Youths
Youths
YPSILANTI WILLOW-RUN BRANCH
EASTERN WASHTENAW YPSILANTI NAACP MICHIGAN
In 1909, the NAACP was born. The NAACP established its National Office in New York City in 1910 and named a Board of Directors as well as a President. The NAACP is now 107 Years old (2016).
The NAACP's principal objective is to ensure the Political, Educational, Social and Economic, Equality of Minority Groups in particular and All Citizens of the United States and to eliminate race prejudices. The NAACP seeks to remove All Barriers of Racial Discrimination through the Democratic Process
NAACP YWR YOUTH SOCIAL JUSTICE FORUM
Joy Bowerbank, Chairperson
ACT-SO
ACT-SO is a major youth initiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP). Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO provides a forum through which African-American youth can demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise, thereby gaining the same recognition...
ACT-SO is a year long enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders who serve as
mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African American students. There are 26 categories of competition in the Sciences, Humanities, Performing Arts and Visual Arts.
ACT-SO is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. ACT-SO receives support from schools, community, organizations, churches, foundations, private corporations and individuals. African American high
school students enrolled in Grades 9 through 12 and are amateurs in the categories of competition are eligible to compete.
The ACT-SO program is intended to be a learning experience, first and foremost. The focus of a viable and effective local ACT-SO program is on enrichment and mentorship. The program provides ACT-SO students with enrichment opportunities, and substantial assistance such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips, towards
the development of their projects and valuable tools to assist them throughout their education.
National Association For The Advancement of
Colored People
Ypsilanti-Willow Run Branch
Today’s Youth
​Tomorrow’s Leaders
ACADEMIC, CULTURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC OLYMPICS
WHAT IS ACT-SO
WHAT IS ACT-SO?​ Tomorrow’s Leaders Enrichment Program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders, to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 27 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing arts, visual arts and business.
WHO SPONSORS ACT-SO?
ACT-SO is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. ACT-SO receives support from schools, community, organizations, churches, foundations, private corporations and individuals.
WHO FOUNDED ACT-SO?
Vernon Jarrett (1918-2004), a renowned author and journalist, initiated the idea of a program that would promote and reward academic achievers the same way sports heroes are honored. The first national ACT-SO competition was held in 1978 in Portland, Oregon.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
High School students of African descent who are citizens of the United States enrolled in Grades 9 through 12, and are amateurs in the categories of competition are able to participate.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING?
The ACT-SO program is intended to be a learning experience first and foremost. The focus of a viable and effective Local ACT-SO Program is an enrichment and mentorship. Students work with ACT-SO mentors who help them develop projects throughout the year. Local ACT-SO Programs also provide ACT-SO students with enrichment opportunities, such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips.
The benefits ACT-SO students receive from the enrichment and mentorship components include substantial assistance toward the development of their ACT-SO projects and valuable tools to assist them throughout their education.
The Local Competition serves to showcase the hard work students have put in all year long. Students receive medals and prizes provided by the local and regional sponsors and contributors. ACT-SO students who receive gold medals on the local level then compete at the National Competition where they receive scholarships and other rewards provided by national sponsors.
ACT-SO TIMELINE
LOCAL PROGRAM
*September: Local Programs kick off their ACT-SO program.
*September through March/April: Local programs conduct mentoring and local enrichment programs.
*February/April: Programs host their Local ACT-SO Competitions
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
*March/April through July: Students continue their mentorship and enrichment programs to prepare for the
*National ACT-SO Competition.
* July: The National Competition.
WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION?
SCIENCES – Biology/Microbiology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine and Health, Physics.
HUMANITIES – Music Composition, Original Essay, Playwriting, Poetry.
PERFORMING ARTS – Dance, Dramatics, Music Instrumental/Classical, Music Instrumental/Contemporary,
Music Vocal/Classical, Music Vocal/Contemporary, Oratory.
VISUAL ARTS – Architecture, Drawing, Filmmaking, Painting, Photography, Sculpture.
BUSINESS – Entrepreneurship, Culinary Arts Program
In recent years, ACT-SO forged a partnership with Sodexo and Hyatt which spawned an opportunity for culinary participants to compete in the 2011 Local Entrepreneurship category in selected cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Long Beach and Washington D.C.
Local ACT-SO committees and community based culinary programs in collaboration with Sodexo and Hyatt chefs and volunteers instructed interested competitors to adhere to the stated ACT-SO Culinary guidelines and complete all tasks associated with the completion of the inaugural local culinary competition. Mentoring and coaching activities vary per Local ACT-SO jurisdiction.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ACT-SO
Log on to the NAACP website at www.naacp.org