The NAACP Chapter at Hofstra University by Ariadne Morales

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was established in 1909 and is the nation's oldest civil rights organization. W. E. B. Du Bois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey and Ida B. Wells formed the organization with efforts to advance justice for African Americans. The association fought injustices such as denial of voting rights, racial violence, discrimination in employment and segregated public facilities. The NAACP Chapter at Hofstra University is dedicated to educating, uplifting, and improving the community. The Chapter is a multicultural organization at Hofstra University alongside other organizations that are deemed a safe space for students of color such as the Black Student Union, Hofstra's Organization of Latin Americans and African Students Association.

The Chapter has done a great job in making students feel included. One example of this is when the Chapter hosted a cook-out in the beginning of the year in efforts to welcome students to the Fall Semester. This event brought students together after participating in online school throughout the prolonged pandemic and included food and drinks which made an excellent turnout. More recently, the NAACP Chapter sponsored a donation drive in partnership with New Hour for Women & Children, an organization dedicated to supporting current and formerly incarcerated women, their children and families. They built a community to promote successful re-entry and lasting reintegration, and to reform unjust criminal justice system policies. This drive was held in honor of Women's History Month in the Student Center at the tables from March 15-18, 2022. The Chapter encourages students to donate supplies such as toiletries, menstrual products and loungewear to help these women to feel safe both in their incarcerated spaces and their departure from the system.

In addition, the Chapter also held a NAACP Image Award show on Friday, February 11, 2022 in the Student Center Theater in efforts to celebrate talent and creativity amongst students of color on Hofstra's campus. The categories of the nominees included musical artist/performer, drama and film talent, dance-creative, media personality, organization of the year, athlete of the year and many more. Hofstra's NAACP Chapter also partnered with the African Student Association to host a holiday benefit gala in which the proceeds from the ticket sales were donated to a non-profit organization, Africa's Children Fund.

Many of my friends that are members of the NAACP Chapter have found the organization to be very uplifting and supportive. For example, my roommate was nominated for an image award back in February and it absolutely lit up her day. She felt seen and appreciated by the Chapter and as a Noah Scholars student, she was happy to see that other members of the New Opportunities at Hofstra Program (NOAH) were also nominated for the award show. The NOAH program provides academic, financial and social support resources for students from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds who attend Hofstra University. “If There is No Struggle, There is No Progress” is a famous quote by Civil Rights activist, Frederick Douglass that the NOAH program follows and abides by. The program offers driven-diverse student opportunities and learning experiences that will last a lifetime. Just as myself being a member of Hofstra’s Organization of Latin Americans (HOLA) Club knowing that I have felt seen and represented, I am glad that students like my roommate also feel recognized as well.

Ariadne Morales is from Long Island, New York. She currently a sophomore majoring in journalism/rhetoric and minoring in Spanish. She serves as a Student Fellow at the Center for "Race," Culture and Social Justice. Her dream is to one day become a sports reporter.

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