Leon W. Russell
Chairman of the NAACP National board of directors
In office
February 18, 2017 – Present
Preceded byRoslyn Brock
Succeeded byN/A
Vice Chairman of the NAACP National board of directors
In office
February 20, 2010 – February 18, 2017
Preceded byRoslyn Brock
Succeeded byDerrick Johnson

Leon W. Russell is an African-American civil rights leader and human rights executive. He was elected to succeed Roslyn Brock as chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People board of directors on February 18, 2017.[1][2]

Professional career

Russell spent nearly four decades as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County in Clearwater, Florida, retiring in 2012.[3][4] For his contributions to the improvement of equality and equity across the United States, Russell has received numerous civic awards and citations.[5]

NAACP

Russell has spent over four decades in various leadership capacities with the NAACP.[6][7] Under his leadership, the NAACP has taken on environmental and climate justice as civil and human rights issues.[8] In 2023, Russell presented Congressman Bennie Thompson with the NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award.[9][10][11][12] In 2022, Russell presented Samuel L. Jackson with the NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award.[13][14][15][16] In 2021, He presented Rev. James Lawson with the NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award.[17][18][19][20] Russell presented the NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award to congressman John Lewis in 2020.[21] Russell believes in the well-being of America's children, serving on various boards to ensure their rights are protected.[22] He led a campaign, with the assistance of former National presidents of the NAACP, to focus on bringing young adults into the organization to change the mindset of how people view the NAACP.[23] As Chairman of the NAACP National board of directors, Russell is charged with setting policy for the National NAACP President and CEO to implement. He outlined the strategy in 2017.[24] He spent time in Ohio urging young adults to get engaged in the Civil Rights movement.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Leon W. Russell Elected as New Chairman of NAACP". 22 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Pinellas' defender of human rights will retire from job, but not from advocacy".
  3. ↑ Rowe, Peggy (March 24, 2009). "Employee Policies & Procedures" (PDF). Human Resources. Pinellas County, Florida. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Leon Russell".
  5. ↑ "Chair of NAACP National Board of Directors". Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Leon W. Russell". NAACP. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Leon W. Russell Elected As New Chairman Of NAACP". The Seattle Medium. Trice Edney Wire. February 22, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "NAACP Chair to be Castor's Guest at State of the Union". Tampa Bay Reporter. February 4, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Angela Bassett, Beyonce Top 2023 NAACP Image Awards (Full List of Winners)". Billboard.
  10. ↑ "Best Moments from the 54th NAACP Image Awards". 26 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "NAACP Image Awards Honors Congressman Bennie G. Thompson with Chairman's Award". BET.
  12. ↑ "Congressman Bennie Thompson Named Chairman's Award Recipient for "54th NAACP Image Awards" and Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump to Receive Social Justice Impact Award | NAACP". 2 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "Samuel L. Jackson to be honored for public service at NAACP Image Awards". 3 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "Samuel L. Jackson Urges Viewers to Fight for Voting Rights at NAACP Image Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. 27 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "2022 NAACP Awards: Samuel L. Jackson Honored with Chairman's Award".
  16. ↑ "Samuel L. Jackson to receive honor at NAACP Image Awards". Associated Press News. 3 February 2022.
  17. ↑ "Reverend James Lawson Announced as Recipient of Chairman's Award for 52nd NAACP Image Awards | NAACP". 4 March 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Rev. James Lawson receives NAACP Chairman's Award for integral contributions to racial justice".
  19. ↑ "NAACP IMAGE AWARD Winners Announced on BET and CBS".
  20. ↑ "Rev. James Lawson Announced as Recipient of Chairman's Award for 52nd NAACP Image Awards". BET.
  21. ↑ Leon W. Russell Honors Congressman John Lewis (Video clip). BET. February 22, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Leon Russell: Board Chair". iamforkids.org. American Children's Campaign. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  23. ↑ Marbella, Jean (July 22, 2017). "Meeting in Baltimore, NAACP revamping for a faster-paced political climate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  24. ↑ Johnson, Derrick; Russell, Leon W. (May 19, 2017). "NAACP Chairmen: 'Today Is the First Day of Our Next 100 Years'". NBC News. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  25. ↑ Turner, Brett (November 19, 2017). "National NAACP chairman encourages Springfield unit to engage youth". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
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