Submitted Alicia Mercedes, amercedes@naacpnet.org
BOSTON — The 114th NAACP National Convention (7/26-8/1) will focus on the theme of Thriving Together. Elected officials, activists, organizers, faith leaders, entertainers, change-makers, NAACP members and residents will convene to celebrate the Black community’s collective power. Through workshops, plenary sessions, and panel discussions, we will forge a path forward on the most pressing issues facing Black communities today, including voter suppression, student debt, affirmative action, police brutality and reproductive rights.
Major speakers at this year’s Convention will include:
Hillary Clinton, Former Secretary of State
Ayanna Pressley, United States Representative, Massachusetts
Justin Jones, United States Representative, Tennessee
Shavon Arline-Bradley, President, and CEO of The National Council of Negro Women
Kimberlé Crenshaw, Scholar, and Civil Rights Activist
Gary Chambers, Social Justice Advocate
Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Author, “The Journey to Well”
Rome Flynn, Actor, Netflix’s “Raising Dion” and Prime Video’s “With Love”
Sheryl Underwood, Comedian, Host, ABC’s “The Talk”
Jabari Banks, Actor, Peacock’s “Bel-Air”
Adrian Holmes, Actor, Peacock’s “Bel-Air”
Jasmine Guy, Actress, “A Different World”
Lamaan Rucker, Actor, OWN’s “Greenleaf”
Essence Atkins, Actress, BET’s “First Wives Club”
Marcus Scribner, Actor, Freeform “Grown-ish” and ABC’s “Blackish.”
Kadeem Hardison, Actor, “A Different World”
Danielle Ponder, Singer
“Each year, NAACP members and friends gather at the Convention in a shared space that has proven vital for our collective growth and advocacy,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. “Now more than ever, this sacred convening is crucial to our continued fight for the preservation of democracy. We are excited to bring vitality and vibrance to our roots in Boston, home of the Association’s first chartered branch.”
Additional events at this year’s National Convention include the grand opening of The Hub, an immersive cultural experience, the NAACP Block Party, the annual Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) competition, the Cinematic Shorts Competition, and the Spingarn Freedom Fund Awards Dinner honoring Dr. Hazel Dukes. For more information about the 114th NAACP National Convention, including a schedule of events and registration details, visit naacp.org/convention.
We extend a very special thank you to each of our key sponsors who help to make the National Convention possible, Mass Mutual, State Street, Sanofi, Bain Capital, Boston Building Trades, Boston Medical Center, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Delta Airlines, and Verizon.
Members of the press interested in attending and covering the NAACP National Convention in Boston are encouraged to fill out this form.
