SOUTH MIAMI-DADE, FLORIDA — In an effort to more vigorously address the growing number of civil rights concerns in South Dade, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has revived its South Dade Branch.
Dwight Bullard, former Florida state senatorAn organizational meeting in which the branch’s new officers will be elected will take place 6:30 - 9 p.m. on July 11, 2019, at Martin Memorial AME Church, 14740 Lincoln Blvd., in Richmond Heights.
Concerned that the area’s Miami-Dade NAACP branch needed to have a more robust presence in its South Dade communities, four stalwart NAACP members met in the late fall of 2017 to discuss the feasibility of restarting a South Dade Branch NAACP;
Dwight Bullard, former Florida state senator,
Kevin Chambliss, joint community liaison for U.S. Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel Powell
Dr. Brad Brown, former Miami-Dade Branch president,
Dr. Freddie Young, retired Miami-Dade Schools administrator
“The South Dade community is looking to find a means to speak with one voice,” Bullard said. “The establishment of a South Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP lifts up the voices in the various communities south of Flagler,” Bullard said. From Coconut Grove to Florida City, communities will be able to call on the oldest, boldest and baddest civil rights organization in the country to demand better respect and treatment for its residents.”
Kevin Chambliss, joint community liaison for U.S. Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel Powell
The group sought and received initial encouragement from Shirley Johnson, then Miami-Dade NAACP president, and Adora Obi Nweze, president of the NAACP Florida State Conference.
Nweze, who led the formation of the Miami-Dade branch in 1988 through unification of five South Florida NAACP branches (including South Dade, Homestead, Opa-locka, Greater Miami and Liberty City), recognized the South Dade organizing committee’s earnest efforts to revitalize NAACP outreach in communities south of Flagler Street. She referred the committee to begin discussions with the national NAACP offices and assigned the Florida State Conference treasurer Marsha Ellison, to work with the group.
“I am so excited about the NAACP’s South Dade branch,” Nweze said. “While our efforts to unify all of the branches made sense in 1988, we now see how the explosive growth of South Florida’s population has made it necessary for that area to have its own special focus.”
The core group was given permission to collect memberships, which approached nearly 250 by mid-May. The committee also reached out to various community and religious leaders for support. The committee forwarded its proposal to reestablish the South Dade branch to the national NAACP Board, which was passed with unanimous approval on May 18.
“We must thank so many people that saw the need for reviving the South Dade Branch of the NAACP during these difficult times,” Young said. “One of the first supporters for our effort was my mentor, Mrs. Thelma Gibson, who is also the widow of the late Rev. Canon Theodore Gibson, the first president of the NAACP in Dade County.
“She enlisted her grandson, Charles Gibson, and later, George Simpson, Jr. brought his parents – Dr. George Simpson (a past NAACP president) and retired pediatrician, Dr. Dazelle Simpson – into the effort,” Young said. “This revival was the result of a community effort – community leaders, pastors, “the Big 9,” – with many people writing letters of support to continue the legacy of the South Dade branch.”
The revitalized South Dade NAACP branch is planning its organizational meeting on July 11 to recruit more members, elect officers and obtain volunteers for committees and discuss priority issues.
Dr. Freddie Young, retired Miami-Dade Schools administrator“The formation of a South Dade NAACP is a complete political shift for the communities of South Dade,” Chambliss said. “The branch will be able bring attention to major issues facing South Dade like extreme poverty, incidents of HIV/AIDs being contracted at record highs, the need for Criminal Justice Reform, and sustainable Economic Development for the communities that need it the most.”
The branch already has begun to make it presence known in the community, Brown said.
“We have already received a complaint sent by the state NAACP concerning police actions,” Brown said. “We have responded to requests to contact U.S. senators and representatives on NAACP national legislative actions.”
The branch also supported a high school student, an outstanding scholar and leader who was suspended from athletic participation by the Florida High School Athletic Association, Brown said. In testimony in an appeal before the athletic association board, the South Dade NAACP asked the board to investigate harassment of black athletes including use of the “N” word as well as other threats in sports events by players and fans where black athletes are few, he said.
The branch also responded to requests from West Grove community leaders to support the extension of the Omni CRA to the West Grove area, which was favorably voted on by the City Commission and now goes before the County Commission for approval.
The branch added its support to the longtime efforts of the Miami Dade Branch to urge support for a museum in historic Virginia Key Beach Park. This action was passed by the Miami City Commission.
