Town Hall meeting presenters from left to right: Leah D. Daughtry - former Vice Chairman National Democratic Committee, Angela Sailor - Coalitions Director, Republican National Committee, Washington D.C., Rosalyn M. Brock - Vice Chairman National Board of Director of NAACP and Chairman of Leadership 500, Ed Gordon - Host, Our World with Black Enterprise, Emmett L. Dunn - Director, Baptist World Congress & Conferencs and Director, World Alliance Youth Dept., Rev. Reuben Eckels, New Day Christian Church and Carmen Dixon Rozenzweig, All About Race Online Magazine. Photo: Starla Muhammad

The three day summit included workshops and panel discussions, a town hall meeting, an ecumenical prayer breakfast and much more. Strengthening family ties and keeping mentally, emotionally and spiritually stable in the midst of the current economic crisis was the topic of conversation during a general session entitled, “Let's Stay Together–Maintaining Family Connectedness in Tough Economic Times.” Lisa Loury-Lomas, Ph.D., a clinical counselor and panelist explained that people can be drawn into a “false sense of security” as a result of becoming too comfortable when times are good which can make them unable to adequately cope during hard times.

“As a result of the current economic climate, I see a lot of stress and fear. Fear of the unknown,” shared Dr. Loury-Lomas. She further explained how it is during these times that family togetherness is an important tool as a coping mechanism. “We have to create situations and times that we connect with our families ... life is a series of change and it's through change and difficulties that families can come together.”

Diana Morales, vice-president of public education for Mental Health America, also a panelist, commented on the need to “expand the definition of family” by including the broader community of neighbors and schools for additional support.

“Faith Community and Social Justice: Models of Impact,” a religious affairs workshop, featured representatives from several religious faiths. Muslims and Christians united to share methodologies on how their congregations address social issues. The workshop also served as a vehicle for each panelist to share ideas and strategies with one another for future implementation of programs and services. Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad, national fundraising director of the Nation of Islam, was one of the panelists.

Ms. Muhammad explained that under the leadership, guidance and direction of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Nine Ministries of the Nation of Islam address many of the social issues plaguing our communities. Focusing on the Ministry of Justice, Ms. Muhammad shared the importance of the office of prison reform.

“Many of us, we seem to look down on brothers and sisters who are incarcerated or are less fortunate than us, but they are men and women of God just like we are men and women of God,” she said. Ms. Muhammad went on to share the many instances in which Min. Farrakhan and his student ministers have visited those who are incarcerated and continue to counsel, train and support them upon re-entry into society.

A lively and sometimes spirited debate on the direction and future development of the NAACP and whether it is still relevant now that a Black man is President was one of several topics discussed during the town-hall meeting moderated by television journalist and host of Our World with Black Enterprise, Ed Gordon.

“We are not in a post-racial society,” stated Rosalyn M. Brock, vice-chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors as well as the chairman and founder of Leadership 500. It was also suggested that a “shift in trust” from the elders to the youth is needed. Of the 64 members on the board of the NAACP, seven seats are reserved for youth under the age of 25. Implementing strategies to effectively share the history and significance of the NAACP with more young people was also mentioned. It was a desire for young leaders, age 25 and older to find their place within the NAACP that led to the development of the Leadership 500 Summit in 2004.

Benjamin T. Jealous, NAACP president and CEO said that participation, effort and involvement is crucial, especially for the youth.

“Civil and human rights is the cause of our generation” said Mr. Jealous who at the age of 35 is the youngest person to ever hold the position for the organization.

Other workshops throughout the conference included, “Civic Engagement: The New Civil Rights Agenda—Meeting New Challenges in the Era of Change,” “Healthcare: Winners and Losers in Healthcare Reform—Can We Really Fix the System” and “Education: Bridging the Gaps—Options for Making Higher Education Assessable for All.”

Other participants and attendees at this year's summit included, Dr. Laurence Payne, chairman of the Board of Educational Foundation in Houston, TX, Judge Greg Mathis, Dr. Randall D. Pinkett from “The Apprentice,” Rev. Oscar Tillman, president of Maricopa County NAACP, Student Minister Patrick Muhammad and Student M.G.T. & G.C.C. Captain Adrienne Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque, #32 and Sister Betty Muhammad, administrative assistant to Min. Farrakhan.

(The NAACP's Centennial Convention is July 11-16 in New York, NY. For more information visit www.naacp.org.)