Youth Council News, Winter 2012

At the January meeting, the Youth Council honored and said “Good-Bye” to Brittney Geathers, our president and outstanding leader for the past several years. Brittney is leaving for Florida and a work internship with the Disney World Corporation. Lyn Richardson has accepted the presidency for the coming year.

The regular February meeting focused on Black History activities in preparation for our Washington DC trip scheduled for February 25. Two of the activities were: “Who Am I?” during which members described historic African American persons and others guessed their identities; and a short study of the Emancipation Proclamation in preparation for our visit to the African American Civil War Museum.

On February 25, fourteen persons traveled to Washington, DC to visit the Martin Luther King , Jr., Monument, the Frederick Douglass Historic Site, Ben’s Chili Bowl to eat lunch and have our pictures taken where President Obama had sat, the Museum of American History to visit an exhibit on the history of slavery in the U.S., and finally, a stop at the African American Civil War Museum.

See photos from the trip to Washington DC

Our March 11th meeting featured the film “The Rosa Parks Story,” followed by planning for future activities for our group. We are looking forward to a discussion about racism today, a trip to historically Black Colleges, working with the regular Loudoun NAACP on voter registration and concerns about voter suppression, and a future trip.

Black History Month trip to DC

Organized by Loudoun NAACP Youth Council

February 25, 2012, approx. 7:15 am to 5 pm

COST: $15.00 per person (Covers transportation and entry fees. Lunch cost NOT included; each participant will pay for his/her own lunch.)

Mail your reservation by February 15th to:

Kathy Burrell
Unit 111, 19365 Cypress Ridge Terrace
Leesburg, VA 20176

For additional information contact Kathy Burrell, Advisor: 703-723-6151 or
kathy@glassmile.net. Kathy’s Cell: 703-431-5637.

7:15 am: Meet at parking area near The Cheesecake Factory @ Dulles Town Center Mall. Leave Loudoun County.

Activities for the Day:
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Tour
Martin Luther King Monument on the National Mall
Lunch @ Ben’s Chili Bowl (paid for by each participant)
Walk about the African-American Civil War Monument Neighborhood
African-American Civil War Museum Tour

Detailed Itinerary

7:15 am: Leave Loudoun County. Meet at parking area near The Cheesecake Factory @ Dulles Town Center Mall.

9:00 am: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
1411 W Street SE
Washington, DC 20020
Parking: continue on W St. 3 blks., on right @Visitor Center.
Restroom break/pick up tickets (we are required to be there 20 minutes before tour begins)
9:30 am: Tour begins and lasts about 1/2 hour. (Tours are limited to 15 people, so if we have more, some will need to be in the next tour 15 minutes later.)

10:15 – 10:30 am (+/-) Leave FDHS for MLK Memorial/Monument
1964 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20418

10:45 – 11:45 am (+/-) Visit MLK Memorial

11:45 – 12:20 (+/-) Travel to African American Civil War Memorial

12:20 – 1:30 Lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl – in the area of the African American Civil War Monument/Museum. In Ben’s Chili Bowl, the chair where President Obama sat for lunch is now designated by the Presidential Seal and his photo. Kids could take their own photos of themselves sitting there if no one is dining in that seat. Also, upstairs at Ben’s is a very small, free museum about the history of the neighborhood, good photos, optional.)

Ben’s Chili Bowl
1213 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

African American Civil War Museum (on street parking plentiful; can drop off at door of museum.)
1925 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001

African American Civil War Monument (on the street very near the museum).
1200 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

2:00 – 3:00/3:30 pm Group Tour at African American Civil War Museum

3:00-3:30 End of scheduled activities. Return home.

4:30-5:00 Arrive back in Loudoun County at parking area near The Cheesecake Factory in Dulles
Town Center Mall.

We Will Stand: Defending Voting Rights

A message from the president of the Branch:

Dear NAACPers,

We have an important issue at hand. As a result, we will meet at the Rust Library on Monday January 9, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in meeting room B.

