By Antonio Ray Harvey,
California Black Media
The NAACP California Hawaii State Conference (Cal-Hi NAACP) held its 36th annual State Convention at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel
The convention featured a series of workshops and discussions organized to promote solutions for some of the most pressing issues impacting Black communities in California and Hawaii. The focus was on a range of topics, including next-generation leadership, environmental justice, housing, veteran’s affairs, labor, education, and more.
“This is where we bring our branches to get them trained up and ready to go back into their communities ready to fight for what we’re fighting,” said NAACP Cal-Hi President Rick Callender. “What we are fighting, we’re fighting for criminal justice, environmental justice, equity in education, equity in the legislation and trying to move the NAACP’s agenda forward.”
This year’s event, themed “This Is How We Thrive,” was held from Oct. 27-29. Around 500 NAACP Cal-Hi leaders, delegates, elected officials, activists, organizers, faith leaders, and entertainers from across the state and Hawaii participated.
Former NAACP California Hawaii State Conference President Alice Huffman (in the foreground) was honored with the Hats Off Award of Distinction at the state convention at the Marriott Waterford Hotel. Shown left to right in the background are San Francisco NAACP President Dr. Rev. Amos Brown, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes (Spingarn Medalist, NAACP Board of Directors, NAACP New York President), Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), and Los Angeles-based attorney Kamilah Moore. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Oakland City Councilwoman Treva Reid receives a passionate hug after her speech during the NAACP’s political Luncheon on Oct. 28, 2023. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) spoke about her work with NAACP California Hawaii State Conference and the NAACP Branch in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2023. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Keynote speakers at this year’s convention included Dr. Hazel N. Dukes (Spingarn medalist, NAACP Board of Directors, NAACP New York president), Eleni Kounalakis (lieutenant governor of California), Rob Bonta (California attorney general), Shevann Steuben (NAACP Texas Youth & College Division president, NAACP Houston, Young Adult Committee chair, NAACP Board of Directors), Oakland City Councilwoman Treva Reid (District 7) and Los Angeles-based attorney Kamilah Moore (chair of California Reparations Task Force).
Moore reminded the attendees at the Women in the NAACP Labor Luncheon on Oct. 28 that the NAACP has been a beacon of light ensuring Black Americans are granted their constitutional rights.
Since Feb. 12, 1909, the NAACP has advocated, agitated, and litigated for civil rights. Its legacy is built on a foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists.
“We are resiliently surviving the afterlife of chattel slavery. In fact, as African Americans, we have been confronting these lingering badges and incidents of slavery without any significant government aid or private actions. We’ve been doing it on our own and the NAACP is a testament of that,” Callender said during the luncheon.
On the evening of Oct. 28, Callender joined Dr. Hazel N. Dukes for a fireside chat at the President’s Awards Dinner.
Several influential leaders — U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Exodie C. Roe III (General Services Administration, Washington D.C.), and NAACP Senior Vice President of Communications Trovon C. Williams — spoke at the convention.
NAACP Cal-Hi’s Youth and College Division hosted multiple workshops, including a “Stop the Hate” mock trial and another titled “Youth Focused Dinner, Juvenile Justice Workshop, and Health Forum.”
On Oct. 27, NAACP Cal-Hi presented an exclusive preview of “The Space Race,” a National Geographic documentary that weaves together stories of Black astronauts seeking to break the bonds of social injustice in their quest to reach for the stars.
That afternoon, a special “Hats Off Award” ceremony was held honoring Alice Huffman, president emeritus of the NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference, at the WIN Luncheon.
From this day on, the Hats Off Award will be incorporated into the convention to recognize individuals from California and Hawaii who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to social justice and equity.
Huffman, who was first elected president of the Cal-Hi NAACP in 1999, served eight terms of unwavering service and provided significant contributions.
She expressed her gratitude for having an award named after her and said she was proud to be around appreciative people at the convention who understood the work she performed for the Cal-Hi NAACP.
“It’s an honor to see all of you, feel your love, feel your understanding and appreciation,” Huffman said. “Let me tell you, it wasn’t always easy, but it was great. I hope that I never let you down. I don’t think that I ever have. I don’t know what else to say to you all but thank you, thank you, thank you.”