BC NAACP Honored with the Directors Programmatic Award
The Northeast Region of the NAACP honored its Boston College chapter with the Director's Programatic Award for its recent contributions and programs at the 57th Annual Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute on March 29 at the Hyatt Hotel in Cambridge.

Although the award is regional, the group plans to apply for a national award, said Kat Pullings, Boston College chapter president, and LSOE '03. The chapter hopes to attend the NAACP's National Conference in Miami in July.

The award honored the many on-campus contributions of the group including the Def Poetry Jam, the Ethnic Studies Fair, coordinating the workshops and speakers at the Youth Program of the 57th Annual Civil Rights Advocacy Conference, and its participation in the Affirmative Action March, held on April 1 in Washington, DC.

Although the majority of the programs are on campus, the BC chapter of the NAACP is trying to extend its activity beyond campus. Last semester, it held two voter registration drives to reach lower income communities in the Boston area.

The NAACP is composed of a National Board, including President Kweisi Mfumi and a Board of Trustees. In addition, the NAACP is broken down into regions, with a total of seven that cover all 50 states and Europe.

"Our region is Region Two," said Pullings. "It includes eight states from Maine to Pennsylvania, and all of Europe."

"It is the first time in approximately 20 years that the BC chapter won an award. The chapter was reactivated last year after it was deactivated by a lack of membership," said Pullings. "We're excited because we're a brand new unit and we won such a big award."

"We definitely owe thanks to Paulette Durrett, assistant dean of Office of Student Development; the MLK Student Activism Coalition; the ALC; the Organization of Latin American Affairs; and of course our members," Pullings continued.

In addition to this regional award, Pullings herself was recently personally honored with the Medgar Ever's Youth Leadership Award for her leadership within the region. Reverend Nelson Rivers, chief operating officer of the NAACP, presented the award to Pullings at a breakfast held during the conference.

"We want to help build new units in the region and to get other groups on board," she said. "Of course we also want to build membership and be a voice for the community. We are always looking for new members."

Elections for next year's board and committee positions will be on April 15 in Higgins 300 at 7 pm.