NAACP news

Job Posted

Jimmie Griffin editorial

The Great Debate April 3, 2010 click here

The Greater Waterbury Branch of the NAACP is once again seeking applicants for the Dr. James M. Lee Scholarship. The Branch has been awarding educational scholarships for more then 50 years to students that are members of the NAACP Waterbury Branch and reside within the towns that the branch represents. These scholarships are highly competitive awards and are based on academic achievement and community involvement. Students must be pursuing undergraduate studies at an accredited two or four-year college or university the year of the award distribution.

This year, the Branch has partnered with Post University to offer ten (10) five thousand dollar scholarships to incoming freshmen. The student can qualify for this scholarship amount for the next four years.

Scholarship winners will be presented at the Greater Waterbury NAACP annual Freedom Fund and Awards luncheon to be held on Saturday June 12, 2010 at the Holiday Inn on East Main St. in Waterbury .

Please see specific details for each scholarship at the Branch's web site www.waterburynaacp.org

... questions, please contact Monroe Webster at 203-757-4440.

Waterbury pushing contractors on hiring practices

BY MICHAEL PUFFER and PENELOPE OVERTON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERBURY — Despite years of warnings, contractors working for the city are still falling below the city hiring targets for women, residents and apprentices.

In the wake of complaints from the local branch of the NAACP, however, city officials are on a fresh drive to enforce the 10-year-old Good Jobs ordinance.

A Board of Aldermen committee formed to deal with the long-standing problem fired off warning letters this month threatening to fine or disbar three construction management firms from city work.
read more click here

NAACP elects youngest board leader
By Krissah Thompson Sunday, February 21, 2010

The NAACP selected health-care administrator Roslyn M. Brock as its chairman on Saturday, marking the culmination of a generational shift for the historic civil rights organization . For the first time in the NAACP's history, both its president and chairman are too young to have personally experienced legalized segregation.

Brock, 44, takes the helm from civil rights pioneer Julian Bond. She will guide the association along with Benjamin Jealous, who, at 37, is the youngest president in the NAACP's history read more click here

February 18, 2010

The Executive Board of the Greater Waterbury NAACP will hold it's monthly meeting on Thursday, February 18th. at 6:30 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church , 137 Pearl Street, Waterbury . The general membership meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

In the continuing series of Black History Month activities during the month of February, the Greater Waterbury NAACP presents:

NAACP – It's History and Mission for Today. There will be praise dancers from Waterbury Baptist Ministries, a cultural art exhibit by William Costen and special guest speaker Gary Highsmith, Principal at Hamden High School. Invited guests also include Scot Esdaile, President of the CT State Conference of NAACP's.

The program will take place on Friday, February 12 th 7:00 p.m. at the TimeExpo Museum, 175 Union St Waterbury. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Monroe Webster/president

Date: Monday, February 1 , 2010, 2:19 PM

Memorandum

As a member of this board I must say I'm very disappointed that we were kept in the dark concerning a federal audit report that made headlines in Waterbury's Republican American last Saturday concerning 3.5 million in federal stimulus funds set-aside to rehabilitate foreclosed properties. read more see Editorial page click here

Meetings

January 21, 2010
Monthly meeting

This is a planning meeting and we need the participation of more members, especially Board members. Please note that the meeting will start promptly at 6:30 p.m.

We will cover the 2010 operating budget, schedule programs/events for the year and finalize our criteria for the Post University and Branch scholarships.

The Freedom Fund luncheon, normally held in May, will take place on June 12 th at the Holiday Inn to accommodate the State Convention being held in May. Suggestions for a speaker are welcome.

New members will be chosen for the scholarship selection committee who will also be charged with reactivating the Youth branch.

The Branch is scheduled to present a Black History Month program on Friday, February 12 at the Tim Expo Museum. Those members who signed on for that committee during the annual meeting need to be in attendance to plan the event

Betty Johnson/Secretary

Board of Education Scheduled Meetings and Agendas

January 6, 2010
Important Meeting Notice Waterbury Coalition for Better Government to Formalize for Action! Important Meeting Notice Waterbury Coalition for Better Government to Formalize for Action! There will be a third organizational meeting for the purpose of naming a permanent Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and at-large members of the board of the "Waterbury Coalition for Better Government" to be held next Wednesday 13 January at the North End Recreation Center at 5:30 PM in Waterbury .

The group is being temporary led by Interim Chairman Isaias Diaz a local attorney and has been formed in support of having a charter revision commission add a ballot question to elect alderman by district in the city of Waterbury . The meeting will focus on formalizing its structure into a "Political Action Committee" (PAC) and the registration process with the Secretary of state in order to raise campaign funds to support this effort.

Jimmie Griffin an original founder of the WCBG is in the role of convener and once the PAC is formed will not hold an official title but will serve as a resource person and adviser. Griffin urges those who feel strongly about the alderman by district proposal to attend this meeting and take on this historical leadership role in restructuring Waterbury's governmental system.

December 18, 2009

NAACP ENDORSES COALITION MOVEMENT AGAIN!!! Jimmie Griffin, former state and local NAACP president, won the support of the Waterbury Branch NAACP to persue the "Election of Alderman by District" proposal during their annual meeting held at the Holiday Inn Express last night in Waterbury.

