Rebuild Hope NOW
Thursday, July 22, 2010
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Louisiana Unity Coalition, NCBCP
NCBCP Sponsors
Unity Diaspora Campaign
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
National Council of Negro Women
National Urban League Celebrating 100 Years
Black Youth Vote
Our Voices!
Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
Serving as a united public voice for the African American population in Louisiana.
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Inc. was founded in 1976 on the principle of the yet unfulfilled realization of a full democracy. Building upon its rich history and strong relationships, the National Coalition serves as an effective facilitator and convener at the local, state and national levels. For more than 29 years, the National Coalition, through its 80 member organizations, has proven itself uniquely qualified to address the disenfranchisement of African American voters.
Melanie Campbell, CEO and Executive Director
Melanie L. Campbell is the CEO and Executive Director of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Womens Roundtable Intergenerational Public Policy Network. Ms. Campbell has served in the civil rights, social justice, youth and womens rights movement for over 20 years. Melanie L. Campbell is the CEO and Executive Director of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Intergenerational Public Policy Network. Ms. Campbell has served in the civil rights, social justice, youth and women’s rights movement for over 20 years.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.ncbcp.org and www.unitydiasporacoalition.net.
NATIONAL COALITION ON BLACK CIVIC PARTICIPATION COMMENT ON SHIRLEY SHERROD
Shirley Sherrod, the former Georgia State Director of Rural Development for the USDA Melanie L. Campbell, president & CEO of The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation issued the following statement regarding the resignation of Ms. Shirley Sherrod, former Georgia State Director for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
“We’ve come a long way in America as it pertains to race relations. However, when an upstanding woman that has excelled throughout her long career is forced to resign before the facts are revealed, in an effort to be politically correct; it’s time to examine where our journey to justice and equality has lead us.
“Taking into account the fact that her father was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan, Ms. Shirley Sherrod’s story of her own personal growth and racial transformation epitomizes the change many of us hope for in America and have worked for over the years.
“As an African American woman in leadership, I have to wonder if a man would have been humiliated and asked to pull over to the side of the road to text a resignation without the opportunity to tell HIS side of the story.
“The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation calls on the USDA to make every effort to right this egregious wrong by offering Ms. Sherrod her job back, and making her feel secure that she will suffer no further repercussions due to their rush to judgment.
“Ms. Sherrod deserves an apology from USDA, the media, and every individual and organization that reported the story or publicly admonished her without a thorough investigation of the facts. A fast food worker would have received more respect and due diligence.
“The lesson here is that we need to get back to the days when professionals strived to be legally and morally correct rather than politically correct; and took the time to be right instead of first.”
The lesson here is that if we strive to be legally and morally correct rather than politically correct, and take the time to be right instead of first, we will not taint the reputation of a reputable woman based on comments taken out of context with the intent to incite racial discord.
NCBCP President & CEO Melanie Campbell A 501(c) 3, non-profit, nonpartisan, membership organization, the National Coalition is dedicated to increasing African American participation in civil society. The current programs and initiatives of the organization include Operation Big Vote!, Black Youth Vote!, Black Women’s Roundtable, Voices of the Electorate, Information Resource Center and the Unity Civic Engagement and Voter Empowerment Campaign. Through these program initiatives, the National Coalition has trained and engaged African American leaders and community activists in overcoming institutional barriers that have hindered the growth of Black communities politically, socially and economically.
MISSION: The mission of the National Coalition is to create an enlightened community by building institutional capacity that provides and develops leadership. By educating, motivating, organizing, and mobilizing citizens in the African American community, the National Coalition seeks to encourage full participation in a barrier-free democratic process. Through educational programs and leadership training, the coalition works to expand, strengthen, and empower our communities to make voting and civic participation a cultural responsibility and tradition.
VISION: The National Coalition envisions a nation in which all citizens from children to seniors, have the tools to participate fully in the democratic process at the local, state, national and global levels. By continuing to lead the fight to eliminate remaining barriers to civic participation, the National Coalition will promote greater social and economic justice to enhance the quality of African American life.
The NCBCP is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. NCBCP Federal Tax ID#52-1253112
“The National Coalition continues to stand in the gap providing a necessary link between communities at the national, state and local levels,” states Dr. Dorothy I. Height, Chair and President Emerita. “ReBuild Hope NOW is simply an extension of the mission of the NCBCP and serves as a life line of resources for thousands who have been separated from the comforts of home, family and community.
LET’S REBUILD HOPE NOW
Vincent Sylvain
Louisiana Unity Coalition, NCBCP
email: vincent@sylvainsolutions.com
phone: (202) 659-4929
web: http://www.rebuildhopenow.net