New Era of Empowering Black Women
The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) has entered a new era. For the first time in its 88-year history, the grassroots civil rights organization approved a new governance structure with an elected board of directors and the first ever President and CEO. The changes are welcome for the organization as it faces tougher challenges affecting Black women and communities.
“In the past, the chair of the board of directors also served as the president and oversaw the direction of this organization. But with a national president and CEO, and a board chair, NCNW is in a better position to execute our vision,” says President and CEO Shavon Arline-Bradley.
With an extensive background in leadership, public policy and public health, she feels ready to take on that role. Arline-Bradley is a Generation-X D.C. insider. Bringing youth to an organization whose membership is aging, she believes she can bridge the generational gap by connecting with younger women while honoring the spirit and legacy of the founder members.
“It’s a passing of the baton,” Arline-Bradley says. “The membership has entrusted me with the legacy of NCNW, which is the most beautiful part for me.”
Founded in 1935 by educator and activist Dr. Mary MacLeod Bethune, NCNW is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of 330 campus and community-based sections and 33 national women’s organizations connecting more than 2 million women and men. Its mission is to lead, empower and advocate for women of African descent, their families and communities. Its programs address four core values: education, social justice, public health, and economics and entrepreneurship.
Arline-Bradley says the strength of the organization lies in coalescing the ideas and perspectives of individuals and groups from different backgrounds. Everyone has a seat at the table. That mindset embraces the spirit of NCNW’s original leaders, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height and founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and Arline-Bradley aims to keep that legacy going.
“We’re historic in our representation in Washington, D.C., and our members come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Our governance and national board includes leaders from NCNW sections and allied groups, and we provide a safe space where young women can become advocates and leaders of change in their own communities,” said Arline-Bradley.
“NCNW is an active and engaged organization,” adds Deborah Robertson, a longtime volunteer with the Inland Empire section and mayor of Rialto, California. She cites the organization’s work with youths through the Bethune Youth Center’s employment program as being the most impactful initiative. Through the Center, young adults over age 16 learn about internships, how to write a resume and attend job fairs.
“Many of these youths have gone on to professional life, working as teachers, doctors and civic leaders. Some have gone on to work in the government,” Robertson says. “We’re rallying around the national call to encourage youth to grow and become responsible contributors to our society.”
One key challenge facing the organization is the lack of younger members. “Many of us haven’t brought in younger members like older generations did for us,” recalls Dr. Helena Johnson, a retired educator and President of the Southern California Coalition of NCNW. “We’re putting more emphasis on intergenerational entry memberships.”
Through NCNW’s Young Adult and Collegiate Affairs Committee, sections are conducting outreach to local colleges and universities while collegiate members have started planning their own programs so their own voices are heard in the community.
Amy Malone, President of the NCNW’s Inland Empire Section, says she has noticed a slight uptick in membership among younger Black women, but says the organization needs to do more for them.
“These young women don’t feel that their ideas and voices are being heard. We need to make sure they’re involved in the decision-making too,” says Malone, a public relations strategist with her own agency, Girls in Charge Public Relations.
NCNW’s mission to educate and empower Black women resonated with Malone from the start after several life members touted the organization’s work in their communities.
“I saw the heart in these women,” Malone recalls. “They have a passion for empowering other women and ensuring they have a voice. They’re not a social group, but they get together for the purpose to effect change in the lives of Black women, children and families.”
She believes legislative action will become a higher priority, and all sections and states will need to work with elected officials to effect policy changes. “We stand on the shoulders of women who had a passion to effect change. We need that tradition of outreach and support of Black families to continue,” Malone says.
With the upcoming presidential election, voter registration in the Black communities remains a top priority. “We’re getting information out to the communities about the election, whether at city council meetings or school board meetings. If we’re there, residents can have a better understanding of the electoral process and where the candidates come from,” Johnson explains.
Moving forward, Arline-Bradley says NCNW’s policymaking will be more intentional and focused on the four core values: reducing student loan debt and closing the pay gap for women; expanding Medicaid and pushing for reproductive rights; improving gun safety laws and increasing Black voter turnout for elections; and advocating for the freedom to learn and advancing civics lessons in Black communities.
Arline-Bradley adds, “We’re never going to hide from the issues, and we’re going to continue to fight for our democracy.”
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