Brockton Area Branch NAACP

Welcome to our April Newsletter!

Please visit our new and improved website!

Message from the President

ACT-SO Is a stepping stone to greatness.

ACT-SO is a very important part of the Brockton Area Branch NAACP.

What is ACT-SO?

The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), informally named the "Olympics of the Mind," is a youth program of the NAACP that is "designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students." The year-long program recognizes and awards young people who have demonstrated academic and cultural achievement. Gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with cash awards, are awarded to winners in each of 29 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, business, performing and visual arts, and local and national entrepreneurship/ culinary competitions. Active in nearly 400 cities, ACT-SO is the largest academic promotion for Black youths in America.

The Brockton Area Branch NAACP has a very successful ACT-SO program. The program was revitalized in 2015 and since then students have competed at the national ACT-SO competition every year. We are proud to say medals were won every year but one. Between 2015 and 2022, six Gold, three Silver and two Bronze medals were won. Achievement Overload!

I encourage students to compete in this amazing program. https://naacp.org/our-work/youth-programs/act-so-achievement-program.

Good Luck to all the students competing at the national ACT-SO competition.

The NAACP National Convention as well as the National ACT-SO Competition will be held in Boston Juy 26 through August 1. Registration to open soon. Visit https://naacp.org/

-Phyllis Ellis

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, the Brockton Area Branch NAACP held its local ACT-SO competition. Seven students competed in 10 categories:

• Earth Science
• Chemistry
• Poetry Written
• Short Story
• Drawing
• Painting
• Instrumental Classical (Piano)
• Jazz
• Tap
• Poetry Performance

So much talent in one place. The students were outstanding!

• Yvangi Jacques, 11th Grade, Avon Middle High School - Gold - Earth Science
• Kyle Denny, 11th Grade, Milton Hight School - Gold - Chemistry
• Kayla Thugi, 10th Grade, The Rivers School, Weston, MA Gold - Drawing
• Neveah De Jesus, Senior, Lowell High School - Gold - Poetry Written
• Yvangi Jacques, 11th Grade, Avon Middle High School -Gold - Instrumental Classical (Piano)
• Niaomi Holley, Senior, Cardinal Spellman High School - Gold - Dance Contemporary (Jazz)
• Brooklyn Massó, 10th Grade, Boston Latin Academy - Gold - Dance Contemporary (Tap)
• Kayla Thugi, 10th Grade, The Rivers School, Weston, MA Gold - Poetry Performance

• Sandra Marcelin, 11th Grade, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School- Silver - Poetry Written
• Neveah De Jesus, Senior, Lowell High School - Silver - Poetry Performance

• Niaomi Holley, Senior, Cardinal Spellman High School - Bronze - Painting

Congratulations to all the students. We thank the mentors and the judges for volunteering their services. A big thank you to West Middle School.

If you think you can, then ACT-SO!

photos by Janet Trask

A Building Dedication to a Trailblazer - Mr. Robert C. Jones!

On April 4, 2023 - a great day in Brockton! A Building Dedication at the new Brockton Champion High School. Robert C. Jones Building

It was a long time coming!!  

Mr. Jones is so deserving of this honor. Mr. Jones was the first and only Black appointed to Superintendent of Brockton Public Schools.  

Superintendent Michael Thomas, Mayor Robert Sullivan and Tony Rodriques, School Commitee all praised Mr. Jones for his years of dedicated and outstanding services to the Brockton schools.

photos by Jess Hodges and Sydne Marrow

President Ellis was pleased to be among the many women leaders at the launch of the Women's Leadership Initiative at Massasoit Community College in Canton. The event was hosted by President Ray DiPasquale. Guest speakers included Kim Driscoll, Lieutenant Governor; Karen Polito, Former Lieutenant Governor and Shaunna O'Connell, Mayor, City of Taunton.

Massasoit Community College announced the launch of its Women’s Leadership Initiative, a new program that will support women on campus and in the community who seek guidance and support on the path to becoming leaders and entrepreneurs. The launch of the program is part of the College’s recognition of Women’s History Month.

The Women’s Leadership Initiative at Massasoit will help foster female entrepreneurship in Greater Boston, the South Shore, and the Neponset Valley and better ensure that the next generation of business leaders are as diverse as their employees. The Initiative will offer a wide range of programming, including a speaker series, educational and professional workshops, a leadership seminar, and an entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) program.

