Say Hello to the new Alabama State Conference NAACP Youth & College Division Political Action Committee Co-Chair!!!

      I know the title is long but hey! I'm excited about this endeavor. I never served in a leadership postion at the state level, until now.
I was appointed this position about 2 weeks ago. I also serve as the President of the NAACP at UAB. I am definitely up for the challenge.
          I hope to leave the legacy of establishing connections and mentorships in the community for members of the Youth and College Division of the Alabama State Conference NAACP, so the elders can feel confident in "passing the torch" to the next generation that they have trained and equipped  for tomorrow.

According to the Washington, DC Branch here are my duties in a nutshell....

Political Action Committee

The Political Action Committee works to ensure voter empowerment through providing awareness, training, and programmatic support to ensure registration, education, administration, and election protection.  The NAACP has developed a nonpartisan voter empowerment program  designed to empower African American and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.  The Political Action Committee will support the NAACP’s mission to ensure political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination, through implementing the following initiatives:

• A series of voter education forums addressing DC Vote and ward specific issues
• Issue focused political action notifications through social media usage
• Local DC and Federal advocacy days and facilitating meetings with elected officials
• Get Out The Vote (GOTV), voter registration and poll transportation
• Partnering with local and national civic organizations to address pertinent issues
• Informing the electorate of candidate views, to hold elected officials accountable.

I look forward to doing great things and serving my fellow youth and college division colleagues!

Entitlement and the Millennials

     Recently, I was able to sit in on a "teaching moment" and I would have to admit that I somewhat disagree with the facilitator as far his/her views on millennials aka Generation Y.

      He/She mentioned that Gen Y-ers are so stuck on "Entitlements" just because they feel entitled or that they should have something because they should (I hope that makes sense).
I feel that anyone who has worked their ass off, should be granted success (I don't agree with Romney's view...another blog post). There's a difference between going through the motions and doing work versus working your ass off everyday, so that you can go to the next step or have better life.
       Anyway, he/she used the example of college students--now a days college students feel that they should make $60k right out of school. I think that's steep but if the college student have the credentials, why not expect the most, when you know your worth and you've completed a number of hours for an internship or two?
        Me, on the other hand, growing up in South, I've been reminded repeatedly, (1)graduate from high school, (2) don't get pregnant, (3) get a college education (aka Bachelors degree), and (4) THEN, get married and have children. So now that I am 25 years old (closer to 26), I feel a little entitled because I've done all of those things and I'm close to completing my Masters degree. Sooooo...where's my husband and children? I know they will eventually come but I say all of this because when you are taught something, accustomed to hearing something over and over, and you comply with the rules. You expect certain things and you feel entitled to certain things...ijs.
       Back to the college students example...we are taught that if you invest in your education, you will be better off than the person who didn't attend college, or the statistics about how much more money you will make than the person who didn't attend college, and etc. So are we trying to hold ourselves accountable or the people who convinced us that we will be better off if we attend college? Or Based on our understanding of attending college we have high expectations?

OFA trip to Florida

I took a trip with my fellow College Democrats to Tallahassee this past October. The trip was a collaboration between the College Dems and Obama for America (OFA). Let's just say that the intended purpose was worth wild but the work was a different story. It was what I expected but not what I expected. But overall I had a great time and our hosting family/couple was awesome. Her name is Laura Bush (Go Figure). I'm glad I was able to participate in the campaign and ensure that President Obama get re-elected.

Alabama State Conference NAACP State Convention

I was able to attend the Alabama State Conference Convention of the NAACP in Huntsville, AL. I was very excited about the event because I never attended a state conference for the NAACP. I have to say that I was a little disappointed. The conference was 2 hours behind schedule. (WTC!< Another thing, we(youth and college attendees) were mandated to attend this workshop called "Bridging the Gap". We did some interactive things but we also had to be candid about the problems we were facing between the generations. Which I felt was needed but will anything get resolved? Probably not.
On a good note I was able to meet other students who served in their local chapters. I also was able to spend time with my best childhood friend and about out to my high school buddy for putting me up for the weekend!!

First Week on the JOB--Complete!

Today marked the completion of my first week as a Congressional Intern! This week has been pretty good, no complaints. First assignments included data entry and phone calls but I got my FIRST real assignment to help put together/research a career development training. I'm excited and I can't wait to get feedback! Stay tuned for the ups and downs of my internship experience.

Organization Affilations

I have been apart of a number of organizations. I am apart of a number of organizations and I hope to become apart of more organizations. (Food for thought). Below you can find a list of my organization affiliations.

Current Memberships

• Black Graduate Student Association
• Blacks in Government (BIG) 
• College Democrats of America, UAB
• Alabama State Federation
• Graduate Student Association
• Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Student Association
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Alabama State Conference Youth and College Division
• NAACP at UAB
• Toastmasters--VA Voices

Potential Memberships

• American Planning Association
• American Society for Public Administration
• National Congress of Black Women
• National Forum for Black Public Administrators
• Urban League Young Professionals (Greater Birmingham)

Previous Memberships

• National Council of Negro Women
• Arizona State University Collegiate Section
• Metropolitan Sun Section

Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference 2012 Update

So...the bad news first. I only attended the conference one day-Thursday due to unforseen circumstances. Good news...I was able to receive alot of information that I feel will equip me to empower my community. I was able to meet my new boss--Congresswoman Terri Sewell and CNN Commentator--Roland Martin.

