Oklahoma State NAACP Announces 2024 Convention

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.– The Oklahoma State NAACP Conference will hold its 113th Annual Convention November 1-2, 2024 on the campus of Oklahoma City Community College.

This year’s conference theme is “All In: Closing The Wealth Gap.”  The conference will begin the evening of Friday, November 1. Day one will include a “Welcome to Oklahoma” reception for keynote speaker John Stewart at Oklahoma City Community College. The Conference will continue into Saturday, Nov 2, beginning at 8 am and ending at 5 pm.

In announcing the conference, State President Bernard Allen-Bey stated, “This year’s conference goal is to provide information on strategies to help the Black community close the wealth gap created by years of under investment and structural barriers that have existed since the Great Depression. We will highlight the fact that so few realize the impact of what President Obama’s game changing initiative means for poor and underserved communities.” 

Esteemed Speakers

Keynote speaker John Stewart, founder and CEO of The Black Unicorn Factory in Los Angeles, will highlight the impact of and opportunities created by President Barack Obama’s 2012 “Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS) Act.” The JOBS Act created investment funding platforms for everyday people like Go Fund Me, Crowd Funding and Shark Tank. 

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Mr. Stewart’s talk will be held over lunch, followed by breakout sessions on topics ranging from Getting Big Money Out of Politics; The Jobs Act: President Obama’s gift to the community, “Angel Investors” from Startups to the Stock Market; Pulling The Covers Back on the State Appropriation Process related to government wealth and investments; and Student Debt.

The Oklahoma NAACP State Conference will launch the nation’s first NAACP prison chapter by unveiling the process at the Mable Bassett Correctional Center.  State Rep. J. J. Humphrey and former prisoner, current attorney Gwendolyn Fields-Black will host “The Conversation.”

This session will address state agency accountability for civil rights violations. There will be added focus on protecting our communities from over-incarceration and extended confinement of citizens of color. Additional topics include preventing Black families from having their children taken and intellectually disabled adults from being abused.   

Breakout Training Sessions

NAACP Youth & College Division will hold sessions discussing young people’s concerns about the potential impact of policies like Project 2025 on their future well-being. Organizers have invited several speakers to offer perspectives on areas like reproductive justice, education, and health.

This year’s program includes training sessions on organizing NAACP chapters. Additionally, organizers will highlight the legal redress process for holding state agencies like the Department of Human Services Child Welfare and the Department of Corrections accountable. Actions performed by these departments often impact families, children and vulnerable adults. 

The NAACP is asking for the community’s participation and support via sponsorships, souvenir booklet advertisements and vendor opportunities. Two lucky attendees will win a 3-day/2 night destination vacation provided by one of the sponsors.

For more information and to register for the conference visit NAACPOK.org, email naacpoklahoma@gmail.com or call 405-633-1053.