Decatur hosts state NAACP training session

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The NAACP kicked off Black History Month with a day full of encouragement, power, and change.

"This association is built as a grassroots organization to make sure that everyone is represented fairly in our community..." said NAACP Decatur Branch President James McFarland.

McFarland was one of 120 members at the quarterly training session for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This state session was held in Decatur, bringing 34 branches all together to work with local civil rights community leaders. It took place at Saint Peter's African Methodist Episcopal Church.

""We are going to do training for education, housing, political action, economic development..." explained Theodis Pace, President of the Illinois State NAACP."

These sessions are held four times throughout the year, as a way for branches to discuss ways of advancing justice, social change, and equity. "Equity..." says Pace, "...is what we we believe in. Everyone is empowered to do right, adhere to our mission, and advocate in their respective communities."

The goal is to provide meaningful and positive change throughout the state of Illinois, and that change starts at the local level. Today's event is a platform for equipping volunteer members with the tools to make impact as the travel back to their branches.

For more information on the NAACP, click here.