Become a member
Donate

Committees

Civil rights and social justice for all.

The strength and effectiveness of an NAACP unit can be determined by how well its Standing Committees function. Those individuals who serve on standing committees accomplish the work of the Association.

The Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee shall

  • Seek to establish a working relationship with those agencies in government, national, state, and local, having the responsibility in the affairs of members of the various Armed Services and Veterans and to see that the programs for which they are responsible are administered fairly and justly to members of the minority community;
  • Study conditions pertaining to veterans and members of the Military Service and their dependents and/or survivors in the community;
  • Serve as a center of information on matters affecting the members of the Active Military, Reserves, State National Guard, and Veterans;
  • Maintain a repository of materials, information, and forms to be used in assisting veterans and dependents of veterans and military personnel with their problems;
  • Receive and act on all complaints relative to acts of discrimination on account of race, color, or creed, or denial of benefits to which they are entitled because of discrimination;
  • Prepare a quarterly report on committee activities to be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Unit and the National Director of Armed Services and Veterans Affairs.

The Committee on Community Coordination shall enlist the support of other community organizations on issues affecting the interests of African Americans and other communities of color.

The Criminal Justice Committee shall

  • seek to eliminate harsh and unfair sentencing practices that are responsible for mass incarceration and racial disparities in the prison system;
  • support and seek to increase trust and public safety by advancing effective law enforcement practices
  • fight for the restoration of the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people and the removal of barriers to employment
  • elevate the voices of crime victim survivors in order to identify and advance systemic breakdowns existing in the criminal justice system that perpetuate crime
  • resolve and end the war on drugs for its disproportionate collateral consequences harm communities of color
  • seek the institution and availability of alternatives to incarceration including education, employment, and mental health services
  • eliminate zero tolerance policies implemented in our schools which are keeping kids out of the classroom and putting them on a path from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse
  • investigate programs implemented in our local law enforcement agencies which which derail from their main purpose of safety and order to conduct the work of federal agencies for which they do not have the capacity, and
  • seek budget modifications in states where incarceration receives more funding than education

The Finance Committee consists of the President, Treasurer, and at least one other member. The committee reviews the financial financial needs of the Unit and is responsible for drafting an annual budget to be approved by the Executive Committee.

The Housing Committee advocates for access to affordable housing, combats housing discrimination and fights to eliminate restrictive housing practices in public and private housing and lending practices.

The function of the Legal Redress Committee is to:

  • Acknowledge receipt of all complaints in a timely fashion;
  • Investigate all cases that have been identified as discriminatory;
  • Provide support to complainants which may include, but is not limited to:
    • Providing information that complainants can use to address or remedy their situation
    • Facilitating/participating in meetings
    • Writing emails or letters
    • Referring for legal services
  • Monitor all litigation in which the branch is interested; and
  • Keep the conference informed on the progress of every case.

The Legal Redress Committee (LRC) shall not give legal advice

The Religious and Faith Community Committee shall include ministerial and lay religious leaders who are members of the Unit. It shall:

  • promote and educational program designed to give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle
  • 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.

The function of the Communications, Press & Publicity Committee is to:

  • Serves as the focal point for all communications from the Branch.
  • Ensure events are publicized to the maximum extent possible, with a focus on social media.
  • Work with Committee Chairs in developing flyers, etc. to publicize their programs.
  • Develop committee annual goals and objectives.
  • Develop and distribute the monthly “News For You” newslettter.
  • Draft and/or review communications from the President and other communications going outside the branch.
  • Ensure mailing lists are updated.
  • Ensure the website is kept up-to-date.
  • Provide input into the annual budget.

The Economic Development Committee shall implement local efforts and support national programs to preserve and expand economic empowerment among African Americans and other communities of color by:

  • researching and establishing relationships with private and public entities:
  • supporting the work of the National Office in monitoring the progress and activity of private and public entities designated by national programs
  • implementing local efforts to promote the growth of business ownership
  • increasing employment and job creation; and
  • encouraging business development and home ownership

The Education Committee works to ensure all students have access to an equal and high-quality public education by promoting school resource equity, increasing teacher quality, promoting parent engagement, and enhancing early childhood literacy initiatives.  We improve the effectiveness, accountability and accessibility of the Fairfax County Public Schools.  We work to reduce undue placement of minority youth in special education programs.  We promote affirmative action and funding equity in higher education.  We lobby to maintain and expand financial aid and PELL grants for higher education.  Overall, the NAACP strives to eliminate education related racial and ethnic disparities.

The function of the Health Committee is to implement health education initiatives to combat the health disparities facing people of color.   We seek to educate, motivate, and empower communities and children to exercise, eat healthy, and live healthier lifestyles.  African-American’s are disproportionately affected by diet-related illnesses such as asthma, hypertension, arthritis, and obesity.  The NAACP will implement Healthy Eating Living and Physical Activity programs to empower our communities to adopt healthy lifestyles.  The NAACP also supports universal healthcare for all.  We work across all levels of the healthcare system to expand access to quality healthcare, including prescription medicines to the more than 48 million Americans who lack healthcare coverage.  We fight to cease the closure of hospitals in minority neighborhoods.  We implement initiatives to decrease rates of HIV and AIDS in the community.

The function of the Membership Committee is to:

  • Work to maintain and increase the membership of the Association
  • Be responsible for planning and organizing an annual membership campaign
  • Solicit new members and secure membership renewals
  • Work the branch secretary and treasurer to confirm and associate membership application submissions with the appropriate dues remittance

The Political Action Committee seeks to:

  • increase registration and voting
  • work for the enactment of municipal, state, and federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political and economic status of minority groups
  • seek to the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation
  • work to improve the administration of justice
  • work to secure equal enforement of the law; and
  • keep the National Office and the Unit informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups.

The Committee is nonpartisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

The purposes of WIN is to enhance the leadership role of women; to serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children; to advocate for the positive development of children and to support the on-going work of the NAACP and its units, especially civil and cultural activities to enhance membership.

The Youth Council consists of Youth Council Adviser and Youth Unit President.  Together, they coordinate the programs of the Youth Council and act as liaison between the Branch and the Youth Council.