NAACP New Jersey State Conference

09/05/2026

BRIT HARLEY
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Award for Community Storytelling & Public Voice

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference Women in NAACP (W.I.N.) is proud to honor Brit Harley with the Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Award for Community Storytelling & Public Voice at the 2026 W.I.N. Legacy Honors in Media & Storytelling.

Through storytelling, creative expression, and an authentic public voice, Brit demonstrates the power of telling our own stories — stories rooted in community, identity, culture, and lived experience.

That work echoes the legacy of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, whose words as a writer, poet, abolitionist, and advocate gave voice to the struggles and aspirations of Black people while advancing the causes of freedom, justice, and equality.

We celebrate Brit for carrying that tradition forward and reminding us that storytelling itself can be an act of advocacy, connection, and power.

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
📍 The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village

09/04/2026

MELANIE BURNEY
Mary Ann Shadd Cary Award for Journalism & Storytelling

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference Women in NAACP (W.I.N.) is proud to honor Melanie Burney with the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Award for Journalism & Storytelling at the 2026 W.I.N. Legacy Honors in Media & Storytelling.

Through a distinguished career in journalism, Melanie has helped tell the stories of our communities with depth, integrity, and a commitment to ensuring that people and experiences too often overlooked are seen and heard.

That commitment reflects the pioneering legacy of Mary Ann Shadd Cary — journalist, educator, abolitionist, and the first Black woman newspaper publisher in North America — who understood the power of the written word as an instrument for truth, liberation, and change.

We look forward to celebrating Melanie and the storytellers whose work continues to shape how our communities are understood, remembered, and represented.

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
📍 The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village

09/03/2026

APRIL RYAN
Ethel L. Payne Award | Keynote Speaker

We are honored to welcome April Ryan as the keynote speaker for the 2026 W.I.N. Legacy Honors in Media & Storytelling — and to recognize her as this year’s recipient of the Ethel L. Payne Award.

For nearly three decades, April Ryan has brought the questions, concerns, and lived realities of Black America into one of the nation’s most powerful rooms as a White House correspondent, while building a distinguished career as a journalist, political analyst, author, and trusted national voice.

Her work carries forward the extraordinary legacy of Ethel L. Payne, the trailblazing journalist known as the “First Lady of the Black Press,” whose fearless reporting insisted that the experiences of Black Americans belonged at the center of the national conversation.

Join the NAACP New Jersey State Conference Women in NAACP (W.I.N.) as we celebrate April Ryan and the enduring power of Black women who use their voices to inform, challenge, and create change.

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
📍 The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village

BlackWomenInMedia BlackPress MediaAndStorytelling

08/30/2026

Honoring legacy. Celebrating leadership. Inspiring the next generation.

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference is proud to welcome Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors, as the Keynote Speaker for our Inaugural Legacy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!

A respected leader and longtime champion for civil rights, equity, and community empowerment, Boykin-Towns will join us for this historic celebration honoring New Jersey trailblazers whose service and leadership have helped move our communities forward.

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
🥂 Private VIP Reception: 6:00 PM
🏆 Induction Ceremony: 7:00 PM
📍 Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
201 Village Blvd., Princeton, NJ

🎟️ General Admission: $175 | VIP: $200

Be part of history as we celebrate the leaders whose contributions have created a lasting legacy of civil rights, social justice, community uplift, and leadership throughout New Jersey.

🎟️ Purchase your tickets today at www.naacpnj.org/events

08/29/2026

Rest in Power, Ed Gittens. 🕊️

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference mourns the passing of Ed Gittens—a dedicated public servant, trusted friend, and proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Ed lived a life rooted in service, leadership, integrity, and brotherhood, leaving a lasting impact on New Jersey and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the Gittens family and all who loved him.

Brother Ed, we thank you for your service. We honor your life. We will remember you.

08/28/2026

Faith has always been at the heart of the fight for justice.

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference is honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Elaine Flake, Senior Pastor of Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral and author, as the Keynote Speaker for our 2026 Prayer Breakfast!

Rev. Dr. Flake joins us for a powerful gathering rooted in faith, fellowship, reflection, and our continued commitment to justice. As we close out this year’s State Convention, we will come together to be renewed and reminded of the important role faith communities continue to play in the movement for civil rights.

📅 NAACP New Jersey State Conference Convention
October 2–4, 2026
📍 Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
Princeton, New Jersey

Come ready to be inspired, encouraged, and empowered for the work ahead.

🎟️ Registration is OPEN! Secure your spot today at www.naacpnj.org/events.

08/28/2026

08/22/2026

Political power begins with an informed, engaged, and organized community.

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference is proud to welcome Marc H. Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League, as the Keynote Speaker for our 2026 Political Action Luncheon!

A nationally recognized civil rights leader and advocate, Morial has spent decades championing voting rights, economic opportunity, racial justice, and policies that strengthen Black communities across the country.

As we face a critical moment for democracy and civil rights, the Political Action Luncheon will bring us together to discuss the power of civic engagement, advocacy, and collective action in shaping the future of our communities.

📅 NAACP New Jersey State Conference Convention
October 2–4, 2026
📍 Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
Princeton, New Jersey

✊🏾 Our voice. Our vote. Our power.

🎟️ Registration is OPEN! Secure your spot today at www.naacpnj.org/events.

08/16/2026

A powerful voice. A trailblazing journalist. A night you won’t want to miss.

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference is proud to announce acclaimed journalist, author, and White House Correspondent April Ryan as the Keynote Speaker for our 2026 W.I.N. Gala!

For decades, April Ryan has been at the forefront of American journalism, asking the questions that matter and bringing critical issues affecting Black communities to the national conversation. Her distinguished career and commitment to truth, accountability, and representation make her a powerful voice to join us for this special evening.

📅 NAACP New Jersey State Conference Convention
October 2–4, 2026
📍 Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
Princeton, New Jersey

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating women, leadership, excellence, and the continued fight for civil rights and justice.

🎟️ Registration is OPEN! Secure your spot today at www.naacpnj.org/events.

08/09/2026

Celebrate the Legacy. Honor the Leaders. Be Part of History.

Join the NAACP New Jersey State Conference for the Inaugural Legacy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as we honor extraordinary individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and service have made a lasting impact on civil rights, social justice, and communities across New Jersey.

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
📍 Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
201 Village Blvd., Princeton, NJ 08540

✨ Event Schedule
🥂 Private VIP Reception – 6:00 PM
🏅 Legacy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – 7:00 PM

🎟️ Tickets
• General Admission: $175
• VIP Admission: $200

This year’s inaugural class of inductees includes:
• Dr. Irene Hill Smith
• Thomas Ashley, Esq.
• Lawrence Hamm
• Hon. Bonnie Watson Coleman
• Hon. LeRoy Jones, Jr.
• Rev. Darrell Armstrong
• Jeannine LaRue
• Darrell K. Terry, Sr.

The evening will also feature remarks from NAACP New Jersey State Conference President Richard T. Smith and NAACP National Board of Directors Vice Chairwoman Karen Boykin-Towns.

Don’t miss this historic evening as we celebrate the trailblazers whose courage, vision, and commitment continue to inspire generations.

🎟️ Purchase your tickets today at: www.naacpnj.org/events