Committees
Cincinnati NAACP Standing Committees
Our Committees are where the rubber hits the road. They’re where you have the chance to make the greatest impact today in our shared community, and where you can make your mark for generations to come. We have many standing and ad-hoc committees to address the breadth of issues and opportunities to advance our mission. Click through to see more details of each Cincinnati NAACP committee. We can’t wait to get you involved!
Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technology, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Committee:
Encouraging and inspiring African-American youth toward excellence in academic and cultural pursuits by mobilizing the adult community in Cincinnati. This local execution of a major program of the national organization showcases the students’ hard work and qualifies winners to compete in the National Competition for prizes and scholarship awards.
Communication, Press & Publicity Committee:
Placing stories and thought leaders, elevating the conversation around our issues and counteracting derogatory coverage of Blacks and other minority groups in the local media. We also champion equity, equality, and representation of Black minority ownership, control of print and electronic media, and access to employment in the communications arts and sciences industries across all media formats.
Criminal Justice Committee:
Working to eliminate unfair sentencing practices and racial disparities, fighting to restore voting rights and remove barriers to employment of formerly incarcerated people, and elevating the voices of crime survivors. We seek to increase trust and public safety through effective law enforcement practices and eliminate zero-tolerance policies in our schools, which are putting kids on a path from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse.
Economic Development Committee:
Supporting the economic needs of the Black community and the factors that impact growth, wealth, and access to capital for economic development and sustainability. Expanding economic empowerment among Blacks and other communities of color and inspiring our members to advance, contribute and drive economic access, development, and prosperity within and out of the organization.
Education Committee:
Championing positive school culture and high-quality teaching for all students, stimulating school attendance, and promoting parental involvement in education. We seek to eliminate discriminatory practices in public education, increase resource equity, and target resources to the neediest students to ensure that Black students are on the path to high school graduation, with college and/or career readiness for success.
Environmental Climate Justice Committee:
Mobilizing our community to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on communities of color in Cincinnati. We focus on three essential areas: reducing harmful emissions (especially greenhouse gases), advancing energy efficiency and clean energy, and strengthening community resilience and livability.
Finance Committee:
Led by the Treasurer in collaboration with the President and Secretary, the Finance Committee ensures that the finances of the branch are in order, studies the financial needs of the branch, and works with the executive committee to draft an adequate annual budget.
Freedom Fund Committee:
Planning and conducting branch fund-raising activities, entertainment, and other projects for local and national purposes. Our efforts help underwrite various advocacy programs and activities. Our largest initiative and event of the year is the Freedom Fund Dinner, which includes an array of awards, entertainment, and a phenomenal keynote speaker.
Health Committee:
Working to promote, protect and maintain the health of African Americans and advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment, and research for all Americans. We sponsor health-related activities, such as health forums, fairs, and workshops highlighting issues of importance to Blacks and other people of color, and assess the health needs of our community here in Cincinnati.
Housing Committee:
Actively receiving and seeking to address specific complaints of discrimination to take on inequity, discrimination, restrictive practices, and the need for assistance within the community. We broadly advocate for access to affordable housing and combat housing discrimination by fighting to eliminate restrictive housing practices in public and private housing and lending practices.
Labor & Industry Committee:
Actively receiving and seeking to address specific complaints of discrimination to take on inequity, discrimination, restrictive practices, and the need for assistance within the community. We broadly advocate for access to affordable housing and combat housing discrimination by fighting to eliminate restrictive housing practices in public and private housing and lending practices.
Legal Redress & Public Safety Committee:
The Legal Redress Committee investigates reported cases, supervises litigation of interest, and shares progress on every case with the Cincinnati Branch and the National Office. We connect to other community-based organizations who can assist the local chapter in helping those who reach out to us, and can create a pathway for up-and-coming attorneys to view community needs and develop new ways of assisting.
Membership Committee:
The Membership Committee works throughout the year to maintain and increase membership of the Association. We are responsible for planning and organizing the annual membership campaign, soliciting new members and securing renewals. We work creatively to initiate all possible means to obtain Life Members and sponsor a continuing program towards this end.
Political Action & Voter Empowerment Committee:
Advocating for the enactment of municipal and state legislation designed to improve the educational, political, and economic status of minority groups, and seeks the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation. We work to improve the administration of justice and secure equal enforcement of the law. We are nonpartisan and do not endorse candidates for public office.
Prison/Jail Support Committee:
Working closely and directly with the members of our respective Prison Branch and the Regional Prison Coordinator, we build, cultivate, and maintain positive relationships between prison officials, Prison Branch members and members within the local Branch. We also actively engage with community organizations and businesses to advance the cause and conversation around support for programs.
Religious Affairs Committee:
We help give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle. We actively interpret the work of the Association to organized religious groups of all faiths, enlist the support of such organized religious groups for membership, fundraising, and the struggle for equality and full civil rights, and provide resource assistance for religious education and social action activities associated with the improvement of race relations.
Scholarships Committee:
It is the duty of our dedicated Scholarship Committee to determine the most outstanding individuals to receive scholarship awards via a scholarship program for African American students who are graduating from Cincinnati Public Schools. The NAACP does not provide financial aid to individuals, only scholarships through this process.
Women in NAACP (WIN) Committee:
WIN enhances the leadership role of women, serve as an advocacy vehicle to address the social, economic, political, educational, health and welfare issues affecting women; advocate for the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual development of children, and support the policies as well as the ongoing mission and vision of the NAACP.
Youth & College Division Committee:
We inform youth of the problems affecting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities and advance their economic, education, social and political status, and their harmonious cooperation with other peoples. We stimulate an appreciation of the African Diaspora’s contribution to civilization and develop intelligent, effective youth leadership.
Armed Services and Veteran Affairs Committee:
Connecting with local agencies in government covering the affairs of members of the various Armed Services and Veterans and to see that the programs they oversee are administered fairly and justly to members of the minority community. We receive and act on complaints relative to acts of discrimination on account of race, color, creed, or denial of benefits based on discrimination.
