Cena del Fondo de la Libertad Thank you to all those who participated and helped in making this another successful event! -Wooster/Orrville NAACP Photos Coming Soon! Cena del Fondo de la Libertad photos by Gary Friend 1/3 Mayor's Proclamation Mayor Bob Reynolds 2025 Scholarship Winners Kahlia Steele Aiiya Tuggle Charles Follis recipient Teyacapan Perez 2025 Patrons David Todoro Jeffrey Musselman Melanie Garcia Maribelle Bed & Breakfast Pam Frese Rev. Walter Clark 2025 Benefactors Andrew Noble Barb & Scott Friedhoff Barry Romich Foundation Cheryl A. Goff Grande Jewelers College of Wooster Noble Foundation Seaman Corporation Trinity Church Auction Donators A Time to Craft Applebees Artfind Tile Bay Lobsters Cafe & Fish Market Black Squirrel Inn Boo Bears Books in Stocks The Boutique Shop Broken Rocks Casey Hoy Cheryl A. Goff Classic Vacuum Compumixx om-patt-ibles Cutters Hair Studio & Spa Dee Black Fleet Feet Flex Yoga Gift Corner The Greenhouse Shoppe Hilton Garden Inn Holiday Inn Express Jamin Hostetler Juli Douglass-Gillespie Local Roots LongHorn Steakhouse The Lyric Mady Noble Mariola Mrs. J's Restaurant Niquaraguan Cultural Alliance Olive Lane Pallota Ford Planet Fitness Pulp Ray Crow Cleaners Scott Gregory Stairs Steps to Wellness Tom Montielone Uptown Downtown Wayne County Public Library Wooster Pools & Spas Cena del Fondo de la Libertad Freedom Fund 2024 Gallery The proceeds from the Freedom Fund dinner and online auction will contribute to funding college scholarships for local students of color. To date, we have awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to deserving students, thanks to the generosity of individuals like you and local businesses who share our vision of equality and a robust democracy for all.

Branch Elections Monday, November 9th Election Procedure Meeting Information Unit 3208 Executive Team meets the First Monday of every month; the General Assembly meeting is the Second Monday of the month. Meetings are held at Community Action Wayne/Medina. 905 Pittsburgh Ave Next Executive Meeting: October 12 th at 4 pm Next General Assembly Meeting: October 12th at 5 pm Wooster/Orrville Youth Council: Bienvenido a #3208NAACP Somos el capítulo NAACP de Wooster/Orrville (#3208). Nuestro objetivo es garantizar la igualdad de derechos políticos, educativos, sociales y económicos de todas las personas y eliminar la discriminación basada en la raza. Estamos dedicados a proporcionar recursos y apoyo a la comunidad para crear una sociedad más justa y equitativa para todos. Nuestro equipo está compuesto por voluntarios dedicados que trabajan incansablemente para promover los derechos civiles y la justicia social. Lo invitamos a conocer más sobre nuestra misión y cómo puede involucrarse en nuestros esfuerzos para generar un impacto positivo en nuestra comunidad. Become a Member Buscar Make a Donation Community Events Job Opportunities Click the link Above Wooster Advocacy Group October 10 & 24

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Comité de membresía mi Presidente: Lawrence Walker Afiliación Únase a esta red multigeneracional de actividades que luchan por la justicia social, desmantelando el racismo estructural y promoviendo la equidad racial. Para más información contacte Lorenzo Walker: walkie32@aol.com Conviértete en miembro Renovar membresia Membresía de Evento de membresía 2024 Silver Life Members

The 1970s: Affirmative Action in Wooster/Orville Written by Mukta Pillai. Edited by Jordan Biro Walters, PhD and Elora Agsten, MSLIS. National initiatives in the NAACP In the 1970s, the national NAACP found itself navigating a changing political landscape shaped by debates over an array of social issues. These issues included the military, prisons, affirmative action and equal access to education. National leaders called for investigations into racial discrimination in the military and supported prison programs that provided educational resources and legal advocacy for incarcerated individuals. Education remained central to many of the organization's initiatives during the decade. In 1977, the NAACP launched the ACT-SO competition, a nationwide initiative designed to recognize and encourage Black high school students in various academic fields. Educational accessibility came to the forefront during the 1978 University of California v. Bakke decision, where the University of California’s acceptance policies were challenged in court. The Supreme Court ruled that racial quotas in university admissions violated the Constitution, while affirming that race could remain one factor among many in admissions decisions. For the NAACP, the case became a pivotal moment in the struggle over affirmative action. Advocating for programs designed to address generations of discrimination remained essential to achieving educational equality. The national debate also extended beyond college admissions, bringing renewed attention to affirmative action in hiring and promotion as employers across the country faced increasing scrutiny over equal employment opportunities. Those conversations shaped civil rights activism