National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to increase African American participation in the United States' civic process, with a focus on voter registration, voter education, and get out the vote efforts, often in collaboration with organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Congressional Black Caucus, and National Urban League. The organization was founded in 1976 by a group of Civil Rights Movement leaders, including Vernon Jordan, John Lewis, and Jesse Jackson, with the goal of increasing African American participation in the 1976 United States presidential election. The organization's work is often supported by foundations like the Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Open Society Foundations, and is guided by the principles of democracy, equality, and justice, as embodied in the United States Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

● History

The organization's history is closely tied to the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for voting rights in the United States. In the 1960s and 1970s, organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference worked to increase African American participation in the civic process, often in the face of racism and oppression, as seen in the Selma to Montgomery marches and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation was founded in 1976, with the goal of building on this work and increasing African American participation in the 1976 United States presidential election, which saw the election of Jimmy Carter as President of the United States. The organization's early work was supported by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Thurgood Marshall, and was guided by the principles of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, as seen in the Birmingham Campaign and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

● Mission and Objectives

The organization's mission is to increase African American participation in the civic process, with a focus on voter registration, voter education, and get out the vote efforts, often in collaboration with organizations like the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Asian American Justice Center. The organization's objectives include increasing voter turnout in African American communities, promoting civic engagement and community empowerment, and advocating for voting rights and election reform, as seen in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The organization's work is guided by the principles of democracy, equality, and justice, as embodied in the United States Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and is supported by foundations like the Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Open Society Foundations.

● Programs and Initiatives

The organization offers a range of programs and initiatives, including voter registration drives, voter education workshops, and get out the vote campaigns, often in collaboration with organizations like the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the Native American Rights Fund. The organization also provides civic engagement training and community empowerment programs, with a focus on youth leadership development and community organizing, as seen in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Congress of Racial Equality. The organization's work is often supported by partnerships with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, National Organization for Women, and Human Rights Campaign, and is guided by the principles of social justice and human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

● Leadership and Partnerships

The organization is led by Melanie Campbell, a veteran civil rights leader and community organizer, who has worked with organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Congressional Black Caucus. The organization has partnerships with a range of organizations, including the National Urban League, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and Asian American Justice Center, and works closely with elected officials like Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Ayanna Pressley. The organization's work is also supported by foundations like the Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Open Society Foundations, and is guided by the principles of collaboration and community engagement, as seen in the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement.

● Impact and Achievements

The organization has had a significant impact on increasing African American participation in the civic process, with a focus on voter registration, voter education, and get out the vote efforts, often in collaboration with organizations like the League of Women Voters and the National Association of Secretaries of State. The organization's work has been recognized by awards like the NAACP Image Award and the National Urban League's Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, and has been supported by elected officials like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi. The organization's achievements include increasing voter turnout in African American communities, promoting civic engagement and community empowerment, and advocating for voting rights and election reform, as seen in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The organization's work continues to be guided by the principles of democracy, equality, and justice, as embodied in the United States Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Category:American civil rights organizations