"We the People" at the 96th NAACP Ohio State Conference
- Gordon H. Landefeld
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Your Cleveland Branch delegates joined the hundred some Branch delegates from around Ohio at the 96th NAACP Ohio State Conference, August 28 and 29, 2026, at the University of Dayton Marriott.
The Cleveland delegation included: President William Tarter, Jr., Danielle Sydnor, Angela Shute-Woodson, Alex Harper, Gordon Landefeld, Janus Small, Matthew White, Deidra Nichols and Dylan Sellers. Not all delegates were able to attend due to various conflicts, but most did.
We enjoyed seeing old friends and making new connections. Leading the conference were Ohio NAACP President Tom Roberts, First Vice President Dr. Derrick Foward, and Second Vice President Rev Andre Washington (also President of the Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute). Secretary Chais Ross and Treasurer Danielle Sydnor were active leaders, and Alex Harper assisted as needed.
After a press conference, the Black Media Memorial Luncheon on Friday was a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Charles Fox, General Manager at WCSU radio station. Panelists included Dr. Tara Jackson-Whitehead and Ibrahim Cisse, both senior technology executives. Their discussion, entitled, "There Goes the Neighborhood," reviewed the pros and cons of the use of AI in all walks of life. That all the presentation slides appeared AI generated supported the speakers' general message that, "You must engage with AI - but do so responsibly."
Workshops included "Black Social Gospel," moderated by Rev Chris Lee and featuring Rev Robert Walker; "The Collective Workshop," led by Dr. Lothardus Goggins and Tiffney Edwards; a discussion on NAACP bylaws compliance with Vice President Dr. Derrick Foward; and "What to do with Big Mamma's House," a conversation with Traci Martin, President of Dayton Realtist, reviewing recommended strategies for arranging home ownership transference at death - planned well ahead of death.
The Women in NAACP luncheon's keynote speaker was the CEO of the Charles Kettering Foundation, Ms. Sharon L. Davies.
During the Plenary sessions, the delegates nominated members of the 3 standing committees (President Tarter served on the Credentials Committee). At the end of the business meeting Saturday, before the Labor Dinner, the Resolutions Committee presented five resolutions that the delegates voted to advance to the Executive Committee.
Watching our leaders and fellow delegates work together, figuring out an orderly process, and learning "Andre's Rule" for how long one may hold the mic, we learned the importance of working together, supporting National's rules codified in the NAACP bylaws, and helping our communities increase chances that each vote is successfully cast and counted in spite of the increasingly aggressive national dialog.
If you are reading this as a guest and are not yet an NAACP member, growing the NAACP with each membership helps make America better than it's ever been before. Join the NAACP today.
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