Leon Russell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People | |
| Assumed office February 18, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Roslyn Brock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1949or1950(age 74–75) |
Leon W. Russell (born 1949/1950) [1] is an African-American civil rights leader and a human rights executive. He was elected to succeed Roslyn Brock as chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People board of directors on February 18,2017. [2] [3]
Russell spent nearly four decades as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County in Clearwater,Florida,retiring in 2012. [4] [5] For his contributions to the improvement of equality and equity across the United States,Russell has received numerous civic awards and citations. [6]
Russell has spent over four decades in various leadership capacities with the NAACP. [7] [8] Under his leadership,the NAACP has taken on environmental and climate justice as civil and human rights issues. [9] In 2023,Russell presented Congressman Bennie Thompson with the NAACP Image Award –Chairman's Award. [10] [11] [12] [13] In 2022,Russell presented Samuel L. Jackson with the NAACP Image Award –Chairman's Award. [14] [15] [16] [17] In 2021,He presented Rev. James Lawson with the NAACP Image Award –Chairman's Award. [18] [19] [20] [21] Russell presented the NAACP Image Award –Chairman's Award to congressman John Lewis in 2020. [22] Russell believes in the well-being of America's children,serving on various boards to ensure their rights are protected. [23] He led a campaign,with the assistance of former National presidents of the NAACP,to focus on bringing young adults into the organization to change the mindset of how people view the NAACP. [24] As Chairman of the NAACP National board of directors,Russell is charged with setting policy for the National NAACP President and CEO to implement. He outlined the strategy in 2017. [25] He spent time in Ohio urging young adults to get engaged in the Civil Rights movement. [26]
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The NAACP Image Award winners for the Chairman's Award:
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