Through the generous support of the Ford Foundation and contributions from Global Justice, Inc., the NAACP Youth & College Division has created Young, Black & Secure, a nationwide Social Security empowerment initiative. Young, Black & Secure (YBS) is aimed at increasing African American students' knowledge about Social Security and proposed changes to how the system currently operates.
"Due to the ongoing national debate about changes to Social Security and the possible effect of these changes on the community, the NAACP strongly believes in engaging dialog with African American college students across the country to educate them on the issue," said NAACP Youth & College Division Director Stefanie L. Brown. "We recognize that Social Security is a program that affects not only the future, but present life as well."
The major component of YBS is the Social Security student forums that will take place on 25 NAACP College Chapter campuses around the country. YBS forums will take place through March at Ohio University, Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, Benedict College, Lane College, University of Central Oklahoma, Prarieview A & M University, Wayne State University, University of North Texas, University of Michigan, Hofstra University, New York University, St. John's University, University of Stony Brook, the University of Buffalo, Spelman College, North Carolina Central University, Princeton University, Troy University, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, University of Oklahoma, Savannah State University, Baylor University and the University of Arkansas. For more information on the forum in your area, contact the NAACP Youth & College Division at 410/580-5657 or abonello@NAACPnet.org.
In addition to the information about Social Security provided during the forums, students will receive a YBS tool-kit that will contain fact sheets and resource lists for their continued education.
In an effort to personalize the impact of Social Security on African American young people, personal testimonies will be documented from at least 30 African American college students during the course of the project. A compilation of the testimonies will be formulated into a report, included on the Youth & College Division webpage and distributed to national organizations, media outlets and NAACP units.
Students will also receive subsequent information through local NAACP College Chapters, e-mail updates, and information via the NAACP website at: http://www.NAACP.org.
Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its more than half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities and monitors of equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
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