Derrick Johnson (activist)
| Derrick Johnson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People | |
|
Assumed office October 21, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Cornell William Brooks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Detroit, Michigan |
| Education |
Tougaloo College South Texas College of Law (J.D.) |
Derrick Johnson is an American lawyer, activist, and executive. He was chosen to be president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on October 21, 2017. [1]
Derrick Johnson was chosen to serve as President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on October 21, 2017 by the executive committee of the NAACP National Board of Directors, after having formerly serving as vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, as well as state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. A longstanding member and leader of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson is guiding the NAACP through a period of re-envisioning and whose first priority driving voter engagement for the midterm elections in November 2018. [2]
Early life and education
Born in Detroit, Michigan Mr. Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi.[3] He then continued onto Houston, Texas to receive his J.D. from the South Texas College of Law. In later years, Mr. Johnson furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has served as an annual guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, lending his expertise to Professor Lani Guinier’s course on social movements, and as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.
Activism in Mississippi
Mr. Johnson is a veteran activist who has dedicated his career to defending the rights and improving the lives of Mississippians. As State President of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference, he led campaigns for voting rights and equitable education. He successfully managed two bond referendum campaigns in Jackson, Mississippi that brought $150 million in school building improvements and $65 million towards the construction of a new convention center, respectively.[4] As a regional organizer at the Jackson-based non-profit, Southern Echo, Inc., Mr. Johnson provided legal, technical, and training support for communities across the South.
In recognition for his service to the state of Mississippi, the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court appointed Mr. Johnson to the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, and the Governor of Mississippi appointed him Chair of the Governor’s Commission for Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal after devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
One Voice Inc. and the Black Leadership Summit
Derrick Johnson is the founder and executive director of One Voice Inc. [5]
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Johnson founded One Voice Inc. to improve the quality of life for African Americans through civic engagement training and initiatives. One Voice has spawned an annual Black Leadership Summit and the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute, a nine-month training program for community leaders.
References
- ↑ Jacy Fortin, "N.A.A.C.P., Seeking a New Voice, Names Derrick Johnson as President", The New York Times, October 21, 2017
- ↑ Michael Martin, "NAACP President Derrick Johnson On His New Appointment, Next Steps", National Public Radio, October 28, 2017
- ↑ Tougaloo College News, "Tougaloo alum Derrick Johnson named President & CEO of the National NAACP", Tougaloo College News, October 21, 2017
- ↑ Stacy M. Brown, " NAACP board appoints Mississippi’s Derrick Johnson as president", The Atlanta Voice, October 22, 2017
- ↑ Rockford Register Star, "NAACP Beloit Branch 3251 to hold Freedom Fund Banquet", Rockford Register Star, September 19, 2016