Each the New York Amsterdam Information and the NAACP are sharing a big milestone: marking 115 years of existence. The newspaper is older by two months, having launched into its journey on December 4, 1909, with only a ten-dollar funding, six items of paper, and a single pencil. The NAACP was based on February 12 by a distinguished group of luminaries, together with W. E. B. Du Bois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey, and Ida B. Wells.
Vice Chair of the NAACP Nationwide Board of Administrators and Chairperson of the Picture Awards Committee of the 55rd NAACP Picture Awards, Karen Boykin-Cities has performed a pivotal position in shaping the celebrated awards program over the previous 5 years. This system is now in its fifty fifth 12 months. Final 12 months’s award present, hosted by Queen Latifah, noticed a exceptional 72% enhance in whole viewership, drawing shut to three million viewers. This surge propelled the award present to the primary spot in social primetime programming throughout all of cable, with over 10 million social interactions throughout platforms corresponding to Instagram, Fb, X, and YouTube.
Boykin-Cities additionally serves as founder and president/CEO of Encore Methods LLC, a boutique consultancy specializing in integrating enterprise and public affairs initiatives.
She is named a visionary and a strong driver, using her experience within the areas of coverage, advocacy, communications, and proactive change administration. A distinguished strategist, international enterprise, and civic chief, Boykin-Cities beforehand contributed her experience throughout authorities, the nonprofit sector, and with Pfizer, a Fortune 50 international biopharmaceutical firm, whereas additionally championing civil rights and social justice points.
At Pfizer, Boykin-Cities superior shortly into govt administration roles. She was recruited as a senior legislative analyst based mostly on her status for fulfillment in state authorities and held key management roles in public affairs, authorities relations, international coverage, and human assets. Based mostly on her optimistic influence driving change throughout the group, in 2008 she was chosen by Pfizer’s CEO to function its first chief variety officer. On this position, she efficiently developed an built-in, international technique leading to inner progress and exterior recognition of the corporate’s advances in variety and inclusion as a aggressive benefit. Boykin-Cities concluded her time at Pfizer as vice chairman of company affairs for his or her $34 billion Modern Medicines enterprise the place she served as a member of the Senior Management Committee which consisted of the highest 200 leaders within the international group.
A Diamond member with the NAACP, Karen additionally serves on the boards of a number of organizations together with American Airways Neighborhood Council; Visiting Nurse Companies; Brewster Academy; and as an unbiased director for iFIT, maker of NordicTrack.
Right here is Karen Boykin-Cities, vice chair of the NAACP Nationwide Board of Administrators and chairperson of the Picture Awards Committee for the fifty fifth NAACP Picture Awards, sharing insights on this 12 months’s prestigious occasion.
AMSTERDAM NEWS: Thanks for making time to speak. I can solely think about how busy you have to be with the preparations for the upcoming fifty fifth NAACP Picture Awards.
KAREN BOYKIN-TOWNS: Thanks. We [NAACP], Derrick Johnson, NAACP’s CEO, and Leon W. Russell, Board of Administrators, chair NAACP, and I don’t take calmly the curiosity and the time folks put money into reaching out to us. It’s essential that we make ourselves obtainable as a result of it serves as an entryway for folks to study in regards to the necessary work we’re doing throughout the nation.
AMN: It seems that for folks of coloration, the “battle” is ongoing.
KBT: In 2024, we’re confronted with quite a few urgent points, as my mother used to say, ‘greater than you possibly can shake a stick at.’ Civic engagement and defending our democracy are paramount. We’re centered on serving to our group perceive the facility and significance of their vote and why it’s essential to be engaged. We’re planning to run a $30 million marketing campaign to offer funds on the bottom, notably to assist Black media, to unfold consciousness and guarantee folks perceive that our lives rely on this.
AMN: Completely, our lives are deeply intertwined with it. With organizations boasting 115 years of existence, they inherently carry a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise. Partaking the youth turns into paramount in driving ahead optimistic change. However do as we speak’s children even have an consciousness of the NAACP?
KBT: We perceive the notion, nevertheless it’s necessary to focus on the numerous efforts we’ve made to interact and empower youth of coloration inside our group. We at the moment have seven members underneath the age of 25 serving on our nationwide board of administrators, demonstrating our dedication to together with youth voices in decision-making processes. Moreover, we have now a devoted Nationwide Youth Work Committee and a division centered on collaborating with younger folks to deal with their wants and considerations. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of younger activists, we current annual awards such because the Activist of the Yr and Youth Activist of the Yr, underscoring our dedication to amplifying and validating the work of youth leaders inside our group.
AMN: Completely, the NAACP Picture Awards function a superb platform to bridge generational gaps and talk successfully with all age teams, to place it plainly.
KBT: In my position as chair of the Picture Awards Committee, I need to emphasize that whereas this is only one facet of my broader management duties inside the affiliation, throughout this time of 12 months, my focus is unparalleled. From late into the night time to early mornings, I immerse myself in reviewing varied coverages and interesting on social media. It’s really invigorating. What resonates overwhelmingly is the sheer abundance of expertise throughout all classes.
AMN: I’m not in search of to ignore Guild nominations, however upon nearer examination, it’s obvious that our group is inadequately represented of their lists of nominees. One may contend that, with out deeper understanding (and we actually have that understanding), folks of coloration are usually not contributing to the inventive group, which couldn’t be farther from actuality. Permit me to place it plainly: we’re tradition.
KBT: What units the Picture Awards aside is our dedication to recognizing our personal, and we really cherish and have fun it. Whereas receiving recognition from esteemed establishments just like the Academy or the Golden Globes is important, what resonates deeply, as reiterated by the expertise themselves, is the acknowledgment and appreciation from inside our personal group for his or her work.
AMN: This brings us to essentially the most essential motive for this dialog, which is to inform the group the place they will vote.
KBT: By visiting www.naacpimageawards.internet, the general public can vote to find out the winners of the “fifty fifth NAACP Picture Awards’’ in choose classes.
AMN: When does voting shut?
KBT: Voting closes February 24 at 9:00 p.m, and winners will probably be revealed in the course of the “fifty fifth NAACP Picture Awards’’ telecast on March 16, 2024, on BET and CBS.
AMN: What in regards to the non-televised Picture Awards classes?
KBT: NAACP will acknowledge winners in non–televised Picture Awards classes March 11–14th, which can stream by way of naacpimageawards.internet.
For data and updates, please comply with NAACP Picture Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
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