Dear Mississippi Youth & College Division Members,
On behalf of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP, it is with great pride and excitement that we welcome you to the 80th Annual Mississippi State Conference NAACP Convention! This year’s theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” reminds us that our work can no longer wait, that justice delayed is justice denied, and that this generation must boldly lead in shaping the future we deserve
Your presence here today is proof that the movement is alive and strong. Across our state, you have taken the charge to organize, educate, and mobilize in your schools and communities. From voter registration drives to campus advocacy and community empowerment, your commitment to action embodies the spirit of this year’s theme. You are the heartbeat of the NAACP, energized, visionary, and ready to make change happen now
As we gather for this historic 80th Convention, let us reflect on how far we’ve come and recommit ourselves to the work ahead. The call to act is urgent, the need is great, and the moment is ours. Together, let’s continue to uplift, empower, and transform our communities with faith, courage, and conviction.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the mission of the NAACP Your leadership ensures that our fight for justice, equality, and equity not only continues, but thrives. Welcome to the 80th Mississippi State Conference NAACP Convention!
In solidarity and service,
MarkyelPittman
Markyel Pittman
MiriamGray
Miriam Gray
State President State Advisor
Mississippi State Conference NAACP Youth & College Division
ANTHEM
ANTHEM
LIFTEVERY VOICEANDSING LIFTEVERY VOICEANDSING
James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us, Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears have been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray
Lest our feet stray from the places, Our God, where we met Thee; Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand
Lolita Bolden, a native of Utica, Mississippi, is currently the Organizer Manager for the Southern Poverty Law Center Mississippi Office and Co-Facilitator of the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute, a ninemonth leadership program. She also serves as the MS State Conference NAACP State Chairperson of Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics.
Lolita’s previous experiences include cultivating relationships, providing tools and resources to emerging leaders, creating a community-led action plan to improve health equity and health outcomes using scientific data for elementary school students, facilitating civic engagement programs aimed at increasing the participation of underserved communities in the electoral process, policy reform and protecting the vote.
In addition to her diverse experiences in advocacy, research, and leadership, her academic degrees include both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science Management from Belhaven University, and Ph.D. ABD in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University.
Lolita and her husband David currently live in Terry, Mississippi.
Brooke Williams
Creative Attitude
Creative Attitude, Brooke B. Williams specializes in driving meaningful impact through g, branding, and creative storytelling. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, y, ng and brand development, her work focuses on helping public service organizations, including nonprofits, government entities, and mission-driven businesses, clarify their brand and connect more deeply with their audiences She serves on multiple boards and advisory councils, using her platform to champion equity, representation, and healing in the South and beyond.
SPEAKERS COLLEGE CHAPTERS TRACK
Meghan Curry Community Organizer
Meghan Curry is a community advocate, organizer, and policy professional from Indianola, Mississippi. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Health Sciences from the University of Mississippi, and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the NAACP.
With experience spanning the legal field, policy development, and grassroots organizing, Meghan has collaborated with organizations such as the Aspen Institute, NAACP, and the Organizing Accelerator She channels her expertise into civic engagement, health policy, and community development initiatives that empower marginalized communities and promote equity.
From May 2022 to May 2025, Meghan served as president of the University of Mississippi’s NAACP chapter, leading a transformative revitalization of the chapter’s membership, influence, and campus presence. Beyond campus, she worked closely with the Mississippi State Conference NAACP Youth & College Division as a committed member of the executive board.
Driven by her passion for intergenerational leadership, social justice, and civic engagement, Meghan leverages her lived experiences, networks, and diverse skill set to create meaningful change, foster inclusive communities, and amplify underrepresented voices
Jada Barnes Civic Engagement Advocate
Jada Barnes, from Columbia, Mississippi, is a civic engagement and campaign profe advancing equitable participation in Mississippi’s democracy. A proud graduate Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, she has built her communities through strategic organizing and voter outreach.
