The Amarillo Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People advocates on issues of inequity in the community, and provides education on issues such as women in the workforce, education, voting rights, and housing. Every year, they also provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to area students who are graduating from high school and continuing their education.
Most of these funds are traditionally raised at the annual Dr. R.W. Jones Freedom Fund Banquet. Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Amarillo Branch has not been able to host their annual fundraising banquet in the traditional manner. In order to continue their work and to give scholarships to deserving local students, members have had to be creative in their outreach and fundraising.
In 2021, Freedom Fund Chairperson, Jerri Glover; Branch President, Patrick Miller; and a committee of Branch Members came up with the idea to produce a show that could explain the mission, outreach and future of the Amarillo Branch to the Panhandle Community. The program showcases various members discussing why they joined the Amarillo Branch of the NAACP, why they continue to be members, and what they envision for the future of the Branch.
The show will air on Panhandle PBS at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 2, and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 6. It will also be available for streaming on various internet platforms beginning the first week of February 2022. The production is made possible thanks to the generosity of a number of sponsors which will also be acknowledged in the video.
