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NILES — A historical organization aiming to help address the needs of the community has returned to the Niles area with new leadership.

The revived Niles-Buchanan branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People  held an election of officers Saturday, Aug. 24. 

Founded in 1909, the organization is an interracial endeavor striving to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

The NAACP Niles chapter began in March 1942 and had been a voice for human equality by addressing local issues through advocacy and communication, as well as sought to educate members and the public on history and current concerns before dissolving in 2018.

Beverly Woodson was elected President and will serve in that capacity along with the other successful candidates: Paulette Johnson, first Vice President; Gwendolyn Finney, second Vice President; Freida Hughes, Secretary; Ylonda Scott, Assistance Secretary; Lorna Wallen, Treasurer; Stephanie Cashier Rodriguez, At Large Member; Lavoide Wilson, At Large Member; Cathy Harris, At Large Member; Charles Stewart, At Large Member; Tiara Williams, At Large Member; Dr. Lynn Wade, At Large Member; Barbara Kyles Morris, At Large Member; Dr. Alana Redding, At Large Member.

According to Woodson, the Niles-Buchanan NAACP Branch has 105 members. Elected officials and members alike are excited and ready to start a new chapter in local NAACP history.

“I’m of the thinking that if there’s something wrong, you need to get involved if you can,” Hughes said. “Instead of sitting back and just complaining about it and not doing anything, I wanted to be able to do my small part.”

For the elected officials, the organization’s revival signifies a renewed dedication to advancing civil rights and social justice within our local community.

“I can look at it as having an advocate for the community,” Johnson said. “Someone that is going to provide representation, that is going to get involved and would have a purpose or something much greater than just ourselves. We’re coming together as a community for a common goal. That is really what inspired me to want to be a part of the NAACP.”

“I wanted to be part of something here and if it was geared towards African Americans, I really wanted to be part of it,” added NAACP member Michael Dungey.

Redding grew up knowing about the NAACP through her parents. When the opportunity to become an elected official with the Niles-Buchanan chapter came up, she pursued it.

“Knowing about it through my parents, I wanted to give back to the African American community and help out as much as I can.”

Wilson, who grew up in Detroit, is looking forward to making sure the Niles and Buchanan communities move forward and not backward.

“If we can do something to help us come together as a people and work together, not just as African-Americans but to work together as respecting people, acknowledge that people are human beings, acknowledge that people have rights and teach our children,” Wilson said. “We don’t have enough people who look like us to help parents understand that they have a responsibility to their children for the next generation.”

Hughes, a Buchanan resident, has long been an advocate for the north side of the city. As a member of the NAACP, she aims to give her neighbors and community members a voice.

“We have to make sure that we have a voice,” Hughes said. “We’ve been on our city commission and we stay on them and by staying on them, we’re getting things done for the north side. So it’s important that we have a voice of what’s happening in our community. If one of us joins and we can talk to our friends and talk to our neighbors and get them involved because it takes an entire community making its voice known, not giving up but pushing and pushing. That’s how you get things accomplished.”

The reactivation of the NAACP “means the world” to Woodson, who grew up around the organization due to her late mother’s involvement. As the president of the chapter, Woodson looks forward to carrying her mother’s legacy forward as the organization aims to make a difference in the community.

“We will be a success,” she said. “We will go forward. We will make a difference in our communities and that’s what we are and that’s who we are. You will see a difference because we are here. I am just thankful for the board that we have that has come together with the members. We are a working group – we will work to make a difference in these communities together. When you see our faces, we are going to be on the same page.”