in communities like Wooster, where access to jobs and professional advancement became central concerns for the local NAACP chapter. The Wooster/Orville NAACP sponsored multiple workshops discussing affirmative action and employment for the general public, which wasn't always well-received. Oral History Moment Dr. Yvonne Williams describes the founding the Black Studies program (later Africana Studies) at the College of Wooster (50:50- 58:18). “We had some great supporters, I'm happy to say. But there were others, who would have nothing to do with it [Black Studies program].” Yvonne Williams, Oral History Economic expansion within Wooster At the local level, the Wooster/Orrville NAACP shaped its activism around similar questions of accessibility. Under the leadership of chapter president James Harris the organization consistently emphasized the importance of expanding professional and business opportunities for Black residents. By the late 1970s, the chapter's activism increasingly focused on holding local institutions accountable. Courtesy of WDHP. Rubbermaid, one of the major employers in Wooster, had its headquarters in the city until 1998. Rubbermaid left the building in 2003, officially departing Wooster. In 1978, the Wooster/Orrville NAACP asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Rubbermaid Inc. of Wooster and their employment practices. The NAACP chapter charged the company with a violation Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Specifically, it charged that Rubbermaid had violated the act in regards to hiring, discharge, benefits, and wages. Rubbermaid released a statement expressing their confusion as the president of the Wooster-Orrville of the NAACP was an employee at the location accused of discrimination. The Equal Opportunity Commission was also involved with the investigation of the company. As one of Wooster’s largest employers and a major presence in the local economy, Rubbermaid held considerable influence within the community. Employment practices also came under scrutiny at the College of Wooster. In 1978, former history professor Juanita Browne filed a lawsuit alleging discriminatory hiring practices after her dismissal from the College. Juanita Browne appealed that the College's refusal to renewal was due to racial and gender discrimation. Although the court ultimately ruled in the College's favor, Browne's case drew attention to questions of racial equity in faculty hiring and became part of a broader local conversation about equal employment opportunities. Coverage in the student newspaper, The Wooster Voice , reflected the visibility of the case on campus and within the wider community. As the NAACP and other civil rights groups pushed for equal opportunity in hiring, there was also pushback, as shown in these images from the Wooster Voice. The fight for Civil Rights Recognition: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Petitioning for MLK Day Among other initiatives, the Wooster/Orrville NAACP supported nationwide efforts to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday. Across the United States, Black activists and civil rights organizations encouraged schools, workplaces, and local governments to publicly recognize King's legacy through an annual holiday. In Wooster, James Harris, Lydia Thompson, and other NAACP members, advocated for the recognition of King's accomplishments, presenting the proposed holiday as part of a broader commitment to civic responsibility. During the same period, community council meetings also became an important forum for discussing local educational issues. Advocates raised concerns about the treatment of minority students, the hiring of Black educators, and the visibility of Black history and achievement within public education. With this, the Wooster/Orrville NAACP's work extended beyond commemorative initiatives to address ongoing inequalities within local schools. Students gather, protesting discrimination on campus and within the community. Wooster Voice reports on programs celebrating African American history and the Black experience. Oral History Moment James Harris recounts the NCAAP's petitions to make MLK day a national holiday. (45:11- 50:16). "We went to Cincinnati, one million votes we had to get across the state of Ohio. We marched from Cincinnati to Columbus, and from Columbus to Cleveland." James Harris, Oral History Reflecting on the 70s As the decade came to a close, the work of the Wooster/Orrville NAACP reflected a larger story unfolding across the United States. Community members, local leaders, educators, and students all contributed to the chapter's efforts, demonstrating that the pursuit of civil rights extended far beyond landmark court decisions or national legislation. College of Wooster students stand together during a protest. In Wayne County, progress grew through the persistence of individuals willing to question established institutions, organize their neighbors, and insist that equal opportunity remain a community responsibility. Their work carried the chapter into the next decade, laying the foundation for continued activism in Wooster and beyond. Sources and Further Reading Primary Sources “Affirmative Action is a Workshop Topic”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), December 6, 1978 “African-American Activism at the College of Wooster · Wooster Digital History Project.” Accessed June 29, 2026. https://woosterhistory.org/exhibits/show/blackcampusactivism. Bee Collins, “Resolution Urges Dedication To Equal Opportunity In City”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), January 17, 1978 Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1975-01-31" (1975). The Voice: 1971-1980. 108. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1971-1980/108 Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1978-10-20" (1978). The Voice: 1971-1980. 205. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1971-1980/205 “Eight Decades of Rubbermaid in Wooster · Wooster Digital History Project.” Accessed June 29, 2026. https://woosterhistory.org/exhibits/show/rubbermaid. “Housing To Be Meeting Topic For Interfaith”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), January 29, 1971 Index Editors, "Index 1972" (1972). 1971-2017. 2. https://openworks.wooster.edu/index1970-2017/2 Index Editors, "Index 1976" (1976). 1971-2017. 6. https://openworks.wooster.edu/index1970-2017/6 “Insist on King Day”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), February 21, 1978 “Interfaith Commission Plans Meeting Dinner Meeting on Welfare”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), April 7, 1970 Judi Miller, “Blacks Don’t Want Handouts”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), May 26, 1979 “Rubbermaid is Accused of Employment Violation”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), April 19, 1978 “Sylvia Lockett Speaks About Minority Students”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), November 15, 1978 Harris, James. James Harris Oral History Interview on Wooster History. Interview by Greg Shaya, Mady Noble, and Beatrice Adams. The Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2022. Thompson, Lydia. Lydia Thompson Oral History Interview on Wooster History. Interview by Greg Shaya and Lawrence Walker. The Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2022. Walker, Lawrence. Lawrence Walker Oral History Interview on Wooster History. Interview by Greg Shaya, Mady Noble, Delani Patterson, and Bryce Thompson. The Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2023. Williams, Yvonne. Yvonne Williams Oral History Interview on Wooster History. Interview by Greg Shaya, Mady Noble, and Aaron Huq. The Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2022. Secondary Sources Fuller, Sara S. The Ohio Black History Guide. Archives-Library Division Ohio Historical Society, 1975. Giffin, W. W. (2005). African Americans and the color line in Ohio, 1915-1930. Ohio State University Press. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0514/2005015260.html Koehler, John C. “Black Leadership Matters: An Organizational and Political Comparison of Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement.” Sociological Focus 57, no. 4 (2024): 601–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380237.2024.2386257 . McIlwain, Nadine, and Geraldine Radcliffe. African Americans of Canton, Ohio: Treasures of Black History. Arcadia Publishing, 2019. Williamson, Terrion L. Black in the Middle: An Anthology of the Black Midwest. Cleveland, Ohio Best Publishing, 2020. Exhibit Home Next Decade

Conclusion Written by Mukta Pillai and Abby Frock. Edited by Jordan Biro Walters, PhD and Elora Agsten, MSLIS. The Wooster/Orville NAACP's history reveals the connection between national movements and community activism. Across generations, community members advocated and educated each other about issues of inequality in pursuit of a more just society. Long before the establishment of a local NAACP chapter, Black residents in Wooster organized through institutions such as Second Baptist Church, where community members challenged housing discrimination and worked toward greater social and economic opportunities. Today, the Wooster/Orrville NAACP remains active in Wayne County, continuing a tradition of community engagement, advocacy, and education that stretches back more than half a century. The organization holds annual celebrations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Freedom Fund Banquet , and Juneteenth. The NAACP has urged Wooster schools to hire more diverse educators and update their curriculum to be more inclusive. The annual Juneteenth celebration, often in conjunction with Art of Inclusion, serves as an occasion to highlight the accomplishments of African Americans in Wooster and beyond. The celebration challenges Wayne County residents to address social and racial justice issues within their own community while celebrating liberation. Starting in 2020, the Wooster/Orville NAACP, along with other local organizations, participated in the 1000-day Black Lives Matter rally . Public demonstrations in support of Black Lives Matter also drew counterprotests