Local women who are interested in participating in the initiative as students and female entrepreneurs and leaders who would like to participate as speakers, workshop leaders, or as an EIR are encouraged to contact womensleadership@massasoit.mass.edu

 For more informatuion, visit Massasoit.edu/womens-leadership.

photos by Sydne Marrow

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Two great women were honored by the Democratic City Committee and here is what the honorees had to say.

Dear Democratic Friends of Brockton, 

Leona and I were so honored to be recognized in such a special way that evening.

It meant so much to have family and friends, along with distinguished guests from our community there.

It was certainly humbling considering all the amazing and dedicated Democratic women there are in Brockton.

We appreciate all the hard work and time that went into the planning and organizing of the event. Most importantly, we are thrilled that money was raised for scholarships for deserving Democratic students.

This means so much to all of us!

We hope that every year there will be a similar Celebration to honor Democratic women in the month of March!!

With Much Gratitude 

Leona Martin and Janet Trask  

May 4, 2023

The Brockton Area Branch NAACP is pleased to host its first Prostate Cancer Awareness Virtual event.

Your hosts for the program will be Bishop Tony Branch and Leona Martin.

Guest speakers include State House Delegation, Senator Michael Brady, Representative Gerry Cassidy, Representative Michelle DuBois, Representative Rita Mendes, Dr. Faina Shtern and Dr. Shaun Wason.

Hear personal prostate cancer stories from The Roberts Family, Darren Duarte and George Brickhouse.

Prostate Cancer kills. Know your Risk. Stay informed by joining us on May 4 at 6:30pm.

May 13, 2023

The Brockton Area Branch NAACP and President Phyllis Ellis will be honored at the 2nd Annual Evening of Champions. The event will be held on May 13th and is sponsored by Massasoit Community College in support of The Marvelous Marvin Hagler Memorial Scholarship. The Community Champion award is given to organizations that uplift, support and advocate for the community.

Also being honored that evening are Chris Cooney, MetroSouth Chamber of Commerce and Peter Forman, South Shore Chamber of Commerce.

May 23, 2023

The Brockton Area Branch Education Committee is happy to announce that we received 17 Scholarship applications for 2023! Of the 17, 16 were from Brockton High School and one from Cardinal Spellman. We are so proud of ALL the students and it will be challenging to select only 4 winners (last year we awarded 3) for the scholarships, but we applaud them all for writing great essays and submitting all paperwork on time.  This is yet another opportunity to celebrate the students in Brockton, our City of Champions!

The Scholarship Award Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 6pm at the Brockton Public Library, Main Branch, upstairs in the Art Room. Looking forward to celebrating the students and their families, along with our School Administrators.

Leona Martin

Education Committee Chair

There is a Prostate Cancer Equity Program in Massachusetts?

Please review a new initiative: Prostate Cancer Equity Program in Massachusetts.

This program is being launched by AdMeTech Foundation, in partnership with leading experts at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Mass General Hospital, and other clinical organizations.

The mission of this program is to save lives, deliver high-quality care and eliminate health inequalities.

Prostate cancer, striking 1 in 8 American men, is the most common and the second most lethal male cancer.

 Any Massachusetts man 40 and older is welcome to take part. The program’s priority focus is on Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino men, who are at even higher risk of the disease, delayed diagnosis, poor quality care, and death.

The Brockton Area Branch NAACP is extremely busy. If you would like to join our organization and become a member of any of the active commitees, please contact: presidentphyllis@naacp-brocktonbranch.org

Committees

• ACT-SO - The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological & Scientific Olympics mentoring program for high school students. 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;
• Education - 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 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.
• 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
• Housing - The Committee on Housing 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.
• Legal Redress - The Legal Redress Committee shall: (1) investigate all cases reported to it; (2) supervise all litigation in which the Unit is interested; and (3) keep the National Office and the Branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give general legal advice.
• Political Action - 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 improve the administration of justice; (5) work to secure equal enforcement of the law; and (6) keep the National Office and the Unit informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The Committee shall be nonpartisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office
• WIN (Women in NAACP) WIN shall address within the framework of the NAACP, civil rights issues affecting women and children and shall carry out other civil and cultural activities to enhance membership and provide financial support to the Branch. The purpose WIN is (1) to enhance the leadership role of women; (2) to serve as an advocacy vehicle to address the social, economic, political, educational, health and welfare issues affecting women; (3) to advocate for the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual development of children and (4) to support the policies as well as the on-going mission and vision of the NAACP. 

Brockton Area Branch NAACP

PO Box 1535

Brockton, MA 02303

(508)587-0502