117th NAACP National Convention
For the first time in 32 years, the NAACP National Convention is returning to Chicago. This historic gathering arrives at a defining moment for our nation, one in which our democracy, our rights, and our communities face challenges that demand clarity, courage, and collective action. The NAACP Illinois State Conference is honored to serve as the host.
The 117th NAACP National Convention Chicago, Illinois July 18 – 22, 2026
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June 2026 Letter from the President Dear NAACP Members and Supporters, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s mission is to remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes, advocacy, and litigation. Our mission has never been more important. As our country soon celebrates the 250th Anniversary since its founding, many of us must ask the question, “What exactly are we celebrating?” We are living in times of great uncertainty. It appears that both chaos and confusion are the twin demons running loose upon the landscape of the United States. Millions of people have been displaced as a result of the War in Gaza. Hundreds of millions of people’s lives have been affected as a result of the War in Iran. Most of the world seems to have largely ignored the Russian-Ukraine War. Masses of our neighbors and friends have been illegally arrested, detained and deported from a country whose motto once boasted, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” We have seen a malevolent rolling back of civil and voting rights, harming the very backbone of our nation. We have seen a form of white nationalism and white populism gaining momentum and traction while publicly increasing their racist and biased propaganda. Literally every single demographic category of people have been struck with severe blows. Seniors are struggling with health care bills and a reduction in their health care benefits. Women are denied decision making rights over their own bodies. Same gender relationships h are once again being attacked. Those in higher education have been forced to bow at the feet of one “who would be king.” Children are being denied opportunities to read books about real history. Two billion dollars of grants serving K-12 initiatives and college prep programs have been cut. The Office of Civil Rights has faced an 80% staff reduction. Caps have been created for graduate degrees harming tens of thousands of students. Gas is $6.29 at a local gas station in the D.C. area. At the very same time masses of poor people are forced to bear the brunt of our nation “saving money” the wealthy have grown wealthier. During the second term of the current president, billionaire wealth has surged by 22%, increasing by $1.5 trillion dollars to reach $8.2 trillion. The president’s family wealth has nearly tripled since Inauguration Day, 2025 with their net worth surging to between $6.5 to $10 billion. The nation’s billionaires; Elon Musk, Larry Page, Larry Ellison, Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, Michael Dell, Rob- Jim- and Alice Walton, and Michael Bloomberg all experienced wealth growth! The man who proposed to cut government spending with a buzz saw, saw a 12 month wealth growth of 73% and he is soon poised to be the world’s first trillionaire. In light of the egregious wrongs and the obvious misdirection of our nation, we are forced to listen to stories about the National Mall’s reflecting pool turning green and growing algae. We are forced to watch a sitting president walk out from a national interview because his fabrications are questioned. We are compelled to listen to the vault of lies flowing from VP Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth. Then we are forced to watch a partisan Supreme Court meticulous dissect justice and truth with their tawdry scissors of white so-called “supremacy.” I am deeply proud to be a resident of Evanston, Illinois where our town has become the central spotlight for local reparations in the nation and world. Even while this same misguided government seeking to turn back progress has turned its tentacles towards us, we must not fear. The NAACP was founded for such a time as this. We have been shaped by an unrelenting hammer on the anvil of time. We have withstood lynchings, segregation, corruption in the judicial branch, racism in the legislative branch, abuse in the executive branch. Yet, we have continued to overcome adversity, defeat injustice and keep on pushing our nation forward. Don’t stop now. Join us at Evanston/North Shore NAACP. Become a member. Know this- we may not have it all together, but together we have it all. Peace and Power, Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors President Evanston/North Shore NAACP |
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Rev. Michael Nabors, pastor of Second Baptist Church, President of the Evanston/North Shore NAACP, and Rev. Michael Woolf, pastor of Lake Street Church will receive the Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace and Justice Award for outstanding work for peace and justice.
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Know your rights when dealing with Law Enforcement.
2026 NAACP Scholarship Deadline
April 2026
April 2026