Monroe Webster the president of the local NAACP said to the more than 30 thirty officers and members, " we have always supported and will continue push for the creation of "Alderman by District". Griffin who attended the meeting and is a lifetime member of the association said, " I'm proud to have NAACP who were one of the orignal founders of the Waterbury Coalition for Better Government recommitted to the movement and welcome them back into the fold." read more click here

December 17, 2009

The Greater Waterbury Branch of the NAACP annual meeting will take place from 6:00-9:00 pm on Thursday, December 17th at the Holiday Inn Express conference room. A Christmas party catered by Delores Turman, Eleanor Green and Betty Johnson will immediately follow the brief meeting. Please check the branch website: www.waterburynaacp.org.and Facebook : Greater Waterbury NAACP for new information and upcoming events.

You may contact either Monroe Webster, Branch President at: 203.757.4440 or Betty Johnson, Branch Secretary at: 203.768.7544 for further information.

December 1, 2009
Alderwoman Joyce Petteway, Alderman Cicero Booker and Karen Harvey, Board of Education member were sworn into office this evening.

Flu . gov One-stop access to US Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information. click here www. flu . gov /

The 880 War Room click here

Call your Representatives and tell
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1-866-783-2462

November 19, 2009

Vernon Riddick, Jr

First Deputy Chief of Police in the City of Waterbury, the highest rank ever held by an African American in the history of the City.

read more about Deputy Chief Riddick click here

Post University has established a scholarship program with the Greater Waterbury branch of the NAACP.

In partnership with the local branch of the NAACP, Post University will provide 10-$5,000 scholarships to qualified students who apply to and are accepted to Post University for the fall 2009 academic year.

The scholarships will be renewable for four years provided the recipient continues to make satisfactory academic progress. The funds will be made available to new freshman students who are accepted and enroll in Post's undergraduate program at its Waterbury campus.

Contact Greater Waterbury NAACP President, Monroe Webster at 203-757-4440.

OFFICIAL NAACP STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT RULING IN NEW HAVEN FIREFIGHTERS CASE The Supreme Court ruling Monday in the New Haven Firefighter case is a disappointing setback to civil rights in America, the president of the NAACP said following the decision.

“This decision is a step backward for equal opportunity in employment” said Benjamin Todd Jealous. “We are very disappointed in the courts’ decision to create a new flawed legal standard. It is especially disappointing both given the racially charged dynamic in many cities’ fire departments and given that the Supreme Court has refused to allow the New Haven department to meet this new legal standard before making their decision.” Jealous said. read more.

African American Affairs Commission hosts new england slave traders’ descendent for apology read more click here

Nursing Program/free tuition
If you know of anyone between 18-28 years old, interested in the Nursing field, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is offering FREE tuition, FREE books, a $250 monthly stipend, and guaranteed job placement as a nurse at Providence Hospital upon graduation (it's a 3 year program) with a starting salary of $40,000.

The program is recruiting new students now!! Please contact Ms. Beshon Smith (202) 266-5481 or Email Bsmith@urbanalliance.org

Ronald P. Davis
President
New Britain Branch NAACP

NAACP’s Own Makes Newsweek’s “Fab Five” Rabbi List. Board Member Rabbi David Saperstein Takes Top Spot on 50 Most Influential Rabbi List The NAACP announced that Rabbi David Saperstein, a national NAACP board member from Washington DC, has been named the most influential Rabbi by Newsweek magazine.

“Rabbi Saperstein has been a tireless advocate for social justice throughout the U.S.,” stated NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous. “The NAACP congratulates Rabbi Saperstein on this profound honor and we are grateful to have him as a board member,” concluded Jealous.

Newsweek’s 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America was created three years ago, and is maintained and revised by Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Michael Lynton, News Corp. executive vice president Gary Ginsberg and Jewish Television Network CEO Jay Sanderson. read more click here

Initiative to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities Adopted by Connecticut Hospital Association Board of Trustees

Wallingford, CT – In pursuit of the goal of eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes, the Connecticut Hospital Association Board of Trustees at its April 20 meeting endorsed an initiative to work with the Connecticut Chapter of the NAACP and other interested parties on a shared agenda.

The CHA initiative will focus on expanding diversity in the governance and leadership of Connecticut hospitals, to be reflective of the state’s various ethnic and racial populations. This includes identifying minority candidates to be nominated for the boards of CHA and member hospitals, as well as support for post-graduate fellowship training of minorities for hospital management positions. read more click here

Connecticut Black Judges get Sworn in

Three Black Judges were sworn in by Gov. Jodi Rell. The CT NAACP began an effort two years ago to get more African American judges on the bench in Connecticut to increase diversity and to develop more cultural competency in the State's Judicial System.

The above picture is a picture of myself with the three newly sworn in judges at Governor Rell's Office during the Ceremony.

Judge Dawne Westbrook(Former CT NAACP Legal Redress Chair) Judge Glenn WoodsJudge Vernon Oliver.

I'd like to congratulate all three judges, the CT NAACP, and the Black Latino Caucus on a job well done!!!

Your Brother in the Struggle,
Scot X Esdaile, President
CT NAACP State Conference

U.S. Recovery Plan in Our Community
Last week Congressman Jim Himes hosted a Federal Grants Workshop. The information provided included funding opportunities that have been enhanced due to the U.S. Recovery Plan presented by President Obama that will provide:

1. Immediate action to create good jobs in America.
2. Immediate relief for struggling families.
3. Direct, immediate assistance for homeowners and business owners.
4. Rapid, aggressive response to our financial crisis, using tools such as mortgage loan assistance.

The key message was that these programs are available now and they are FREE for those that qualify. For more information on opportunities please visit the websites listed below.

Small Business Loans www.recovery.gov
Small Business Grants www.grants.gov
Grants for Non-Profits www.fccfoundation.org
Housing / Mortgage www.hud.gov.