HICKORY - The Hickory Branch NAACP is proud to host the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity March and Dream Fest Celebration of 2025. As the world is shifting and changing, so are the activities of the civil rights organization. Dr. King's dream was for all people in all generations and he especially encouraged young people to take action to make a better world where people are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Youth leaders of the Hickory Branch NAACP have been working for months to empower the students of Hickory High School and Hickory Career and Arts Magnet (HCAM) School in their NAACP Youth Councils to be participants in the change and not simply beneficiaries of it. Together they created an MLK Day Celebration called "Dream Fest" led by Hickory Branch NAACP youth leaders Katia Carson, Antionne Mayhew and Asha Hashim.
"We have an amazing team of young people who believe in Dr. King's dream and want to help make it come true" said Carson.
The public is invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday January 20, 2025 beginning at Lenoir Rhyne University in their third annual MLK Prayer Breakfast from 7:00am - 8:30am in the Cromer Center followed by a convocation in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium from 8:30am-10:30am.
Following those activities, the Hickory Branch NAACP Youth will help participants gather outside Shuford Arena from 10:30am-11:00am for a Unity March from LRU through Hickory along the City Walk and Historic Ridgeview Walk routes to the Ridgeview Recreation Center at 115 7th Ave SW in Hickory. At the end of the Unity March, a "Dream Fest" program will be offered from 12:00pm - 3:00pm where participants will enjoy songs, games, short presentations, food and more.
A resource fair featuring CVCC, Hickory City Schools and NC Works will be on hand with good information while fun interactive games will be led by the Hickory Branch NAACP Youth Council and other Hickory Branch NAACP members. This will be a family friendly event. The public is encouraged to join them in celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and be part of realizing his dream in the Hickory community.
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Hickory Branch NAACP Youth Leaders are seen left to right Katia Carson, Ant
Bishop William J. Barber II and the Poor People's Campaign on The Mass Poor People's and Low Wage Workers' Moral March in NC
Bishop William J Barber II and the Poor People's Campaign will be in Hickory on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 4:00 pm at Exodus Missionary Outreach United Church of Christ to mobilize the community and share plans for the Mass Poor People's and Low Wage Workers' Moral March on Raleigh that will take place on March 2, 2024, in conjunction with many other states around the
Please help us spread the word about this important press conference and what we hope to accomplish in the Moral March. Plans for buses to and from the march for this community are being made now. Please join us.
Click here to see the promo video!!!
Click here to visit the website and learn more about the Poor People's Campaign!!!
Based on the findings from the Racial Disparities Report, City Manager Warren Wood presented the City’s ten initial strategies to address racial disparities in upward economic mobility. These strategies focus on workforce development and addressing the needs of the underserved.
Click here for a detailed presentation outlining these strategies.
On February 23 a special Racial Disparities Workshop was held where presentations covered the role of K-64, available community resources at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) and the Workforce Solutions Complex, and services provided by the WPCOG Workforce Development Board and NCWorks Career Centers.
Click here to see presentation highlights and watch a recording of the workshop.
The report from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments examines Hickory race and ethnic group data in a variety of demographic, economic, and education categories. The study revealed distinct disparities among different racial/ethnic groups in the areas
of income, education, healthcare, housing, and employment.
Click here to read the full report, presentation highlights, and watch the Hickory City Council meeting.
The Hickory Branch NAACP Equity and Inclusion Task Force has launched five committees to address educational disparities and improve educational outcomes for students in the city of Hickory.
Committees include: (1) Tutoring, (2) Mentoring, (3) Pre-K/Early Childhood Learning, (4) Establishing a Family Resource Center and (5) Grant Writing and Fundraising
Contact the NAACP at hickorynaacp@gmail.com or 828-322-6663 if you would like to join or support these committees. Stay tuned for more info!
The Hickory Branch NAACP Equity and Inclusion Task Force has launched five committees to address educational disparities and improve educational outcomes for students in the city of Hickory.
Committees include: (1) Tutoring, (2) Mentoring, (3) Pre-K/Early Childhood Learning, (4) Establishing a Family Resource Center and (5) Grant Writing and Fundraising
Contact the NAACP at hickorynaacp@gmail.com or 828-322-6663 if you would like to join or support these committees. Stay tuned for more info!
Based on the findings from the Racial Disparities Report, City Manager Warren Wood presented the City’s ten initial strategies to address racial disparities in upward economic mobility. These strategies focus on workforce development and addressing the needs of the underserved.
Click here for a detailed presentation outlining these strategies.
On February 23 a special Racial Disparities Workshop was held where presentations covered the role of K-64, available community resources at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) and the Workforce Solutions Complex, and services provided by the WPCOG Workforce Development Board and NCWorks Career Centers.
Click here to see presentation highlights and watch a recording of the workshop.
The report from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments examines Hickory race and ethnic group data in a variety of demographic, economic, and education categories. The study revealed distinct disparities among different racial/ethnic groups in the areas
of income, education, healthcare, housing, and employment.
Click here to read the full report, presentation highlights, and watch the Hickory City Council meeting.