and daily newspapers such as the Chicago Citizen, the St. Louis American, and the Jackson (Tennessee) Sun, Mr. Parish expanded his social awareness to include the denial of the right to vote, the right to serve on juries and the right to hold public office. The NAACP was there, heavily involved in the local fight for equal rights for Black people. Mr. Parish was closely acquainted with many of the NAACP members and contributed to the NAACP Crisis magazine, created in 1910 by one of the founders of the NAACP, W.E.B. Dubois.
"Youth today should take the media seriously, and keep up with what is going on in their communities". He believes young people should not be afraid to encounter conflict or people who do not think like them, because through conflict comes change. He says we all must be engaged in our communities because even “one person can make a change”.
Contributing Article: CLICK HERE
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65th Annual Sydney Finley Scholarship and Freedom Fund Gala
The DuPage County branch of the NAACP was chartered in 1956 and has been in the trenches fighting for the civil rights of the residents in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Northwest Suburban Cook, and Will Counties. The Freedom Fund Gala is the signature fundraising event for the DuPage County NAACP branch and ultimately generates financial resources to help them carry out their programs. This year’s event was held on April 30, 2023, in Woodridge, IL at Bobak’s Signature Events. The gala’s theme was “Everyone Counts, Everyone Matters.” Gala attendees were treated to an enjoyable evening that featured a delightful dinner, musical selections, and guest speaker Ruby Shuttlesworth Bester, daughter of a civil rights icon and keynote speaker of State of Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza.
The Freedom Fund Gala also benefits the Sydney Finley Scholarship, established to honor Mr. Finley’s dedication to service and his commitment to youth, community, and civil justice. The 2022 scholarship recipients were proudly acknowledged at the Gala. As high school seniors prepare for college, the scholarship committee felt it was important to stress the need for self-care. Hence the application essay topic was: “Discuss the importance of mental health and self-care among the youth in our country and how it will affect your future.” Outstanding essays were submitted by four high school seniors: Morgan Mayo, Gary Shettlesworth, Kendall Winston, and Peter Dioro.
The NAACP Newsletter Team was in attendance with their families. These young people captured the evening, received certificates for their accomplishments, and expressed what an enjoyable evening was had by all.
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Pictured from upper left-hand corner then moving clockwise:
- NAACP Newsletter Writer Blake Cooper and Blake’s Mother Ms. Sharon Cooper
- Yoshakia Oden NAACP Newsletter Supporter, NAACP Newsletter Writer Blake Cooper
- Newsletter Writers Taylnn Heard, Jackson Denius and Blake Cooper
- Newsletter Writers Amina Simmons, Jackson Denius, Taylnn Heard, Blake Cooper and Newsletter Coordinator Robert Stewart
- Newsletter Writers Taylnn Heard, Jackson Denius and Blake Cooper
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Tylerman International Social Awareness Film Festival
August 4 - 6, 2023
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Above from left to right: Andre Locke Sr. (father of Amir Locke), Executive Producer Andrew Tyler, Attorney Ben Crump and Attorney Jeff Storms. | |
It was an amazing weekend at the 5th Annual Tylerman International Social Awareness Film Festival. It was both anointed and at times heartbreaking, particularly during the airing of the documentary feature No Knock - No Charge? The Amir Locke Story at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove, IL. Amir was only 22 years old when he was executed by police in Minneapolis, MN on Feb 2, 2022 as they were executing a no-knock search warrant in a homicide investigation. Amir was NOT a target in the investigation.
Kicking off the film festival weekend was a Red Carpet Ceremony with performances by Dr. Walt Whitman and The Soul Children of Chicago, Grammy Award Winner Pastor Darius Brooks and a special dance/ballet performance tribute in honor of Amir Locke.
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Art Norman, NBC Channel 5 | |
Saturday’s events included showings of the winning festival films and a social awareness Fireside Chat with the Women of the Movement entitled From Grief to Action the Fight for Social Justice Continues moderated by Dr. Mia Hardy, Dean of Liberal Arts at Oakton College. On Sunday, there were more festival films and a Fireside Chat I AM A MAN with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Andre Locke Sr. (father of Amir Locke), Activist Marques Armstrong of Minnesota and moderated by Mr. Art Norman of NBC Channel 5 Chicago. Saturday and Sunday events were held at Cantigny Park in Wheaton IL.
Festival Producer Andrew N. Tyler is the founder of Tylerman Films LLC, a Digital Media and Film company. The mission of Tylerman Films LLC is to create digital media content and films while providing a platform for Independent Filmmakers. Mr. Tyler’s motto is simple: Tell Your Story Now!
Click HERE to learn more about the Tylerman Film Festival.
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Mr. Robert Lee Mathis (Bob) served as Treasurer of the DuPage County NAACP branch for approximately twenty years. Bob received his wings following a recent illness.
Having grown up in the South under Jim Crow and overt racism, he was a strong advocate for civil rights and racial justice. Working diligently to support the funding needs of all DuPage County NAACP committees, he embodied a dedication and commitment to serving. Even after he began to have health issues, he continued to work closely with the DuPage County NAACP Executive Committee and Assistant Treasurer to ensure proper handling of branch financial matters.
The dedication and servant leadership that Bob embodied are evident, as he was always available to work within the branch. He will be greatly missed. We thank you Bob for your service.
RIH
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