Created in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, (NAACP), is a nonprofit organization working to abolish segregation and discrimination in housing, education, employment, voting, and transportation throughout the nation. The NAACP is the oldest, largest, and most well-known civil rights organization in the United States. It was established as an interracial organization to actively oppose racism and ensure the constitutional rights of all African Americans. Notable founders include W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, and Mary White Ovington. They came together in response to the horrific race riot in 1908 in Springfield, Illinois, where at least sixteen people, both black and white, died. The NAACP has thrived for over one hundred years, taking on injustices, advocating for change, and making a difference. Currently there are over half a million members, seven regional offices, and over 2,200 branch chapters, including the Elmira-Corning Branch. 

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For additional information about the national organization, visit their website at https://www.naacp.org/

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