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BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WALB) - The Decatur County NAACP Branch #5167-B has been awarded a $25,000 National NAACP “Winning Build Grant,” paving the way for a yearlong Community Collaboration & Action Town Hall Series aimed at strengthening families, empowering youth, and expanding civic engagement across the county.

The initiative will feature 12 monthly town halls one each month focused on advancing the NAACP’s mission through civil rights education, political awareness, and community-driven problem solving. Each session will offer targeted learning opportunities for parents, students in grades 6–12, and local leaders.

According to the branch’s grant submission, the series will address a wide range of community issues, including:

• Health and wellness, sexual health, and preventive care
• Financial literacy and insurance access
• Civic engagement, voting, and policy participation
• Mental health, trauma awareness, and ACEs education
• Cultural resilience, heritage, and spirituality
• Food security, nutrition, and USDA support programs
• Education equity and youth leadership development
• Legal rights, justice reform, and reducing recidivism
• Technology, digital literacy, AI readiness, and careers in innovation

The program will be carried out in partnership with several local organizations, including the Decatur County Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, Calvary Lodge #389 Prince Hall Associates, I See My Baby, and A Servants’ Heart Youth Ministries, Inc.

To ensure full community access, all town halls will be free and held on the last Saturday of each month (dates subject to change) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Events will include food, refreshments, and built-in support services such as childcare, transportation assistance, and family-friendly scheduling.

Organizers say the series is expected to significantly strengthen civic participation. Goals include doubling adult NAACP membership, establishing a chartered Youth Council, and supporting students in earning the Georgia Civic Engagement Diploma Seal through volunteer service and leadership opportunities.

“This award allows us to build sustainable civic power,” said Rev. Dr. Beverly R. Sargent, President of the Decatur County NAACP. “We are committed to supporting families, empowering youth, and ensuring equity remains at the center of community progress in Decatur County.”

The first event—a ticketed Educational Forum will be held Feb. 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kirbo Center at Southern Regional Technical College. Admission is free for youth 18 and under and $25 for adults. The featured speaker will be Ms. Nettie Washington Douglass, the great-great granddaughter of Frederick Douglass and great granddaughter of Booker T. Washington.

For more details, tickets, or partnership opportunities, please click here.

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