This will be a community meeting so that we can garner support for the upcoming voter registration drive that will be launched on Sunday January 15.

Following the initial kick off the Loudoun County NAACP will be in engaged in a 44 week voter registration drive in Loudoun County. The goal is to get as many African American unregistered persons registered to vote.

As you are aware there is a nationwide attempt to keep African Americans and other minorities from voting. This would be a travesty if the efforts to do so are successful. We are asking pastors and representatives from churches and other community organizations to assist in this crucial effort.

The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 for black people to have the right to vote. It’s only been 47 years ago that we won this right. Now there are those powers that be who find themselves attempting to dilute if not take away this right. We can not afford to let this happen. We hope to see you on Monday.

In the struggle,
Reginald A. Early,
Loudoun County NAACP President

Youth Council News, Fall 2011

July Meeting

The Youth Council of the Loudoun Chapter NAACP held an organizational, get-acquainted event on July 17, 2011 at Ashburn Library to begin the new membership year. The following officers were selected:

President: Brittney Geathers
Vice-President: Michael Lipscomb
Secretary: Morgan White
Treasurer: Amanda White

September Meeting

The Youth Council met on September 11, 2011 at Ashburn Library.

Youth Council Members will be assisting with the upcoming Saturday, September 24th Loudoun Minority Voters Coalition “Come, Meet, Hear, Ask: Non-Partisan Forum,” where all local candidates will be invited to speak. The event is at George Washington University-Loudoun Campus @ 6:00 pm. All youth are invited to help. For information, contact Ed Burrell: keburrell@smartneighborhood.net.

On Sunday, September 25th, Youth Council Members will be attending the Diversity College Fair at Stonebridge High School. The fair begins at 4 pm. For information, contact Brittney Geathers: brittg6@gmail.com.

2011 Freedom Fund Banquet

Save the Date! for the 71st NAACP Loudoun County Branch Freedom Fund Banquet:

Saturday, October 15, 2011
Holiday Inn – Washington Dulles
45425 Holiday Drive
Dulles, VA 20166

Tickets are available now – 65.00 per person

To purchase tickets or to advertise in our program:

2011 Freedom Fund Sales for Non-Profits (download PDF)
2011 Freedom Fund Sales for Businesses (download PDF)
or contact us at freedomfund@naacploudoun.org.

The 2011 Marie Medley Howard Award

Mrs. Marie Medley was a civil rights activist in the early 30′s and 40′s. Miss Marie, as she was better known, was part of the movement to build The Douglass School, the first school in segregated Loudoun County built for blacks. It was through this long struggle which many blacks worked, fought, and suffered many legal setbacks to purchase land to provide a better education for their children. During such times it became necessary to start the NAACP Branch in Loudoun County.

In 1939, concerned parents, teachers, and the Parent Teacher Association for Black Schools were very instrumental in establishing the Middleburg Branch of the NAACP. The details on how the branch evolved are not clear. However, what stands out is Miss Marie’s involvement in the organization, which later became The Loudoun County Branch NAACP.

The Loudoun County Branch established the Marie Medley Howard Award in remembrance of its founder. It was created to honor and recognize Mrs. Marie Medley for her resounding commitment to the struggle for human rights, education and justice. By presenting this award annually, The Loudoun County Branch NAACP recognizes those who exemplify the same courage, strength and deeds of its founder, Mrs. Marie Medley.

Eligibility: This committee agrees that any member should be eligible to be nominated, with the exception of the judges/selection committee. Previous winners must wait two years to become eligible for nomination. The final decision on these guidelines rest with members of the Loudoun NAACP Branch.

1. Must be a current member of the N.A.A.C.P.
2. Must be consistently active and involved in an on-going community service.
3. Must list the type of services rendered, location and the longevity of that service.
4. Each service must be rendered as a volunteer act (cannot be employed or paid for that service)
5. Must list all past awards received from community services.