I was so happy that I attended the conference. Attending this conference back in 2008, is the reason why I am striving to be a public servant today. At the time I was a junior at Arizona State University living the average/normal college life-attending parties, events, classes--stuff that wasn't allowing me to utilize my full potential to implement change in the community or my campus. Thanks to Jackie Thompson (Southwest Airlines) and Dr. Carnella Hardin, I was able to get a sponsorship--all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the CBC ALC. Every since then, I have been trying to get back there and this year, four years later I was able to make it a reality thanks to my family members mentioned in an earlier post.

CBC ALC Workshops I plan to attend on Thursday

OMG! There are so many workshops that I want to attend. It was hard for me to make a decision. However, I did make it. I hope to gain insightful information from the workshops, so I can bring it back to my community and organizations that I work with in Birmingham, AL.

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

The Browning of America: How Changing Racial and Ethnic Demographics Will Impact the Political Landscape
Honorary Host: Rep. Terri A. Sewell
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Room 209-B
Synopsis: Then nation's racial and ethnic demographics are greatly changing. This panel will explore how these changes will impact the upcoming election as well as permanently change the country's entire political landscape.


Underground Railroad: Journey To Greatness
Honorary Host: Corrine Brown
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m
Room 140-A
Synopsis: The Underground Railroad was perhaps the most dramatic civil rights protest action in United States history. There are many indications today that African Americans are in great need of rediscovering themselves through our oral tradition of sharing human dramas and experiences. The present state of the union reveals the need for a renewed vision, inspiration and conviction in the face of injustice to continue to build on the dreams of our ancestors. This informative session weaves a discussion of current injustices against the backdrop of a history of struggle and triumph. Take a journey on the Underground Railroad as we continue to forge new paths to freedom on our unfinished journey to greatness.

-OR-


The Struggle Continues: Equity and Black Empowerment in the 21st Century
Host: CBCF
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Room 201
Synopsis: This panel will center on race relations and current challenges to social equity for African Americans during the first administration of the nation's first black president. What does black empowerment mean today? How do African Americans effectively mobilize and organize around their interests? How do they contribute to change for the collective good? How is success defined and measured and how has this changed since the civil rights era? Is racism still alive and well? This frank conversation will bring together a panel of political experts, social activists and forum participants to discuss the evolution of discrimination, empowerment, civic engagement and equity, as well as symbolic vs. substantive progress made by African Americans.

CBC ALC Overview Schedule
CBC ALC Schedule By Track

Last Night at BSAC's 2012 Presidential Mock Debate

Let me say this...the UAB College Dems KICKED MAJOR ASS last night at the 2012 BSAC's Presidential Mock Debate against the College Republicans and the Students for Liberty (aka the College Libertarians). I was so proud of our President Quang Do (UAB College Dems) for truly representing the views of the Democratic Party and the UAB College Dems.

The event was hosted by the Black Student Awareness Committee (BSAC) at University of Alabama (UAB) on Monday, September 17, 2012 in the Alumni Auditorium. The purpose of this event was to educate the UAB campus on the different views of each party. I thought each of the candidates expressed the views of their party well. Even the College Republican representative dissed our President (not surprised), mentioning that President Obama was tweeting about Beyonce and Jay Z..."Don't hate our President because he has SWAGG" LOL. Usually the GOP find ways to distract us but the REAL question is WHERE ARE THE FACTS about your party's Presidential Candidate? Mr. Do was able to present HARDCORE FACTS unlike any other representative present.

If you are in the Birmingham area and you happen to run into Mr. Do...give him a HIGH FIVE and a HELL YEAH for an OUTSTANDING job last night at the mock debate. UAB College Dems are FIRED UP and READY TO GO!

Special shout out to BSAC, UAB College Dems, Q (aka Quang Do), and Coleen (UAB College Dem tabling outside the event)...

(LtoR): College Libertarian, College Republican, and College Dem President, Quang Do 

All Smiles :) :)

College Dems Ready to Cheer on President Do

Me and Coleen outside the Mock Debate tabling for UAB College Dems

I'm Going to D.C. today!!

 Today I'm scheduled to go to Washington, D.C. to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference!!! Click here for more information on the conference. I'm soooo excited about this endeavor and special thanks to my family members (Aunt Priscilla,Aunt Carolyn, My mom, and Cousin Twana) for making this trip a possibility.
        I hope to network, meet employers, meet up with some new/old friends that I met in Charlotte, NC at the College Democrats of America Summer Convention. I also want to visit the University of Maryland (First Choice for Doctoral Program in Urban Studies), some museums, NCNW and the NAACP Headquarters, and potential apartments.

Stay tuned for updates!!