critiquing the NAACP's activism. Critiques came from a desire to see the national NAACP engage in more radical action, reflecting a broken line of communication between the organization and members of the community. Intergenerational activism is not easy. Organizations can unwittingly isolate community members and communication can be difficult across demographics, even if everyone is fighting for the same cause. The national NAACP has historically functioned as a formal political institution. Formal political actions provide legal protection but can leave out the voices of marginalized communities and individuals. For the Wooster/Orrville NAACP, contemporary activism means moving beyond politics. NAACP member Allison Allison’s Art of Inclusion is making art as activism a reality in Wooster. The future of the Wooster/Orrville NAACP is tied to communication, organizing, and working to shift public culture. Art is one form of activism that allows legacy organizations to bridge generational and institutional gaps. The legacy of the Wooster/Orrville NAACP reflects the enduring power of local activism and civic participation in shaping the future. For Wooster and Orrville, legacy means using art, social media, and technology to drive change and reach young community members to keep the organization thriving, growing, and relevant far into the future. Downtown Wooster c. 2017. Image Courtesy Wikimedia Commons. Photo from NAACP 2024 Juneteenth Celebration in Downtown Wooster. Image courtesy of Wooster/Orrville NAACP Juneteenth Gallery. Sometimes community members and organizations can be at odds even if they are fighting for the same cause. Here, a Wooster resident counter-protests an ongoing NAACP march in 2020. Image courtesy of Allison Allison. Oral History Moment (Coming Soon) Allison Allison shares her experiences living in Wooster and her involvement with the NAACP and other organizations in the community. Allison Allison stands in front of her mural at Wooster's Community Action center. Image from Ideastream Public Media, by Ryan Loew. "It can't just be for the young, it can't just be for the old, it needs to be a mesh [the work of the NAACP] " Allison Allison, Oral History (37:45). Exhibit Home

Comité de reparación legal Presidenta: Juanita Greene Lorenzo Walker Reparación legal Addresses racial injustice by investigating complaints of discrimination, ensuring access to legal resources, and advocating for the protection of civil rights for all individuals. Formulario de queja

1990s: National Conflict within NAACP Overshadows Local Progress National Conflicts Written by Celeste Probart. Edited by Jordan Biro Walters, PhD and Elora Agsten, MSLIS. Nationally, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, the chairperson of the NAACP, was replaced by Reverend Benjamin Chavis Jr. in 1992. Less than a year and a half later, Chavis was asked to step down due to sexual misconduct and improper spending of NAACP funds. Upper members of the NAACP, including Chavis, were accused of allowing gender-based discrimination to occur. In a replacement vote, Myrlie Evers-Williams would narrowly win the vote 30-29 against William Gibson. The NAACP issued two statements denying the sexual misconduct and gender discrimination. Evers-Williams win helped to soften the masculine image of the NAACP. In civil rights activism, Black women’s work often goes under recognized including in the NAACP, since few women held leadership roles. Myrile Evers-Williams speaking at the College of Wooster in 1996 -> Local Progress The NAACP also had financial troubles. The organization obtained approximately $4.7 million in debt from Chavis, although lower numbers have been reported, between $4.5-3 million. Despite these financial challenges, they would recover quickly. This was done by asking local branches, like Wooster/Orrville, to contribute $1,000 each and furloughing 88 employees for two weeks. In 1996, Chairperson Evers-Williams would visit Wooster and speak at the College. Myrile Evers-Williams speaking, exact date unknown but likely at the swearing in of Kweisi Mfume as the president of NAACP in 1996. Local Progress Wooster, on the other hand, had a seamless turnover in leadership. Lawerence Walker was elected president in 1991, replacing Ron Hill. His closeness with his mother, Mary Walker, led him to pursue activism within the community. When he was in junior high, she ran for city council. However, Mary’s name was left off the ballot and had to be written in, a major factor in her loss. Walker remembers this being a turning point in his life, propelling him into activism. Following his mother’s footsteps, he served on the fair housing board for many years. With his service, the housing board saw a marked improvement. When Walker stepped into the role, he handled multiple cases a week. In recent years, the case load has almost completely disappeared. A Second Baptist Church document shows Lawrence Walker's family tree. Congregation of Second Baptist Church when Lawrence Walker was a member. Primarily, Walker's NAACP presidency focused on equal employment opportunities and housing on a local level. Growing up in Wooster, Walker was familiar with complaints in these two areas. In his oral history, he speaks about the difficulty of intervening in workplace discrimination. S trides made against redlining and workplace discrimination were able to be taken because of previous work of the national chapter of the NAACP and other civil rights groups. The national NAACP was consumed with rebuilding it's financial difficulties leaving the local chapter unable to turn to it for help. What is redlining? Redlining map of Milwaukee. