Module 2 Policy Trainee Workbook
Table of Contents... 1 Introduction and Objectives... 1 Introduction... 1 Lesson 1 Objectives... 1 Civic Engagement Department... 2 Focus of Civic Engagement Department... 2 Goals for Voter Empowerment... 2 Goals of Committee on Political Action... 3 Criminal Justice Department...5 Goals of Criminal Justice Department... 5 Economic Empowerment Department... 6 Goals of Economic Empowerment Department... 6 Goals of Committee on Economic Development... 7 Education Department... 9 Goals of Education Department... 9 Goals of Committee on Education... 9 Health Department... 11 Goals of Health Department... 11 Goals of Committee on Health... 12 International Affairs Department... 13 Goals of International Affairs Department... 13 Individual Activity: Who am I?... 13 Activity Problem Statement... 14 Lesson Summary... 15 Module 2 Review and Wrap-Up... 17 Module Review... 17 Applying What You Learned... 17 Module 2 Action Items Worksheet... 19 NAACP Executive Leadership 2-i
Lesson 1: NAACP Policy Agendas and Advocacy Plans Introduction and Objectives Introduction This lesson explains the duties of the standing committees, as well as the goals and main focal points of the NAACP s six main content areas. Lesson 1 Objectives At the completion of this lesson, you will be able to: State the duties of the Committee on Political Action Describe the goals and main focal points of the Civic Engagement Department Describe the goals and main focal points of the Criminal Justice Department State the duties of the Committee on Economic Development Describe the goals and main focal points of the Economic Empowerment Department State the duties of the Committee on Education Describe the goals and main focal points of the Education Department State the duties of the Health Committee Describe the goals and main focal points of the Health Department Describe the main focal points of the International Affairs Department NAACP Executive Leadership 2-1
Civic Engagement Department Focus of Civic Engagement Department Civic Engagement is a department within the Research, Advocacy and Training Division (RAT Division). Civic Engagement covers the following areas: Voter Empowerment, Armed Services, and Veterans Affairs. Addressing Voter Empowerment (voter registration and election protection) Increasing public awareness and civic participation in Federal, state, and local agencies Ensuring Equal Representation Redistricting Census Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act (this was successfully accomplished during 2006 with strong input from the NAACP) Goals for Voter Empowerment The goal of the Civic Engagement Department related to Voter Empowerment is to increase African Americans participation in the democratic process by removing roadblocks and disincentives by: NAACP Executive Leadership 2-2
Ensuring Voter Empowerment providing awareness, training, and programmatic support to ensure registration, education, and election protection Ensuring Voters Constitutional rights are protected safeguarding the Constitutional right to vote, and to have one s vote protected and counted Monitoring Redistricting and Census ensuring fair and proportional elected representation Promoting ballot initiatives to address social justice issues Goals of Committee on Political Action In order to effectively implement the NAACP Civic Engagement Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committee on Political Action should (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5.i): Seek to increase voter registration and voter turnout (contact Civic Engagement Department for copies of the Voter Empowerment Guide l) Seek the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation Work to improve the administration of justice Work to secure equal enforcement of the law NAACP Executive Leadership 2-3
Work for the enactment of municipal, state, and Federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political, and economic status of minority groups Keep the National Office informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups In order to effectively implement the NAACP Civic Engagement Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs should (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5.m): Seek to establish a working relationship with those agencies in government (Federal, state, and local) having the responsibility in the affairs of members of the various Armed Services and Veterans, and to see that the programs for which they are responsible are administered fairly and justly to members of the minority community Serve as a center of information on matters affecting the members of the Active Military, Reserves, State National Guard, and Veterans Study conditions pertaining to veterans and members of the Military Service and their dependents and/or survivors in the community Maintain a repository of materials, information, and forms to be used in assisting veterans and/or dependents of veterans and military personnel with their problems Receive and act on all complaints relative to acts of discrimination on account of race, color, or creed, or denial of benefits to which individuals are entitled because of discrimination NAACP Executive Leadership 2-4
Prepare a quarterly report on committee activities to be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Unit and the Civic Engagement Department In addition to the above-mentioned duties: All branches should have a committee in each of the aforementioned areas Committee Chairs should attend all available trainings: Workshops during State Conference Meetings, Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute, and Annual Conventions The Civic Engagement Department should receive the most recent names and contact information of Committee Chairs Criminal Justice Department Goals of Criminal Justice Department The Criminal Justice Department is a part of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division. In order to effectively implement the NAACP Criminal Justice Advocacy Agenda, Units should be working towards the goal of the Criminal Justice Department. The goal of the Criminal Justice Department is to eliminate disparate treatment of African Americans in all aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice systems by: Eliminating Capricious Racial Profiling Practices identify and monitor practices and policies which lead to unscientific use of race and ethnicity in policies and investigative actions Ensuring Fair and Equitable Trials and Sentences ensure equity in arrest, interrogation, pre-sentencing, jury selection, discovery, trial, sentencing, appeal phases. Ensure that juveniles are appropriately protected and rehabilitated NAACP Executive Leadership 2-5
