Dayton NAACP chapter honored for 11th year, starts canvassing efforts
Local branch again receives national award for work.
As the Dayton Branch NAACP celebrates its recent national recognition for the chapter’s work and accomplishments over the past year, unit leaders are looking toward the future with plans to prepare for the upcoming November election.
The Dayton branch won the Thalheimer Award during the annual NAACP National Convention in July. This is the 11th year in a row that the chapter has received the award, which is given to branches and units for outstanding achievements.
“It’s a very humbling experience to be recognized by your peers nationally for the work you do in your local community and for what you are able to accomplish with very limited resources,” said Dayton Branch NAACP President Derrick Foward.
“We go to work every day on behalf of the American people for zero dollars and zero cents. I’m proud of my entire team for volunteering their knowledge, skills and abilities to enhance the lives of all Americans throughout the Dayton region.”
The Thalheimer Award acknowledges a branch’s contributions to civil rights, social justice and community empowerment based on the effectiveness and impact of its response to issues related to criminal justice, education, youth involvement and equality, Foward said.
“We are a model unit of the NAACP across the country, and a lot of units look to us for leadership,” he said.
One of the NAACP’s most prominent services is to respond to discrimination complaints filed by residents. From May 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, the Dayton chapter received 62 complaints of discrimination from a criminal justice standpoint, as well as 201 labor- and industry-related cases.
“I’m proud to say that our staff is able to take care of these individuals who come in on a daily basis to report these issues,” Foward said.
One of the more high-profile cases handled by the unit recently is that of Helen Dewberry,
an 85-year-old woman who after seeking an in-person review of her sales slip at the Dayton Mall Sleep Number store was escorted out by police officers and trespassed from the store.
“We investigated that case and settled with the company for an undisclosed amount of money for Ms. Dewberry,” Foward said.
The chapter also seeks to respond to the issue of gun violence throughout the community and to concerns within the education system. It promotes youth involvement through several youth councils.
The Dayton chapter is shifting gears as volunteers prepare a mobilization effort to register and educate voters ahead of November’s election.
“We’re working to help people understand the value of their vote, and to understand the candidates and issues that will be centered in this election,” Foward said. “We want to make certain that we’re doing our part to attract volunteers and assist in first getting people registered to vote by the deadline, then educating them on the issues.”
Volunteers will be canvassing neighborhoods in the coming weeks to reach unregistered voters. The chapter also plans to host a meet-the-candidates event at United Methodist Church on Sept. 23.