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.) Lawrence Walker's oral history "I was proud of what we did as an organization" -Lawrence Walker (36:31) Lawrence Walker speaks on his life growing up in Wooster and experience as the president of NAACP. Oral History Moment Walker discusses his role in the NAACP from 33:05-35:35 Reflection on the 1990s Throughout the 1990s, the local NAACP worked primarily against redlining and employment difficulties. Through various efforts, the fair housing board would eventually decrease the number of housing discrimination cases. On a national level, there was conflict within the organization from poor spending and gender based issues. These issues would get resolved within the decade and a new president, Kweisi Mfume, revitalize the image of the NAACP. Back to top Conclusion Sources and Further Reading Primary Sources Claremont.edu. “Myrlie Evers-Williams Speaking at NAACP Meeting with Kweisi Mfume in Attendance,” 2023. https://ccdl.claremont.edu/digital/collection/mew/id/69/rec/5 . Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1995-11-17" (1995). The Voice: 1991-2000. 129. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1991-2000/129 Emerge (Rosslyn, United States). “Triumphant Flight: Myrlie Evers-Williams Overcame Doubters, Insults and Slights at the NAACP.” March 1999. Marable, Manning. “The Black Radical Congress: Revitalizing the Black Freedom Movement.” The Black Scholar 28, no. 1 (1998): 54–70. https://doi.org/10.2307/41068775 . National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Cofc.edu. “NAACP Media Alert, Official Statement of Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. - LCDL Catalog Search,” 2016. https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/catalog/lcdl:110239. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Cofc.edu. “NAACP Media Alert, Official Statement of Dr. William F. Gibson - LCDL Catalog Search,” 2016. https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/catalog/lcdl:110240. Page, Clarence. “IMAGE AWARD? THE BATTLE’S NOT OVER FOR NAACP: [NORTH SPORTS FINAL Edition].” PERSPECTIVE. Chicago Tribune (Pre-1997 Fulltext) (Chicago, Ill., United States), February 22, 1995. Pittsburgh Post - Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pa., United States). “Chavis’ Chapter: [SOONER Edition].” EDITORIAL. August 24, 1994. Sevilla, Graciela, and Guy Gugliotta. “NAACP Sets Fund-Raising Drive to Retire Debt; Goal Is $3.8 Million by Year’s End; Union Files Grievance on Behalf of Furloughed Staff: [FINAL Edition].” A SECTION. The Washington Post (Pre-1997 Fulltext) (Washington, D.C., United States), November 3, 1994. Walker, Lawrence . Lawrence Walker Oral History Interview - On the History of Wooster, Ohio - June 21, 2023. Interview by Delani Patterson, Bryce Thompson, and Mady Noble, June 21, 2023. Secondary Sources Purnell, Brian, Jeanne Theoharis, and Komozi Woodard. The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North : Segregation and Struggle outside of the South. New York: New York University Press, 2019. Exhibit Home

The 1960s for the NAACP & Wooster and Orrville Written by Abby Frock. Edited by Jordan Biro Walters, PhD and Elora Agsten, MSLIS. The NAACP Expands Nationally In the 1960s, the national NAACP expanded across the U.S. with over 1,000 branches, largely thanks to the support of grassroots organizations. Scholars understand the NAACP’s expansion to grassroots associations to be key to the success of the civil rights organization nationwide. The NAACP thrived thanks to the effort of countless individuals in creating a communication and support network for civil rights activists. Local branches provided communities with a structure from which they could challenge local racial injustices and discrimination. Grassroots organizations had intimate understandings about the intricate needs of local communities that an overarching organization would have struggled to develop. Across Ohio, NAACP branches often confronted housing, voting, and employment discrimination. An early photo of the NAACP headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons). Activism in 1960s Wooster Prior to the NAACP Reverend Leroy Adams and Family (Image courtesy of Wooster Digital History Project). Before the NAACP, Black activism in Wooster was rooted in Second Baptist Church , Wooster’s first historically Black church. By the 1960s, Reverend Leroy Adams worked towards social justice as the church’s community fought against housing