Battle Creek Branch of the NAACP

November 1, 2008,  

Dear NAACP Family:

I am writing to ask for your support as I seek election to the NAACP National Board of Directors. I am honored to have been nominated by our 2008 National Nominating Committee.

A Golden Heritage Life Member, I have worked in various capacities at the state, local and national levels for over twenty-five years.   On September 9, 2001, I became the first woman elected President of the Michigan State Conference NAACP in its sixty-five year history and I still hold that office today.

The Michigan State Conference has gained recognition as one of Michigan’s leading organizations.  Just recently, the State Conference joined a lawsuit against Michigan’s Secretary of State to challenge the purging of voter records which was found to be illegal by the U.S. Eastern District Court.  We have worked hard to re-establish our Youth and College Division in Michigan which in 2004 received National honors as the number one youth unit in the country. 

During the 2007 NAACP National Convention in Detroit, the Michigan State Conference received the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Award for Legal Activism and the W. Montague Cobb Health Award.  In addition, we also received the Benjamin L. Hooks “Keeper of the Flame” Award presented by the NAACP Labor Committee.  In 2006, we were also blessed to receive the Region III Benjamin L. Hooks State Conference President of the Year Award for loyal, dedicated, sacrificial and courageous service to the cause of freedom. 

For the past twenty-one years, I have been employed by the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources in Detroit, Michigan, a leader in developing education, training, personal development and work/family programs to assist UAW-represented General Motors employees in meeting the challenges of the fast changing, worldwide automotive industry, where I manage the Educational Benefit programs for over 200,000 employees across the country with an annual budget of more than $30 million dollars.

I am a strong advocate of civil and human rights, democracy, and freedom and justice for all people.  I believe that I have the skills, commitment and dedication necessary to move the NAACP into the next 100 years and to grow and enhance our Association’s performances: positive leadership, communication, reliability, visionary outlook, persistence, team building, creativity, consistency, confidence, problem solving and passion.  My strongest desire is to work with the Committee on Units, the Youth & College Division and the Membership Committee to help improve communications to the units and provide better access to information, training, materials and funding.

In December, when you cast your ballots, please select Yvonne M. White as your choice for the NAACP National Board of Directors at-large member.  I am available to answer any questions you may have, please contact me at (313) 520-6144 or yvonne.white@uaw-gm.org.  Thank you in advance for your continuous support and prayers. 

Peace and Power!

Yvonne M. White

At-Large Candidate, NAACP National Board of Directors