NAACP meeting today in Troy

TROY, N.Y. » Billy Carter of Kingdom Ministries said he is hopeful more people will have an interest in making a difference in the community by joining Troy’s NAACP chapter.

In December, Carter helped to organize a NAACP meeting in Troy and since then over 30 paid members have joined the local chapter. Carter said the group can have upwards of 50 members join.

Carter said he wanted to help organize this meeting and join the NAACP. Carter said he recently realized the Troy NAACP chapter has been inactive for the past year since each chapter needs to have at least 30 active members who pay monthly or yearly dues. Carter said members can pay a $30 per year membership fee or pay a $75 lifetime membership fee.

Carter said Thursday at 6 p.m. at Christ Church, which is located at 35 State St., the group will have its second meeting and will look to begin to appoint leadership roles for the group. Carter said in order to be considered for a leadership role you have to be a paid member for at least one month.

Carter said the meeting will be hosted by Ann Pope, chairwoman of the Capital District NAACP.

“I think the local chapter fell out before because they weren’t going by the bylaws of NAACP, so we want to do it right this time,” said Carter. “I don’t think I’m going to take any leadership roles, I just wanted to help get it started again here, but I will be an active member.”

Carter said he is hopeful the group will be able to be an asset in the community with the work they want to do.

“We want to be a valuable asset in the community, to be a voice, and I think we’re heading in a really good direction with that,” said Carter. “We are talking about forming a justice committee, but not criminal cases, we want to be proactive with criminality and helping the youth address matters that lead them towards criminality. We don’t want to be advocates once they get themselves in trouble, if they cause their own problem. We certainly care, but that’s not like a NAACP issue.”

Carter said he is hopeful that the group will be able to help guide youth in the community in the right direction and towards good careers.

“As we go forward we will be looking for ways for the NAACP to engage the youth and positiveness, like going to college and into trades, to steer them in the right direction,” said Carter. “We are looking for people that are interested in serving on committees, we are looking for people that really want to engage and come up with great ideas about ways we can move forward to lift everybody up, and the NAACP wants to make sure that Troy doesn’t forget about its people of color.”