Battle Creek Branch
Until Election Day
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Founded February 12, 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s foremost, largest, and most widely recognized civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, leading grassroots campaigns for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization.
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For more history, click here.
To secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
MISSION
To ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.
VISION
NAACP's Strategic Plan
For more than a century the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has worked to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Inspired by the force and commitment of The Call of 1909, which denounced the growing oppression of people of color and mobilized thousands to work to bring this discrimination to an end, the NAACP seeks to establish a strategic direction as it embarks on developing The New Call for the 21st Century.
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In the fall of 2011, the NAACP launched a process to develop its strategic direction and plan, creating a powerful vision for the future, and setting organizational goals that would focus its work for the 21st Century.
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The six NAACP Game Changers - Economic Sustainability, Education, Health, Public Safety and Criminal Justice, Voting Rights and Political Representation, Expanding Youth and Young Adult Engagement - address the major areas of inequality facing African Americans that are the focus of the NAACP’s work.
Learn more, here.
Our Branch
For 96 years, the Battle Creek branch of NAACP has served the community of Battle Creek, MI - bettering the lives of local African-Americans through advocacy and community organizing in the areas of employment, civil rights, education, heritage, and housing.
In 1924, George Carruthers presided as the first president. During the early years, major efforts were led by the local branch to desegregate places of employment, finding success in the courtroom.
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After a 10-year hiatus, the branch reorganized in 1943. Since the early 40s, the branch has seen several distinguished presidents who made great strives in fundraising, membership recruitment, local advocacy, and youth programming including the Roberta H. Cribbs, first African-American woman mayor Maude J. Bristol-Perry, , Emily Word, Evelyn Golden, William Boards, Jr., Sherman Ward, and Betty Tuggle.
Today, the branch has refocused on voting rights, police & community relations, and education. Currently led by President Whitfield, the annual banquet, heritage quiz bowl, and Juneteenth remain key events that bring the community together to celebrate and grow.
Local Officers
President Carey J. Whitfield
1st Vice President Lynn Ward Gray
2nd Vice President Loraine Hunter
3rd Vice President Kathy Antaya
Secretary Sanita Virgil
Treasurer Al Williams
Assistant Treasurer Leonard Harris
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Our Committees
Executive • Freedom Fund • Economic Development Act-So • Membership • Armed Services • Education
Young Adult • Health • Political • Legal Redress
Communications/Press
President's Corner
Carey Whitfield first served as Battle Creek's NAACP Branch President from 1996-2000. He has taken up the role once again to give back to his community.
Mr. Whitfield was involved with equality of treatment board of the Battle Creek Police Department, diversity training as well as equity of employment and termination of policies as they apply to the Equal Opportunity laws mandated by the federal government. He was also involved in acquiring grants to facilitate diversity training for major corporations and companies in the city of Battle Creek.ad
He continues to serve as a member of the City's Human Relations Committee and advocate for improved employment opportunities and increased transparency of the local police and court system.