discrimination in Wooster. Black residents faced rampant housing discrimination and red lining, which banks and realtors utilized to prevent minority neighborhoods from receiving bank loans for housing in a majority white town. Second Baptist Church acted as a site of activism that paved the way for the development and success of a community-wide NAACP branch. Oral History Moment Dr. Yvonne Williams recounts the neighborhood backlash she and her husband Dr. Ted Williams faced upon their move to Wooster in 1961 (17:15-22:45). “When their neighbors found out [ we were Black] they not only protested, they demonstrated in the street in front of [our friends’] home against our moving in. It was Mother’s Day 1961. I’ll never forget it.” Yvonne Williams, Oral History The College of Wooster's First NAACP Branch Left: Mark Denbeaux at the 1965 Selma March (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons). Right: James Harris studies for a history exam at the College of Wooster, 1965 (Image courtesy of The Wooster Voice, 1965). Just as Second Baptist Church was an early place of activism, the College of Wooster campus soon became another site of advocacy for racial justice. Wooster student Mark Denbeaux (Class of 1965) attended the 1963 March on Washington, where he was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to take action of his own . Denbeaux founded the College of Wooster’s first NAACP branch in November of 1963. James Harris, then a groundskeeper and part-time student at the College, was one of the first members to join the college branch. Denbeaux was elected president, Bob Tiews vice-president, Persis Rogers secretary, and Jan Meyers treasurer. James Harris later founded the Wooster/Orrville NAACP branch in 1965 following Mark Denbeaux’s graduation and the subsequent closing of the College’s branch. Community Engagement The College of Wooster NAACP worked from its inception to integrate itself within the campus and Wooster and Orrville communities. College students collaborated with the community to increase civic participation among both Black and white residents. Undergraduate members of the NAACP volunteered to babysit community members’ children on election nights to alleviate barriers that prevented working parents from being able to vote and participate in other civic duties. The NAACP, along with community members and College of Wooster students, participated in the 1964 Freedom Summer , highlighting their commitment to voter registration and voting rights. College members of the NAACP also tutored Wooster and Orrville High School students, demonstrating their commitment to education in the greater community. A 1964 news clipping from The Wooster Voice describing upcoming activities for the College of Wooster NAACP. Campus Resistance One example of resistance appeared in a letter to the editor published in The Wooster Voice , the College of Wooster's student newspaper. In the letter, a student pointed to the apparent "absence of the sociological phenomena called racial segregation" on a campus that many viewed as relatively liberal and welcoming. The student also questioned whether the campus NAACP chapter could effectively promote change given its small membership and the temporary nature of student involvement. Additionally, there were very few Black students on campus, raising broader questions about inclusion and representation beyond the absence of formal segregation. This episode of student resistance forms one part of a larger story about race relations at the College of Wooster. It also highlights the challenges of generational change. The College of Wooster campus hosted just 12 Black students when Mark Denbeaux started the College NAACP branch. This Wooster Voice article is the 1963 letter to the editor that questions the validity of an NAACP chapter on campus. Going Community-Wide: The Shift to the Wooster/Orrville NAACP in 1965 When the College chapter closed in 1965 following Mark Denbeaux’s graduation, James Harris took the initiative to start a Wooster/Orrville branch of the NAACP that is still going strong today. The Wooster/Orrville NAACP continued to focus on social and economic justice issues within Wayne County. Lydia Thompson, Dr. Yvonne Williams, and Betty Whitmore were early and integral members of the town branch under James Harris’s leadership as president. With the founding of the local chapter, the Wooster/Orrville NAACP sought to build social justice locally. The group focused on advocating for fair housing for African American residents and raising scholarship funds for Black students on the College of Wooster campus. The NAACP also informed Wooster residents about national ongoings, activism, and civil rights issues through local protests, keynote speakers, and membership drives. Oral History Moment James Hariss discusses his involvement in the College branch of the NAACP and his founding of the Wooster/Orrville branch (31:25 – 34:00). "I don't think it's [the fight for civil rights] ever going to be finished." James Harris, Oral History (31:25). Working Towards the Future in