LONG ISLAND, NY – On Thursday, October 9, the NAACP New York State Conference (NAACP-NYS)

kicked off its 89th Annual State Convention, Rooted to Rise: Building Power Across New York. The state’s

premiere Black policy convention is focused on the tools, bold strategies, and tactical training needed

for branches to enact change in their communities.

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The weekend started with a black policy roundtable discussion, featuring tens of electeds - including,

but not limited to: Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, Senator Monica Martinez, Senator Leroy Comrie,

Senator Byonoe, Suffolk County Legislator Minority Leader Richberg, Assemblymember Chuck Lavine,

Assemblymember Kwani O’Pharrow, and Assemblymember Noah Burroughs.

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NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams began her remarks by noting, “For too

long, when we’ve gathered as Black leaders, advocates, and legislators, the conversation has always

starts with deficiencies. What we lack. What’s been taken. What we must fight to keep. And while we

know those realities are true, they cannot be the limits of our political imagination. We have

unprecedented representation across this state - from city halls to the legislature, to county offices and

advocacy tables. That representation is not a trophy. It’s a tool. Because when Black people thrive, New

York thrives.”

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Williams was joined by:

● New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes

● Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA)

● Arva Rice, President & CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL)

● Lurie Daniel Favors, Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ)

● Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)

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The distinction between affordability and economic security was a key topic of the roundtable.

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“Affordability is setting the bar too low,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of

Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA). “When we say to our electeds, we just want affordability. We’re

selling ourselves short. We need economic security. Economic security is meeting your basic needs and

planning and saving for tomorrow. Planning for your retirement. Saving and planning for your children to

go to college or vocational school. Those who are thriving in America live with economic security. We

keep asking for just enough. And the system is set up so we keep asking for just enough.”

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The conversation shifted to power - and the ability to bring power back to black people.

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Arva Rice, President & CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL) noted that, “the bringing together of

leaders from different organizations is how we get and build our power. We are coming together to

agree on what the plan is and how we can lead together - united. The Urban League and the NAACP New

York State Conference can be conveners and thought leaders, driving policy and advocacy at all levels.”

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Education acted as a thruline to the conversation around power. Lurie Daniel Favors, Executive Director

at the Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) said that, “We currently approach education in a way

that requires you to codeswitch, giving you opportunities that others do not get. You were able to tap

into a skillset that opens up a pathway. When we talk about education, we have to ask ourselves: For

what purpose? To what end does black education need to serve? We have legislators who have decided

to take things away from our children - take food away from our children. We have to consider that we

look at this as a moment of opportunity to clear the path and make demands of the education system.”

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Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) said, “I was asked to offer a

truer vision of public safety, one that offers lesser reliance on the punitive systems that have been forced

upon our communities. I'd like to move from a concept of less punitive systems to more systems of

safety, because oftentimes when we talk to black people about criminal legal justice we talk about less -

when we need to be talking about more. It's about more of the things that we know can keep us safe.

Research proves that more programming and more connection leads to less disruption - and less

disruption means less harm. The mainstream only talks about justice and safety, which is focused around

technologies to surveil and profile black communities. My definition of safety is one that creates more

opportunities for connection in our communities.”

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New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes was asked about what it takes to win

- responding that, “it takes collaboration. If you’re not saying the same thing at the same time, no one is

listening. People have to continue to be in advocacy mode. You need to ensure that policies that you

pushed for continue to work for you. The most important and valuable thing that we can be doing in this

state is building economic security. Communities need to build in and invest in things that benefit our

children - like food and housing. There will never be justice in society for us until we demand it. It must be

done by us.”

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To start the question and answer portion of the roundtable, Executive Director Chris Alexander asked

those in attendance to orient their questions around an overarching theme of a singular investment for

this upcoming state budget. When originally asked, members responded that health, education, and

housing were their top priorities.

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Other topics raised were:

● Criminal justice

● Taxes

● Child well being

● Youth community centers

● Medicaid and Medicare cuts

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The topics raised at the roundtable conversation are going to have a direct impact on the NAACP New

York State Conference’s agenda for the upcoming 2026 legislative session.

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