116th NAACP National Convention – July 12-16, 2025
Author Archives: Tim Tolson
Press Statement – June 16, 2025
NAACP Announces President Trump will not be invited to 116th National Convention.
NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson announced that for the first time in 116 years, the sitting president of the United States will not be invited to the NAACP National Convention, coming up July 12-16 in Charlotte. He shared the following statement:
“For 116 years, the NAACP has invited the sitting president of the United States to address the NAACP National Convention — regardless of their political party. There is a rich history of both Republicans and Democrats attending our convention — from Harry Truman to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and beyond. We’re nonpartisan and always welcome those who believe in democracy and the Constitution.
“But right now, it’s clear — Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights. He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution. This playbook is radical and un-American. The president has signed unconstitutional executive orders to oppress voters and undo federal civil rights protections; he has illegally turned the military on our communities, and he continually undermines every pillar of our democracy to make himself more powerful and to personally benefit from the U.S. government.
“The NAACP Convention has always been a place where people across the country come together to map out our advocacy and mobilization strategies to advance civil rights and democracy for all. Our annual convention is meant to be a safe space for all people — regardless of political ideology — who believe in multiracial democracy and the ideal of building a more perfect union.
“To that end, the NAACP has made the decision to break with tradition and not invite Donald Trump or J.D. Vance this year. This administration does not respect the Constitution or the rule of law. It would be a waste of our time and energy to give a platform to fascism, which would be unacceptable.”
NAACP-ALBEMARLE-CHARLOTTESVILLE/JMRL SCHOLARSHIP
Short History of JMRL
Public library service in Central Virginia has roots from a public subscription library established in 1823. Charlottesville Public Library became the community’s first public municipal library in 1921. In 1934, the first branch library was funded by the City – the Colored Branch Library at Jefferson School. This library operated until 1948, when the libraries were integrated. Albemarle County joined the City in funding Bookmobile service in 1946, and opened branches in Scottsville in 1960 and Crozet in 1964. Gordon Avenue Library was built jointly by the City and Albemarle County, opening in 1966. In 1972 the City and Albemarle County joined with the counties of Greene, Louisa, and Nelson to form Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Northside Library opened in 1991. Today, JMRL is one of the most heavily used public libraries for its size in the United States. JMRL welcomes more than 800,000 visitors each year and annually circulates over 1.6 million items.
Purpose of the Program
This NAACP/JMRL partnership is designed to encourage a diverse group of local students to consider professional library work as a career. To further that goal, NAACP/JMRL has established a library internship and scholarship program for students in Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. This internship honors the mission statements of both organizations and seeks to ensure a diverse public library work force that mirrors this community.
Program Details
This program offers 200 hours of library work experience and a stipend of $3,000. In addition, Interns are eligible for an annual scholarship of $2,000 to be used toward completion of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree. Total possible annual value of this program: $5,000.
Applicants cannot receive this program award more than twice. Applicants must be at least 17 years of age or entering the 12th grade to apply, and must be residents of Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Louisa, or Nelson.
Application
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., March 28, 2025.
Electronic copies must include the subject “NAACP/JMRL Program” and be submitted to: director@jmrl.org. Paper copies may be submitted to: Library Director, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., March 28, 2025.
Electronic copies must include the subject “NAACP/JMRL Program” and be submitted to director@jmrl.org.
Paper copies may be submitted to Library Director, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Application Review Procedure
Applications will be reviewed by a committee representing the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP and JMRL.
The Internship/Scholarship Award will be announced on or before April 30, 2025.
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Library Director David Plunkett, 201 E. Market St., Charlottesville, VA 22902
or email to: director@jmrl.org or write
Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP President, P.O. Box 1522, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Grow. Learn. Connect.
Founders Day Event this Sunday, February 12, 2023
NAACP FOUNDERS’ DAY
A time in which we acknowledge our roots – those who brought us as far as we have come.
Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 4:00 PM
A virtual (online) event
A virtual (online) event
You must register to receive the Zoom link for this event.
Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/founders-day-celebration-tickets-541238197017
and click on the “Reserve a Spot” button on the upper right side of the page to register.
ALBEMARLE-CHARLOTTESVILLE BRANCH of the NAACP FOUNDERS DAY, February 13, 2022
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2022
3:00 P.M.
Zoom Presentation
If you do not have Zoom already, download Zoom, it’s free!