a Small Midwest Town The 1960s brought a piece of the national narrative to Wayne County, Ohio. Housing, job, transportation, and educational discrimination continued into the 1970s, and the Wooster/Orrville NAACP did not shy away from challenging these injustices. While Wooster, Ohio may be a small town in Northeast Ohio, the experiences of its citizens mirror those in communities of all sizes. Building social justice in a small Midwestern town means confronting the transgressions of a close-knit, majority white, community. By challenging discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public life, local activists revealed how systemic inequities operated even in communities that often viewed themselves as welcoming and progressive. The dedicated effort of a sizable group of individuals kept the organization going strong beyond its earliest years and into the present day. A sign dedicating Rosa Parks Way in Christmas Run Park stands as a testimonial to the work of the Wooster/Orrville NAACP. Sources and Further Reading Primary Sources Columbus Metropolitan Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Dade, Shannon. “Second Baptist in the 1960s · Second Baptist Church · Wooster Digital History Project.” Woosterhistory.org, 2026. https://woosterhistory.org/exhibits/show/secondbaptist/secondbaptist1960s. Daily Record, (Wooster, Ohio), October 9, 1968: 16. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), January 27, 1969: 2. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current.Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1963-11-08" (1963). The Voice: 1961-1970. 69. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/69. Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1963-12-13" (1963). The Voice: 1961-1970. 73. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/73. Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1964-10-09" (1964). The Voice: 1961-1970. 89. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/89. Editors, Wooster Voice, “Secret Huddle Are Held Regarding New Voting Law”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), 1965- 03- 15" (1965). The Voice: 1961-1970. Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1965-03-12" (1965). The Voice: 1961-1970. 104. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/104. Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1966-03-11" (1966). The Voice: 1961-1970. 127. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/127. Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1967-03-24" (1967). The Voice: 1961-1970. 149. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/149. Editors, Wooster Voice, "The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1968-10-18" (1968). The Voice: 1961-1970. 179. https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/179. Editors, Wooster Voice, “James Harris As President”, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), 1969- 08- 27" (1969). The Voice: 1961-1970. Gregory, James. “NAACP Branch Activities 1912-1923 and Database of Branches 1912-1964 - Mapping American Social Movements Project.” depts.washington.edu, 2006. https://depts.washington.edu/moves/NAACP_map-early.shtml. Harris, James. James Harris Oral History Interview. Interview by Mady Noble, Beatrice Adams, and Greg Shaya. The Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2023. Jackshiv0001, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. Kaufman, Alma. “Wooster Negro Buys a Home – Ten-Year Story Has a Happy Ending,” The Daily Record, July 13, 1964. ____ “Housing is Rated Number One Problem of Wooster’s Negroes,” The Daily Record, July 11, 1964. Morgan, Emily. “Model of Determination-Remembering Virginia.” The Daily Record. March 13, 2021. “NAACP to Start Drive on Membership,” Daily Record, (Wooster, Ohio), January 27, 1968: 2. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. Second Baptist Church, “Reverend Leroy Adams with his Family,” Wooster Digital History Project, accessed June 10, 2026, https://woosterhistory.org/items/show/151. Thompson, Lydia. Lydia Thompson Oral History Interview. Interview by Lawrence Walker and Greg Shaya. Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2022. Williams, Yvonne. Yvonne Williams Oral History Interview on Wooster History. Interview by Greg Shaya, Mady Noble, and Aaron Huq. The Wooster Digital History Project: The College of Wooster, 2022. Secondary Sources Berg, Manfred, and John David Smith. The Ticket to Freedom: The NAACP and the Struggle for Black Political Integration. University Press of Florida, 2005. Sullivan, Patricia. Lift Every Voice : The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement. New Press, 2009. Exhibit Home Next Decade

Freedom Fund Banquet Presentation

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Health Committee Chairperson: Cheryl A. Goff To collaborate with community stakeholders to improve health (including mental health) outcomes among African American and other communities of color. To focus on preventing and reducing childhood obesity, HIV/AIDS, other chronic diseases, and health disparities.