Since 1982 , the branch hosts and sponsors the Dr . Martin Luther King Jr ’ s Birthday Celebration Parade . This year ’ s parade theme was “ A Powerful Mass Accelerates Change ” and was held within Downtown Moultrie .
Members continue to push election participation by hosting voter registration drives . Last year , the branch assisted 12 people in becoming registered voters and sponsoring rides to the polls on Election Day in collaboration with Fresh Communities and Black Voters Matter .
February marks the national anniversary of the national NAACP association , and the branch dedicates one full celebration week to the anniversary .
The branch conducts an annual food drive and two annual fundraising events : the Pancake Brunch – which is held in February and sells over 200 plates – and the Freedom Fund Banquet .
The Freedom Fund Banquet resumed in 2022 after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic . The banquet is the chapter ’ s largest fundraiser . The 2022 theme was “ Disrupt Inequality , Dismantle Racism and Accelerate Change .” The Rev . Jeremy G . Rich , of Thomasville , was the banquet ’ s guest speaker .
The association members recognized the outgoing President Isabella Brooks and Treasurer Velma Thomas as the branch ’ s longest-serving members .
The officers are planning the branch ’ s 50th anniversary upcoming in April 2023 . Anyone interested in becoming a member should contact the branch via email : colquittcountynaacp @ yahoo . com .
“ We don ’ t endorse current candidates . We want equal rights for all citizens , and that ’ s what we work toward … making things the same for everybody .”
— Isabella Brooks , outgoing president
Isabella Brooks , longtime president of the Colquitt County Branch of the NAACP , served as grand marshal of the Moultrie MLK Day Parade Jan . 16 , 2023 . Brooks served as secretary from the branch ’ s founding in 1973 until 1990 , then she became president in 1999 . She relinquished that position this year to incoming President Patrick McCray . Photo by Kevin C . Hall
Attendees at the Colquitt County NAACP Branch ’ s annual banquet sang the Negro National Anthem , “ Lift Every Voice and Sing .”
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