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Alabama NAACP Kicks Off its 64th Annual Convention in Birmingham

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The Alabama NAACP's 64th Annual Convention begins Oct. 6.

Times staff report

The Alabama NAACP's 64th Annual Convention begins Oct. 6.
The Alabama NAACP’s 64th Annual Convention begins Oct. 6.

The Alabama NAACP will open its 64th Annual Convention with a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 at 10 a.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.

“We are very excited about this year’s convention as we have a lot of information to engage, empower and lift up the community,” said Benard Simelton, Alabama President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Hezekiah Jackson, IV, president of the Metro Birmingham NAACP said the local chapter “was proud to host the convention here at ground zero, where blood was shed, lives lost and sacrifices made for us to keep fighting until victory is won. Birmingham is the bastion of Civil and Human Rights, as well as the struggle for unity,” he said.

The convention comes at an opportune time, Jackson said.

“The current climate of uncertainty and distrust in the black community at large regarding law enforcement is best addressed by sitting together and interacting on the reforms we want to present to our elected officials who have authority over law enforcement,” Jackson said. He added that law enforcement officials “must be partners in the change that is needed.”

Scheduled speakers include A. C. Roper, Birmingham Chief of Police and Mark Potok, the Southern Poverty Law Center. Panel discussions will be held on Race and Policing in minority communities.

Jackson said the convention will deliver a message of “Our Lives Matter, Our Votes Count and that we can do more being stronger together, we must create a round table, large enough for all ideas and plans of actions, as we advance with a sense of commonality.”

Workshops will be held on “Protecting Alabama Against Fraud and Scams” intended to empower the people affected by this the most in African American and Latino communities.

Officials will also unveil an 8 feet wide by 20 feet long, Medicaid quilt, which has 1000 squares representing the minimum 1000 lives prematurely lost every year in Alabama, due to lack of health insurance.

The quilt is also intended to remember additional lives lost due to inability to afford co-pays and deductibles, hospital closures, and all financial barriers to healthcare. Quilters contributing to this project will also be recognized. The idea for the quilt is to write the names of those who have died prematurely because of financial barriers to healthcare in Alabama.

Calendar of Events

Thurs. Oct. 6

10:00 a.m.                                Press Conference                                                       4th Floor

10:45 a.m.                          Executive Session w/host Branch                                 4 Floor

12:00 p.m.                                  Registration                                                             2nd Floor

12:30 p.m.          Protecting Alabama Against Fraud Scam -FTC                        BJCC East N

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.              Consumer Forum – FTC                                        City Hall 3rd floor

8:15 p.m. -10:00 p.m.                     Meet and Greet                                                 City Hall 3rd floor

Fri. Oct. 7

7:30 a.m.                             Labor/Human Rights Breakfast                                  Ballroom 1

8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.                      Registration Forum                                          2nd Floor

10:00 a.m.- 5:00p.m.                         Hospitality                                                     4th Floor

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.                Opening Plenary Session                                      Forum A-B

10:15am-10:45am                        Ban the Box – Corporate Leaders                      Forum A-B

10:05 a.m.-11:30 a.m.        WIN – Don’t Let Your Benefit Go to Waste              Forum E

11:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m.                         WIN Luncheon                                               Ballroom 1

1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.           Health – Healing & Wholeness for the Body              Forum E

2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.   Environment Justice – Power is the Ability to Act          Forum E

3:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m.         Economic – Community Reinvestment Act                 Forum E

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.         Political Action – Our Votes Counts                             Forum E

6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.               Race and Policing in America                               Ballroom 11

8:45 p.m.-10:30 p.m.                    Delegate Reception                                           Boutwell  Auditorium – Main Level

Sat. Oct. 8

6:00 a.m. – 6:45 a.m.                                    Yoga                                                       Forum A-B

7:30 a.m.-8:50 a.m.                          Religious Affairs Breakfast                            Ballroom 1

8:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.                         Registration (Adult/Youth)                           Forum 2nd Floor

9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.                                     Hospitality                                              4th Floor

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.                              Second Plenary Session                          Forum A-B

10:15 a.m.-11:15 p.m.       Membership – What’s membership worth to you    Forum E

11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.                                   AYCD Luncheon                                   Ballroom 1

1:15 p.m.-3:00 p.m.                   Education – Every Student Succeeds Act           Forum A

1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.                                        Oratorical Contest                              Forum E

2:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.                      Poverty Simulation (Adults & Youth)             Ballroom 3, 4, 7 & 8

3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.                                       President’s Forum                             4th Floor

5:05 p.m.-5:30 p.m.                                        Quarterly Meeting                            Forum A-B

7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.                                   Freedom Awards Banquet                  Ballroom 1, 5

8:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m.                                           Youth Social Award                      Ballroom 11

Sunday Oct. 9

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.                                          Executive Session                            4th Floor

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.                                         Church Service                               16th Street Baptist Church

11:00 a.m.                                                             Hotel Check Out

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