Ensuring Felon Re-entry ensure that incarcerated and released felons have access to appropriate voting, education, job training, and civic participation resources Promoting a Moratorium on the Death Penalty ensure that the Federal government and the states place a moratorium on utilization of capital punishment until race and ethnicity are no longer statistically significant in predicting sentencing and execution Economic Empowerment Department Goals of Economic Empowerment Department The Economic Empowerment Department is a part of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division. Economic Empowerment covers the following areas: Economic Development, Housing, and Labor and Industry. The goal of the Economic Empowerment Department is to accelerate economic growth in the African American communities and eliminate racial and ethnic economic disparities by: Ensuring Economic Reciprocity ensure proportional representation at all levels of corporate America, including the use of minority vendors Ensuring Access to a Living Wage and Discrimination-Free Employment promote public awareness and training to ensure work environments are fair and healthy, and provide livable wages Ensuring Fair and Equitable Home Ownership Policies and Practices eliminate housing discrimination, segregation, redlining, and predatory lending NAACP Executive Leadership 2-6
Promoting Community Wealth-Building Through Savings and Investment promote consumer behaviors that result in strong credit records, increased savings, smart investments, lifetime planning Promoting Entrepreneurship promote development of African American- and Latinoowned and operated businesses Goals of Committee on Economic Development In order to effectively implement the NAACP Economic Empowerment Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committee on Economic Development shall (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5. n): Research and establish relationships with private and public entities Support the work of the National Office in monitoring the progress and activity of private and public entities designated by national programs Implement local efforts to promote the growth of business ownership Increase employment and job creation Encourage business development and homeownership In order to effectively implement the NAACP Economic Empowerment Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committee on Housing shall (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5. o): Study housing conditions in the local community Receive and address complaints of discrimination Oppose all restrictive practices, whether public or private Disseminate information and render such other assistance as may eliminate discrimination in housing NAACP Executive Leadership 2-7
In order to effectively implement the NAACP Economic Empowerment Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committee on Labor and Industry shall seek ways to improve the economic status of minority groups by doing the following (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5. p): Work to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and government, wage differentials based on race, unequal opportunities for training, promotion and unfair dismissals Encourage greater participation in the trade-union movement Work to end discriminatory practices in labor unions Secure the enactment of state and Federal fair employment practices legislation Work for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training In addition to the above-mentioned duties, Unit Standing Committees should: Have a Committee Chair for each above-mentioned standing committee (Economic Development, Housing, and Labor and Industry) Attend all available trainings: Workshops during State Conference Meetings, Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute, and Annual Conventions Ensure that the Economic Empowerment Department has the most recent names and contact information of their Committee Chairs NAACP Executive Leadership 2-8
Education Department Goals of Education Department The Education Department is a part of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division. The Education Department s goals is to ensure that all students have access to an equal and high-quality public education by eliminating education-related racial and ethnic disparities by: Ensuring Resource Equity ensure intra-state and intra-district equity in funding; focus on math and science Increasing Teacher Quality work to improve the percentage of teacher certifications; increase professional development opportunities, salaries, and benefits. Promote Parent and Family Engagement make schools more parent/family-friendly; ensure that school districts develop to engage parents in the educational process Enhance Early Childhood and Literacy Initiatives enhance early childhood education and literacy Goals of Committee on Education In order to effectively implement the NAACP Education Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committee on Education shall (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5.c): Seek to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education Study local educational conditions affecting minority groups Investigate the public school system and school zoning NAACP Executive Leadership 2-9
Familiarize yourself with textbook material there from which is racially derogatory Seek to stimulate school attendance Keep informed of school conditions and strive to correct abuses where found Investigate the effects of standardized and highstakes testing practices Teacher certification Promote parental involvement in education Aim to be a center of popular education on the race question and on the work of the Association In addition to the above duties, the Education Committee should: Have an Education Committee Chair Be knowledgeable of the NAACP Call for Action in Education (can be downloaded from the NAACP website at www.naacp.org) Attend all available Education trainings: Educations Workshops during State Conference Meetings, Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute, and Annual Conventions Biennial Daisy Bates Education Summit Ensure that the National Education Department annually receives an Education Committee Registration Form (the Education Committee Registration Form can be found in the NAACP Education Advocacy Procedural Manual, which can be downloaded from the NAACP website at www.naacp.org) Ensure that the National Education Department has the most recent names and contact information of Education Committee Chairs NAACP Executive Leadership 2-10
