NAACP Names New Chairwoman: Roslyn Brock

The NAACP recently announced the election of Roslyn M. Brock as its new chairwoman of the National Board of Directors. Brock will succeed retiring civil rights activist, Julian Bond, who served as chairman for more than a decade.

“The time has come for me to step down as chairman of the board and I cannot think of a better person to pass the torch to than Roslyn M. Brock,” said Bond. “Ms. Brock understands first-hand how important youth are to the success of the NAACP. She was introduced to the NAACP 25 years ago when she served the NAACP as a youth board member and Youth and College Division State Conference president. She represents the next generation of civil rights leaders.”

Brock, at 44, is the youngest person to ever hold the position and its fourth female chairperson in its 100 years of existence. This, along with the election of Benjamin Jealous as president in 2008, represents a shift for the historic civil rights organization. As it moves into its second century of advocacy, the NAACP is making critical investments in a new generation of leadership to carry on its legacy and its work.

Brock’s 25 years of service to the organization speaks well to the experience that she will bring with her in her new role. Having joined as a member early in her college career, she has served as a member of the NAACP Youth Board, the Youth and College state president, board member, and vice chair to the board. She currently serves as the director of advocacy and public policy at Bon Secours Health System, a company that manages health care facilities.

As chairperson, Brock plans to focus on outreach. She wants to recruit and utilize the energy of the youth by strengthening the organization’s online presence, through social networking sites and other new media, and develop relationships with those in the non-profit, corporate, and political arenas.