ALTON, Ill. – A philanthropic gift from Simmons Hanly Conroy has helped send 50 members and 11 chaperones from the Alton Branch NAACP Youth Council to the 117th NAACP National Convention, taking place July 17-23 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
“We are honored to help make this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible for members of the Alton Branch NAACP Youth Council,” said John Simmons, chairman and founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy. “The NAACP National Convention gives young people the chance to see leadership, advocacy, history, and opportunity come together on a national stage. This is an investment in the next generation of leaders in our community.”
The NAACP National Convention is especially meaningful for Illinois this year because the Illinois State Conference of the NAACP is hosting the national convention in Chicago for the first time in 34 years, making it a landmark event for local NAACP branches across the state, including the Alton Branch NAACP Youth Council.
The Alton Branch NAACP Youth Council continues to produce scholars who are pursuing higher education at institutions including the University of Illinois, Fisk University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and other colleges and universities across the country.
At the convention, Alton Youth Council members will participate in national youth leadership meetings, college and career development sessions, civic engagement workshops, advocacy training, and networking opportunities with leaders from across the country, including professionals in technology, engineering, culinary arts, business, and public service.
Youth delegates will have the opportunity to explore Chicago through educational and cultural experiences, including a visit to the Obama Presidential Center campus area, a Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Boat Tour, and Flyover Chicago at Navy Pier. They also will attend the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Youth Gala and the Spingarn Freedom Fund Awards Dinner, one of the NAACP’s signature events.
While youth delegates participate in leadership development, delegates from the Alton Branch Adult NAACP will take part in committee meetings, policy discussions, and resolutions sessions that help shape the NAACP’s national civil rights agenda, such as voting rights, education, criminal justice reform, economic opportunity, healthcare, and equal protection under the law.
Simmons Hanly Conroy has long made community support a priority in Alton, throughout Illinois, and across the communities where the firm has offices. Simmons Hanly Conroy has provided more than $21 million in donations supporting causes ranging from cancer research and asbestos and mesothelioma awareness to humanitarian organizations including the American Red Cross, United Way, and many other local and national nonprofits.
Through its support of the Alton Branch NAACP Youth Council, Simmons Hanly Conroy continues its commitment to investing in education, leadership, opportunity, and the communities the firm calls home.
