The Manchester Chapter of the NAACP has been at the forefront of working to ensure equality, economic justice and a political voice for everyone while advancing policies to eliminate discrimination against people of color.
The chapter was started by a group of black and white residents who believed in ensuring equal opportunity. It was launched the same year that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law.
“One of the most influential people was Lionel Johnson,” says Chapter President James T. McKim. “He really set the tone for what the organization could do.” Johnson, a chapter founder and just the second black state representative elected in NH, was behind the push for a state holiday to honor Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. New Hampshire was the last state to do so in 2000—23 years after President Ronald Reagan made it a federal holiday.
“That is what we do. We bring issues to light in the hopes that the people who are discriminating realize the impact of their actions,” McKim says. “We are changing some of the narrative. We provide a series of opportunities to come together as a community.”
He points to the annual Kwanza celebrations held in collaboration with the YWCA, and the chapter’s annual Freedom Fund dinner, its largest fundraising event.
The chapter’s mission is to address and advocate for systems change and support individuals on a variety of issues. McKim says the chapter works closely with city and school leadership to provide support for students of color and advocacy for families navigating the educational system. The chapter offers financial and career literacy training, and wealth accumulation as well as advice. The Community Development and Economic Empowerment Committee provides technical assistance, education, and financial support to entrepreneurs. “We’ve given out more than $75,000 for entrepreneurs in the last few years,” McKim says.
Looking ahead, McKim says chapter members are working to improve mental and physical health outcomes for people of color by addressing bias in the healthcare system and offering wellness and other self-care programs and clinics.
McKim says the late Sandra Hicks, former chapter president and therapist, was instrumental in bringing attention to the issue of mental health. Last year, thanks to a grant from Point32 Health, the chapter launched Healing Circles, weekly sessions for black, indigenous, and people of color who have experienced racism to share experiences and heal their trauma, McKim says.
Members are also focused on environmental justice with a new initiative on city air quality. “We are installing 11 air quality monitors around Manchester to gather data,” McKim says. “We believe the air quality in the inner city is not the same as northern part of the city.” Additionally, they are also looking at traffic patterns and talking to residents on busy thoroughfares, like Beech Street.
McKim says it’s also his intention to grow the chapter’s presence in the communities surrounding Manchester. “We want to be more proactive,” he says.