Use this link to join the Zoom presentation: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88048164269?pwd=Z3p6bHpVTFdwVHJOaDJvZzZ5eHE5dz09
OR
Meeting ID: 880 4816 4269
Passcode: 397236
OR
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,88048164269#,,,,*397236# US (Chicago)
+19294362866,,88048164269#,,,,*397236# US (New York)
Or Dial-in
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
57th House of Delegates Candidates’ Forum
On Monday October 11, at 7:00PM
(following the branch’s business meeting via Zoom)
the Political Action Committee of the
Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP
is sponsoring a candidates’ forum via Zoom
for the 57 House of Delegates candidates:
Sally Hudson and Philip Andrew Hamilton.
The Zoom meeting link for this candidates’ forum is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87362322476?pwd=M1hVMEJjZEZrK1BBN2lzSFBBMng1dz0
Or one tap mobile :
US: +13126266799,,87362322476#,,,,*766651# or
+19294362866,,87362322476#,,,,*766651#
Or Telephone:
(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1-312-626-6799 or +1-929-436-2866
or +1-301-715-8592 or +1-346-248-7799
Questions? Please email naacp1947@gmail.com
2021 General Election Voter Guide
The Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP Branch is committed to informing our community about important issues and ensuring that public participation is accessible to all. To that end, we have prepared this 2021 General Election Voter Guide (PDF download) to inform local voters of the choices available to them in this year’s general election, and encourage you to use this information to get informed and get involved.
Region VII Civil Rights Advocacy and Training Institute (CRATI)
Region 7 Civil Rights Advocacy and Training Institute (CRATI)
on Friday and Saturday March 22-23, 2019
Annapolis, Maryland
Below is the link to make hotel reservations and the link to register for the 2019 Region 7 Civil Rights Advocacy and Training Institute CRATI. Please note that there will be no onsite registration. https://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/A/ANPDTDT-XNR-20190321/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Family Photo Day
Saturday, March 9, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
233 4th St NW, Charlottesville
Bring in old family photos from the 1880s to the 1950s for a free appraisal.
Learn how to preserve your photos (free archival materials provided).
Contribute your family stories to local history
Have a Holsinger style family portrait taken
View 500+ portraits of local African-Americans and learn more about Charlottesville area’s past through the photographs of the R.W. Holsinger/University Studio collection
The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center is located on the Second floor of the Jefferson School City Center. Its main entrance is on Commerce St, one-block north of West Main Street. It can also be entered from the City Center’s 4th Street entrance. Over 200 free parking spaces on 4th Street.
Memorial to Lynching: Community Civil Rights Pilgrimage
Jefferson School
AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER
Memorial to Lynching: Community Civil Rights Pilgrimage
On July 8th at 8 am, as many as 110 people will “get on the bus” to begin the Community Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Their ultimate goal is to bring soil collected from the site where John Henry James was lynched in 1898, to the newly opened Equal Justice Initiative’s Monument to Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Al. We hope to deliver our soil on July 12th–the 120th anniversary of Mr. James’ murder. Along the way we will make stops to some of the most important civil rights sites in the country. On the bus will be students, teachers, and other community members as well as historians to provide information as we move from one site to another. We will also be accompanied by clergy and therapists to help us process during difficult moments.
The trip dates are July 8 – 13, 2018. Total cost for this five night/six day all-inclusive excursion is $1,500. Hotel rooms are double occupancy and a per diem and cost of hotel is included in the price. A 50% deposit is needed to hold your spot.
Checks should be made to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center with a notation Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Our mailing address is 233 4th St, NW Charlottesville, VA 22903.
If you earn below $47,000 per year then you are eligible to register as a low income member of our community for the pilgrimage. We presently have 30 slots available and will fill them on a first come, first serve basis.
To register as a low income community member, you must provide a W2 form or two pay stubs as proof. If you do not have this information, please contact us anyway. Please send this information to memorialtolynching@gmail.com with your name address and a method of contacting you. If you are a household, we will need the names of all members who would like to attend.
We hope to extend the opportunity to engage in this once in a lifetime experience with students, teachers and low income members of our community. If you would like to donate to the cause please
Andrea Douglas, MBA, PhD
Executive Director
Jefferson School African American
Heritage Center
434 260-8724
director@jeffschoolheritagecenter.org
www.jeffschoolheritagecenter.org
Jefferson School City Center, a Community Center for the 21st Century