Have a copy of the NAACP Education Advocacy Procedural Manual (can be downloaded from NAACP website at www.naacp.org) Health Department Goals of Health Department The Health Department is a part of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division. The Health Department s goal is to increase access to high-quality healthcare for all citizens, and promote the creation of policies and practices that reduce health-related disparities among people of color by: Ensuring Access to High-Quality, Affordable Healthcare promote access to health insurance; access to health services, medicine, and preventive care Reducing Obesity Disparities and Related Diseases promote fitness and healthy living Eliminating Disparities in HIV/AIDS eliminate policies, practices, and behaviors leading to disparities in the contraction and treatment of HIV/AIDS Reducing Disparities in Respiratory Diseases eliminate policies and practices that lead to disparities Promoting the Development of Good Mental Health Practices and Programs improve mental health awareness and increase the utilization of mental health services NAACP Executive Leadership 2-11
Goals of Committee on Health In order to effectively implement the NAACP Health Advocacy Agenda, the Standing Committee on Health shall (see Bylaws for Units of the NAACP Article VIII Sect. 5. f ): Work to promote, protect, and maintain the health of African Americans Assess the health needs of the community Advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment, and research for all Americans Sponsor health-related activities such as health forums, fairs, and workshops highlighting issues of importance to people of color Support health initiatives of the Association In addition to above duties, Health Committees should: Have a Committee Chair Attend all available trainings: Workshops during State Conference Meetings, Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute, and Annual Conventions Ensure that the Health Department has the most recent names and contact information of Committee Chair NAACP Executive Leadership 2-12
International Affairs Department Goals of International Affairs Department The International Affairs Department is a part of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division. The goal of the International Affairs Department is to promote fair and equitable human rights and economic justice for people of color across the globe by: Promoting Human Rights and Conflict Resolution promoting the protection of human rights in U.S. policy and across the globe. Promoting democracy as a tool to secure human rights and to end conflicts Promoting Fair Trade and Investment to Alleviate Poverty promoting fair and equitable trade and supplies and resources with African, Latin, and Caribbean nations and territories. Promote African American involvement in international trade and investment Eliminating Disparities in Global Health eliminating disparities in global health (malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS) Individual Activity: Who am I? The goal of this activity is to deduce the name of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division department from the clues provided about that department. NAACP Executive Leadership 2-13
Activity Problem Statement Module 2: Policy The goal of this activity is to deduce the name of the Research, Advocacy and Training Division department from the clues provided about that department. Deduce the name of a given department based on the clues provided about that department. Work on your own for this activity; you have 4 minutes to complete it. Instructions: Who am I? # Clues 1 My main focal point is Addressing Global HIV Who am I? (Print your answer below) 2 3 4 One of my goals is Increased research funding on African American health issues My main focal point is HIV/AIDS One of my goals is to Promote affirmative action and funding equity in higher education My main focal point is Addressing Voter Empowerment NAACP Executive Leadership 2-14
Lesson Summary You should now be able to: State the duties of the Committee on Political Action Describe the goals and main focal points of the Civic Engagement Department Describe the goals and main focal points of the Criminal Justice Department State the duties of the Committee on Economic Development Describe the goals and main focal points of the Economic Empowerment Department State the duties of the Committee on Education Describe the goals and main focal points of the Education Department State the duties of the Health Committee Describe the goals and main focal points of the Health Department Describe the main focal points of the International Affairs Department NAACP Executive Leadership 2-15
Module 2 Review and Wrap-Up Module Review In Module 2, you learned about the: Duties of the Committee on Political Action Goals and main focal points of the Civic Engagement Department Goals and main focal points of the Criminal Justice Department Duties of the Committee on Economic Development In Module 2, you also learned about the: Goals and main focal points of the Economic Empowerment Department Duties of the Committee on Education Goals and main focal points of the Education Department Duties of the Health Committee Goals and main focal points of the Health Department Main focal points of the International Affairs Department Applying What You Learned Using the Action Items Worksheet below, reflect upon what you ve learned in Module 2 and how you will apply it in your role as a leader of the NAACP. NAACP Executive Leadership 2-17
Module 2 Review and Wrap-Up Module 2 Action Items Worksheet What did I learn about NAACP Policy Agendas and Advocacy Plans that will help me in my role as a leader of the NAACP? List at least one thing you learned about NAACP Policy Agendas and Advocacy Plans that will help you in your role as a leader of the NAACP. How will I apply what I learned about NAACP Policy Agendas and Advocacy Plans in my role as a leader of the NAACP? List at least one thing you learned about NAACP Policy Agendas and Advocacy Plans that you will apply in your role as a leader of the NAACP. What ah-ha! moments did I have during this module? List any ah-ha! moments you experienced during this module. ( One of the goals of the Education Department is to promote affirmative action and funding equity in higher education!?! Ah-ha! ) NAACP Executive Leadership 2-19