Jada’s campaign experience includes serving as Field Director for the Marilyn Lands for Alabama campaign, where she led a winning field operation centered on targeted voter contact, data-driven outreach, and volunteer mobilization She also contributed to the Brandon Presley for Governor campaign, coordinating regional voter engagement strategies and strengthening outreach across key communities in Mississippi.
Currently, Jada serves as the Central Mississippi Regional Coordinator for Mississippi Votes, overseeing community engagement and voter education efforts throughout the region. She is also a 2025 Southern Poverty Law Center Advocacy Institute Fellow, a Students Learn Students Vote Advisory Board Member, and a participant in the Mississippi Women in the Lead Campaign Management Track Cohort. Her work is rooted in a commitment to amplifying the voices of young, Black, and underrepresented Mississippians, ensuring that civic power is accessible to all.
SPEAKERS COLLEGE CHAPTERS TRACK
Karanja Matory Civic Engagement Advocate
j y y was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. A proud product of Jackson Public Schools, he attended Clausell Elementary, Power APAC, Peeples Middle, and Provine High School. He later graduated from Jackson State University (2019) with a degree in Political Science, where he was deeply engaged in campus life through the Student Government Association, Student Conduct Board, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Within his fraternity, he held leadership roles and helped establish service initiatives that continue to impact the campus and community today
After earning his Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama (2021), Karanja returned home to Jackson, where he has served as both a Volunteer Coordinator and a Policy and Research Analyst, focusing on strengthening civic engagement and advancing equitable public policy across Mississippi. His work reflects a continued commitment to empowering communities and expanding pathways for participation in the democratic process.
Karanja is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning at Jackson State University. He also works for various nonprofits like the Center for Social Entrepreneurship and the MS Reentry Coalition.
John Spann Mississippi Humanities Council
Originally from Columbus, Mississippi, John has lived in the Jackson Metro area since 1997. Shortly after graduating from Mississippi State University with a B.A. in history, he joined the museum division staff of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. During his five years with MDAH, he became an inaugural member of the curatorial team for the Two Mississippi Museums. As program and outreach officer at the Mississippi Humanities Council, John oversees and develops council-conducted programs, such as Ideas on Tap and The More Perfect Union initiative. In addition, he cultivates partnerships with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to guide grant applications and promote MHC programs
LUNCHEON
11:30A.M.
Dr.JamyeshiaBallard
MississippiWICProgramDirector
Dr Jameshyia Ballard’s journey began in the small Mississippi Delta town of Hollandale, where from an early age she witnessed the impact of community, food, and health
Inspired by her roots, she pursued a career in nutrition and public health Ballard earned her B S in Nutrition and Dietetics from Alcorn State University, then went on to the University of Southern Mississippi, where she completed an M S in Nutrition and Food Systems and an Ed D in Education: Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment
These degrees equipped her with deep expertise in nutrition science and data-driven program evaluation
G R A M
OpeningPrayer & Blessing of the Food
REV. JIMMY RICHARDSON
MS NAACP 4th Vice President
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING (PLEASE STAND)
OpeningRemarks
DR SANDRA MELVIN
MS NAACP Health Committee Chair
Occasion
LUNCHSERVED
MARKYEL PITTMAN
MS NAACP Y & C Division President
Introductionof
Speaker
KeynoteSpeaker
TYSON MCLAURIN
MS NAACP Y&C Council 1st Vice Pres.
DR. JAMESHYIA BALLARD
WIC Director, MS Department of Health
KeynoteSpeaker
Presentation
REV. ROBERT JAMES
MS NAACP President
VIDEO RECOGNITION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Recognitionof SpecialGuests
Sponsors and Partners
MIRIAM GRAY
MS NAACP Youth & College Advisor
MARKYEL PITTMAN Youth&College
Division Highlight and Charge
CHARLES TAYLOR Executive Director, MS NAACP CalltoAction