Download 2011 Marie Medley Howard Award Nomination Form (PDF)

First Annual NAACP Health Fair, June 25

Print and share this flyer – help spread the word.

NAACP Health & Education Fair of Loudoun County
Saturday, June 25 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Ida Lee Park (60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg, VA)

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Howard Vs. Yale: The Great Debate Comes to DC

Join the NAACP and Starbucks next weekend as we present the third Annual “Great Debate” competition between two legendary debate schools. Get your tickets today:

http://www.naacp.org/GreatDebate

Since 2008, the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP has hosted the Great Debate exhibition between Yale University and Howard University debate teams in New Haven, Connecticut. This year, the debate moves to Howard’s campus in Washington, DC.

The Great Debate
Saturday, April 30th
7:30 pm.
Howard University’s Crampton Auditorium
Washington, DC

MSNBC Correspondent—and former NAACP Youth & College Division Director—Jeff Johnson will serve as host. Don’t miss this historic opportunity!

Please visit the NAACP website for tickets and additional information:

http://www.naacp.org/GreatDebate

Virginia school board withdraws approval of two history textbooks

Still in use in Loudoun County?

According to the Washington Post, the Virginia school board has withdrawn approval of two history textbooks found to contain numerous factual errors.

Our Virginia: Past and Present is a fourth-grade Virginia social studies textbook, and Our America to 1865 is a fifth-grade text on U.S. history. Both are, as of late March, in use in Loudoun County Public Schools.

Among the many errors found in these “textbooks” is the suggestion that slaves, the human property of others, served “voluntarily” in the Confederate army.

The assertion is often made by Confederate heritage groups but is rejected by most historians. The book’s author, Joy Masoff, is not a trained historian.

School districts are not obligated to remove the books even though the state has withdrawn its approval. Many districts, including Fairfax and Arlington counties, withdrew the books from classrooms. Loudoun County, where the books are still in use, has not decided how it will respond to the board’s vote, according to spokesman Wayde Byard [emphasis added].

Request for resignation of Superintendent Hatrick

The Loudoun County Branch NAACP
P.O. Box 2439
Leesburg, VA 20177-7724
Voice Mail: 703-779-2990


April 21, 2009

Edgar B. Hatrick, Superintendent
Loudoun County Public Schools
21000 Education Court
Ashburn, VA 20148

Dear Superintendent Hatrick:

The Loudoun County Branch NAACP appreciates the time you spent in coming to speak to our general membership meeting on March 16th. However, our membership was very disappointed in your responses to the questions we had submitted to you prior to your presentation. We have significantly different perceptions of disparities in the Loudoun County Public Schools in regard to minority students. Importantly, our perceptions are based on LCPS’ own data submitted either to the Virginia Department of Education or directly to us as a result of three FOIA requests, and your presentation appeared to be based on incomplete data and percentages without their accompanying hard numbers.

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What’s in a name?

“Graduation on time” rates versus actual dropout numbers

Loudoun County Public Schools continues to use percentages rather than hard numbers when touting “achievements.” The percentages relating to “graduation on time” and “dropout rates” are complicated state constructs, utilizing formulas and algorithms. According to the Virginia Department of Education website, the actual dropout numbers for the 2007-2008 graduation class, i.e., the number of students who dropped out 9th-12th grade, are:

Total Dropouts: 173

By ethnicity:

Asian: 11 (6%) Black: 42 (24%) Hispanic: 60 (35%) White: 60 (35%)

According to LCPS’ response to our FOIA request, the proportion by ethnicity of the 2007-2008 LCPS student population was:

Asian: 13% Black: 8% Hispanic: 13% White: 64%

The disparities are obvious for Black and Hispanic students versus White and Asian students. If your ethnic group comprises 8% of the student population and 24% of the dropouts, or 13% of the student population and 35% of the dropouts, while the majority population has 64% of the student population and 35% of the dropouts, something is significantly wrong.

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