thebrockreport

Glynda C. Carr

Last month, the nation celebrated the 57th Anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision known asBrown vs. Board of Education of Topeka which dismantled the legal premise for racially segregated schools in theUnited States. As a conscious American, but more so as a public education advocate, I commemorated the occasion but refused to celebrate it. Not surprisingly, some people were a bit dismayed about my adamant stance to commemorate but not celebrate. After all, I am a direct beneficiary of this decision having been somewhat of an 80′s desegregationist student who attended a predominately white suburbanConnecticut school district for 12 years. But it is precisely for this and other reasons why I was motivated to make this one woman silent protest on May 17.

[Read More]

Karen Boykin-Towns

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers hope to millions of Americans who will gain insurance coverage under it; and the definition of essential benefits plays a crucial role in turning that hope into a useful reality. As Secretary Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said recently:

The Affordable Care Act ensures Americans have access to quality, affordable health insurance. To achieve this goal, the law ensures plans offered in the new Health Insurance Exchanges, and in the individual and small group markets, offer a package of essential health benefits that are equal in scope to what employers typically offer today. (1)

[Read More]

Omar Woodard

In its 102^nd year, the NAACP moves forthrightly into the 21^st Century with a new generation of leadership.  With Chairman Roslyn M. Brock and President Benjamin Todd Jealous at the helm, the NAACP is poised to re-engage young professionals on a host of issues from civil rights to wealth creation and social justice.

In addition to Chairman Brock and President Jealous, we have seen the proliferation of a new generation of African American executive leadership in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.  To provide a platform for these current and future leaders to network, from May 26-29 the NAACP will host its 7^th Annual Leadership 500 Summit in Hollywood, FL.  It is the NAACP’s premier conference for executives, educators, thought leaders and aspiring leaders from across the U.S.

[Read More]

Joe Rogers, Jr.

Last month, Teach For America (TFA) celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a huge summit in Washington, D.C. Thousands of TFA teachers, alumni and supporters from across the country converged on the Washington Convention Center for three days of celebrating, networking and listening to CEO and Founder Wendy Kopp articulate her vision for this much-celebrated organization’s future.

Outside the summit, a small grassroots team of concerned volunteers circulated a petition to Ms. Kopp and her senior leadership insisting that they announce the long overdue reform of TFA’s teacher preparation program in order to better ensure true educational equity and excellence for low-income students of color. Inside, TFA alumni who agreed with the petition’s aims collected additional signatures from TFA corps members, alumni and other participants. To date, nearly 750 signatures have been collected from TFAers, members of our low-income communities of color, and other advocates and allies.  The goal is to collect at least 10,000 signatures by the end of June.

[Read More]

I sat before the room dumbfounded.   Surrounding me were brilliant, beautiful, driven, and successful young women.  Each high achievers in their own right.  Each on the verge of certain success.  Yet, these young women who had originally come to my office to discuss transversing that critical, but sometimes scary path of transitioning from undergraduate education to the rest of their lives, had seemingly only one thing at the top of their minds, “Will I ever find love?” Read More

In its second century, the NAACP will continue to need effective leadership guided by the right values and broad experiences. I have been a faithful servant leader within the NAACP for twenty five years and believe the leadership opportunities I’ve been afforded within this venerable organization and the larger community have prepared me to effectively lead the NAACP National Board of Directors.

Welcome to The Brock Report. A site designed to keep you in tune with the activities of the NAACP and more specifically, the work of our Board of Directors. If you visit our features tab, you will find great pieces on civil rights issues such as health care, the economy, and education. It also highlights the connection between social justice activism and our faith-based and youth communities.

[Read more]