We want to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race by developing a new generation of civil rights and community leaders.
We aim to:
Young people and the movement for civil rights have always been closely connected. While we often think of the titans of the Civil Rights movement as wise elders, during the peak of their work they were often teenagers and college students, finding their voices as they diligently worked to shape their own future.
That legacy continues today. During the 2020 uprisings and protests against police violence, we witnessed young, Black NAACP members nationwide step up to represent their communities.
We are passionate about not only including youth at all levels of our work, but ensuring that they have supportive spaces, mentors, and guidance to speak out, learn, and develop into the civil rights and social justice leaders of tomorrow. Listening to and embracing the thought leadership of our young people is crucial to our commitment to lasting social and political change.
25 K Young people are fighting for civil rights with NAACP
For our youngest activists, junior youth councils are for youth under the age of 13. These local councils provide interactive and entertaining instruction on the history of Africans in the Diaspora.
Part of our local units, youth councils provide training and leadership development for young adults under the age of 25.
High schools across the country have NAACP chapters for their students, offering training and leadership development necessary for mobilization and community education. Check with your school's administration to see if a chapter exists.
Colleges are often incubators of political thought for up-and-coming leaders. NAACP college chapters provide training and fine-tune leadership skills to support an increased level of social and political activism. Check with your institution's administration to see if a chapter exists or find your local adult chapter to start one.
