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Tag: Ben Jealous

  • Ben Jealous Resigns as President of the NAACP

    Benjamin Todd Jealous announced on Sunday that he will be stepping down as president of the United States civil rights organization, the NAACP. He has given his resignation after serving as president of the organization for five years.

    “The NAACP has always been the largest civil rights organization in the streets, and today it is also the largest civil rights organization online, on mobile and at the ballot box too,” Jealous said in a statement. “I am proud to leave the Association financially sound, sustainable, focused, and more powerful than ever.”

    Jealous is the 17th president and CEO of the NAACP. He was appointed when he was 35-years-old in 2008. He is the youngest person to ever lead the organization, which is 104-years-old.

    Jealous and his wife, Lia, have two children, and 1-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. Everyone was curious as to why he would want to resign and if someone was pushing him to give his resignation. He answered during his announcement saying that he wanted to spend “a lot more time with my young family.” “My chair asked me when I called her, she said, ‘Well, is there someone who’s luring you away?’ “Jealous told CNN. “And I said, ‘Yes, there is. His name is Jack, and her name is Morgan.’”

    Roslyn M. Brock, the Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors, accepted his letter of resignation this week.

    “We thank President Jealous for his time leading the Association,” stated Brock. “Under his leadership, the NAACP has built a highly competent staff that will carry our mission forward and meet the civil rights challenges of the 21st century. Our board, staff and volunteer leaders throughout the country deeply appreciate his sacrifice, and will continue to implement our game-changing goals for the next half century that include the restoration of Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, implementing Trayvon’s Law, bolstering civic engagement efforts and ensuring our community is enrolled in the Affordable Care Act exchanges.”

    Image via Twitter

  • Ben Jealous Gives Notice At NAACP

    NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous gave notice to the organization’s Board of Directors on Sunday. Jealous, who has been with the organization for five years, will carry his current position through the end of 2013. He will formally announce the move to his staff Monday morning.

    Roslyn M. Brock, Board Chairman, thanked Jealous for his leadership, “We thank President Jealous for his time leading the Association… Under his leadership, the NAACP has built a highly competent staff that will carry our mission forward and meet the civil rights challenges of the 21st century. Our board, staff and volunteer leaders throughout the country deeply appreciate his sacrifice.”

    During Jealous’ tenure in the nation’s largest civil rights organization their numbers have grown exponentially. He is credited with stabilizing a financially troubled NAACP and modernizing the organization which was accused of being out of touch with current trends.

    Speaking on his success in the organization and future plans, Jealous said, “I am proud to leave the Association financially sound, sustainable, focused, and more powerful than ever. Beginning next year, I look forward to pursuing opportunities in academia to train the next generation of leaders and, of course, spending a lot more time with my young family.” He is currently looking into possible positions at academic institutions which are close to home.

    USA TODAY interviewed Jealous who expressed a desire to spend more time with his children and wife, Lia Epperson, a civil rights lawyer. Jealous, pictured above with one-year-old son Jack in July, cites a few instances that prompted the move. His daughter, Morgan, reminded him that she had a promise he would only do the job for five years. Then, two blocks from home and anticipating a non-travel week, he learned of the death of Trayvon Martin and found himself traveling regularly down to Florida over subsequent months.

    Brock was actually informed of the decision last Wednesday, “Truly we were surprised,” she revealed. “We’re disappointed that he’s leaving at this time,” she said the NAACP understands the decision but, “we were expecting him to be with us seven years,” based on a contract that had just started.

    [Image via Ben Jealous Facebook.]