The First Chartered Branch of the NAACP | Established, 1911
YOUTH & COLLEGE PROGRAMS
The NAACP believes strongly that future leaders must be developed today, and such development is ongoing in the Youth & College Division, created in 1936. Today there are more than 30,000 young people representing 600 Youth Councils, High School Chapters and College Chapters actively involved in the fight for civil rights. The NAACP has one of the largest organized groups of young people of any secular organization in the country.
BOSTON BRANCH YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAM (STIPEND ELIGIBLE)
We are excited to announce the launch of our summer program for youth. This year our program will focus on entrepreneurship in partnership with Street2Ivy. We believe one of the greatest challenges facing the Black community is economic inequality. This belief is bolstered and supported by the data as reported in our 2017 Report Card and many other reports. We believe addressing the racial wealth gap and economic inequality will require a multi-pronged strategy. One of those strategies is business ownership. To that end we want to help introduce our young people to entrepreneurship through our inaugural Entrepreneurship Summer Bootcamp. Selected students will receive a stipend for their participation and receive best in class training on how to start, market and build a business. We know that many of our youth are trying to secure jobs for the summer so this program will run in the evening allowing them to work during the day and have another constructive program to participate in during the evenings. No GPA requirement...just a desire to learn, be productive, and support our community.
The 2019 summer program is nearing a close. Be on the lookout for highlights from our 2019 program and applications for the 2020 program. CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE PROGRAM WEBSITE.
BOSTON BRANCH SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Contact Scholarship Chair Renee Harper for additional information on any of our scholarships and awards.
College Students
The Boston Branch is the beneficiary of a generous donation from an anonymous donor. As part of her estate, this donor left an endowed scholarship to the Boston Branch for Boston area students who are pursuing degrees in a business discipline. The Boston Branch awards two $5,000 scholarships annually to deserving students. Please click here for the 2019 Scholarship Application.
Youth Essay Contest
The Boston Branch is pleased to announce its inaugural Juneteenth Essay Contest. What does Juneteenth mean to you in 2019? What are you doing to help effectuate change in your community? The winner(s) will receive a laptop from the Boston Branch. Click here for the application.
BOSTON BRANCH ACT-SO
The premier NAACP youth program is the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). ACT-SO is a year long program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American highschool students. Students have the opportunity to compete across 32 disciplines including STEM, humanities, entreprenuership, architecture, and performing, visual and culinary arts. In 2019 the Boston Branch had three students compete in the national competition. All of the students were from the Community Academy of Science and Health. They competed in Original Essay, Drawing and Entrepreneurship. Our Entrepreneurship participant placed third in the national competition.
Visit the NAACP national website for more information on the program. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering or you have student interested in competing, please email Royal Smith. We will launch the 2020 Boston Branch ACT-SO program in the Fall of 2019.
BOSTON BRANCH YOUTH COUNCIL
The Boston Branch’s Youth Council is recruiting youth interested in learning more about civil rights and advocating for racial justice. If you are interested in joining the Youth Council please send an email to info@bostonnaacp.org.
The following is the structure of the NAACP’s Youth and College Division:
JUNIOR YOUTH COUNCILS
Membership : Any person under the age of 13
Focus: Providing interactive and entertaining instruction on the history of Africans in the Diaspora (specifically the NAACP and the Civil Rights Movement) . Basic leadership development and community service are also key focus areas.
YOUTH COUNCILS
Membership : Any person under the age of 25
Focus: Training and developing the skills necessary for leadership and activism. Mobilization, community education, and youth activities are essential focus areas of the Youth Council.
HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTERS
Membership : Any person who is enrolled as a student in a high school or comparable secondary school
Focus : Training and developing the skills necessary for leadership and activism. Mobilization, community education, and youth activities are essential focus areas of the Youth Council.
If you are interested in chartering a high school chapter, please email the Boston Branch.
COLLEGE CHAPTERS
Membership : Any person under the age of 25 and/or currently enrolled as a student at a college or university
Focus: Training and fine-tuning intellectual and leadership skills manifest in an increased level of social and political activism.
College Chapter are separate from the local branch. Please contact Juan Cofield, President of the New England Are Conference if you are interested in a college chapter.
ACT-SO
ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The program relies on the dedication and commitment of community and business leaders who volunteer as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence. Through this collaborative effort, participating students develop the confidence and skills needed to excel in school and in life. Annually, participants compete in 32 categories, including in the sciences, humanities, business, and performing and visual arts. Some students are selected to compete at the annual National NAACP Conference.