Littlejohn Junior NAACP Youth Council

CEDRIC L. MCGHEE, CHAIRMAN
ACT-SO's success is due largely to the dedication of the ACT-SO local sponsoring unit adult volunteers, mentors and coaches.

What Is ACT-SO?
ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The program relies on the dedication and commitment of community and business leaders who volunteer as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence. Through this collaborative effort, participating students develop the confidence and skills needed to excel in school and in life. What Are The Categories Of Competition?

ACT-SO currently includes 26 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, business, and performing and visual arts.

More than 260,000 young people have benefited from initiative’s development & inspiration since its inception.

Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO provides a forum through which African American youth demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise, often gaining recognition reserved for entertainers and athletes.

ACT-SO programs span most of a year beginning in the fall, followed by planning and coaching of participants through winter months, culminating in nearly 200 local competitions that run through April. The ACT-SO program is based on the dedication and commitment of more than 100 community volunteers and business leaders that serve as mentors and coaches.

In its 30-year history an estimated 261,000 young people have participated in ACT-SO events. More than 700 national gold medalists have come from 28 states. Over that time more than $354,000 in national competition prizes—bonds, monetary awards, laptop computers, scholarships--have been granted.

ACT-SO national winners receive financial awards from major corporations, college internships and apprenticeships. Corporate sponsors include: McDonald’s Corporation, the Maryland Institute College of Art, United Parcel Service, Ronald McDonald House Charities, State Farm, Sodexho, Wal-Mart, Northern Illinois University, Shell Oil, Coca Cola, the US Navy, Berkeley College of Music, The Walt Disney Company, Toyota Motor Sales, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Dow, Northrop Grumman, Kodak, Hyatt, Nestle, NASA and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

ACT-SO alumni occupy a wide array of careers including executive positions with corporations like Lockheed Martin and Citigroup—one even serves a vocal coach for FOX television’s “American Idol.” Famed ACT-SO alumni include musician Kanye West, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, filmmaker John Singleton and comedian Anthony Anderson.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

MEETINGS EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT VIA ZOOM AT 6:00 PM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE AT CALL CEDRIC AT (937) 414-2675 OR SYLVAN AT (937) 815-7339.

2024 LOCAL GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Sanaa Averette - Stivers School for the Arts (Poetry Performance)
Judah Lindsey - Stivers School for the Arts (Music Vocal Classical)
Ramah Lindsey - Stivers School for the Arts (Drawing)
Anaiyah Rogers - Stivers School for the Arts (Music Instrumental Classical & Music Vocal Contemporary)

2024 LOCAL SILVER MEDAL WINNER
Diamond Jones - Stivers School for the Arts (Music Vocal Classical)
Judah Lindsey - Stivers School for the Arts (Music Vocal Contemporary)
Ramah Lindsey - Stivers School for the Arts (Poetry Written)
Anaiyah Rogers - Stivers School for the Arts (Music Instrumental Contemporary)

2024 LOCAL BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS
Diamond Jones - Stivers School for the Arts (Music Vocal Contemporary)
Judah Lindsey - Stivers School for the Arts (Drawing)