Black leaders converge at the NAACP summit

PHOENIX (NNPA) - The NAACP says leaders are not born, they're developed. And, that's what they were doing as more than 300 participants gathered for the 4th Annual NAACP Leadership 500 Summit at a posh resort near Scottsdale, Ariz.The four-day event, themed "Leadership By Design: Ensuring Our Legacy", presented a phenomenal array of speakers workshops, interactive panel discussions and general sessions led by prominent private sector, non-profit, corporate, and community leaders.

Summit Chairman Roslyn M. Brock said the summit's goal was to recruit, train and retain a new generation of civil rights advocates from all spectrums of American society.

"Attendees shared the best practices, new and fresh perspectives on how the NAACP can impact health care reform; achieve equity in education; strengthen civic engagement; reconnect with religious and faith-based institutions; stimulate wealth creation and continue to support the men and women of the United States Armed Forces."

It was started as an effort to gather young professional leaders (ages 35 - 45) from around the country to share ideas and best practices, and to have a real dialogue about the future of activism and the movement. Attendees o the late May event were representative of the public and private Sector, as well as non-profit, and church communities.

This year's summit was highlighted by newly named President and CEO Benjamin T. Jealous. The 35-year-old activist and former news executive is the youngest leader in the 99-year history of the nation's largest civil rights organization.

Jealous spoke at length about his vision for the association. He has plans for strengthening its online presence to connect with activists, mobilize public opinion and build a database for tracking racial discrimination and hate crimes; ensuring high voter turnout among Blacks in the November election; pushing an aggressive civil rights agenda, regardless of the makeup of the Congress or White House; and retooling the national office to make it more effective at helping local branches affect change in their communities. Jealous said that Blacks in America still have a hard row to hoe, and that the gains of recent decades have created a false sense of progress.

Friday saw two powerful sessions that brought useful information needed for NAACP work.

An early morning breakfast session was keynoted by Dr. Robert Michael Franklin president of Morehouse University. He highlighted the importance of networking and maximizing our outcomes by working together and taking advantage of the unique skills and abilities.

Franklin was followed by Special General Session on the status of African-American Women in America. Serving on the panel were Shonta Chambers, national board member of the American Heart Association; Cheryl Broussard, CEO of Cheryl Broussard and Co., and the author of Sister CEO: The Black Woman's Guide to Starting Your Own Business; Vivian Stringer, head coach of the Rutgers University women's basketball team and author of Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy & Triumph; and Terrie M. Williams; president and founder of the Terrie M Williams Agency and author of Black Pain: It just looks like we're not hurting...

The session highlight was the emotional presentation by Terrie Williams president and founder of the Terrie M. Williams Agency and author of "Black Pain: It just looks like we're not hurting." Williams dealt with the issues of mental and emotional health. As she spoke, women in the audience began share their own personal testimonies of having dealt with depression, the expectations of others that you would always be ''the strong one'' and the need to wear so many hats in society.

Also, there were workshops on education, civic engagement, political activism, military service, the role of the church, and a seminar on the etiquette of business golf.

Another summit highlight was a presentation from Michael Roberts, chairman and CEO of Roberts Companies. One of the most successful African-American businessmen in the country, he oversees a hotel enterprise, shopping centers, communications towers, privately held television broadcasting networks, cabinetry companies, and a small charter jet service. He spoke about the need to take action, forgetting about fear or failure.

He challenged attendees to become ''actionairres'' who think, plan, and execute without regard for artificial or imposed limits.

Saturday's, town hall meeting "Race & Religion in American Politics" had a panel consisting of Randall Pinkett - business mogul and winner of the last season of ''the Apprentice'' with Donald Trump, Rev. Otis Moss III, successor to Rev. Jeremiah Wright as Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Odora Obi Nweze - Florida State NAACP President, Roland Martin - Reverend, Author, journalist, and CNN Commentator, Tara Wall - Journalist for the Washington Times and former Director of Outreach Communications for the Republican National Committee, Hilary O. Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau and Kevin Myles, president Wichita Branch NAACP.