The Roanoke Branch NAACP invites all to its 69th Life Membership Luncheon, to be held at 11:30am Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 4468 Starkey Road. The distinguished speaker will be Leon W. Russell, chairman of the National NAACP.
Russell was elected Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors at its Annual Board meeting in New York on February 18, 2017 and has served as a member of the Board for over 27 years.
He retired in January 2012 after serving as director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County Government, Clearwater, FL since January 1977. In this position, he was responsible for implementing the county’s Affirmative Action and Human Rights Ordinances which provide for the development of a racially and sexually diverse workforce reflecting the general make up of the local civilian labor force and the implementation of the county’s Equal Employment Opportunity programs. The programs involved in implementation of this ordinance cover employees in all departments under the County Administrator and the five Constitutional Officer.
The Pinellas County Human Rights Ordinance provides protection from illegal discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations for the county’s 923,000 residents. This ordinance has been deemed “substantially equivalent” to Title VIII of the 1968 Federal Fair Housing Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Over 500 formal complaints of discrimination are filed under the ordinance annually.
In September 2007, Russell was elected President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA) during its annual meeting in Atlanta, GA. The IAOHRA Membership is agency based and consists of statutory human and civil rights agencies throughout the United States and Canada as well as representation from other nations. These agencies enforce state and local civil rights laws and are actively engaged in reducing and resolving intergroup tension and promoting intergroup relations. Russell concluded his second term as IAOHRA President at the conclusion of the Annual Conference in Austin, Texas in September 2011.
Additionally, he served as President of the Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches (January 1996 until January 2000), after serving for 15 years as the First Vice President. He has served as a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors since 1990 and has served the Board as Assistant Secretary; Chair of the Convention Planning Committee and Vice Chairman of the National Board.
Russell has also served as a member of several organizations to include: International City Management Association; National Forum for Black Public Administrators; Board of Directors of the Children’s Campaign of Florida; Blueprint Commission on Juvenile Justice with responsibility for recommending reforms to improve the juvenile justice system in the state of Florida; is a past board member of the Pinellas Opportunity Council and a past President and board member of the National Association of Human Rights Workers.
He also served as chairman of Floridians Representing Equity and Equality (FREE), established as a statewide coalition to oppose the Florida Civil Rights Initiative, an anti- affirmative action proposal authored by Ward Connerly. The initiative ultimately failed to get on the Florida Ballot, due to the strong legal challenge spearheaded by FREE.
Mr. Russell has also received numerous civic awards and citations.
For tickets, at $40.00 per, contact Cleo Sims; freedom fund chair at (540) 353-2159. Tickets are also available at the Roanoke Tribune 2318 Melrose Ave, NW. You may also email President Brenda Hale at brendahale3651@gmail.com for further details.
Let’s roll out the “Red Carpet” for Chairman Leon W. Russell!
We look forward to seeing you there.
