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The was recently recognized for its excellence in advocacy, membership growth, and civic engagement with a first place Thalheimer Award, the top award given to branches for outstanding achievements. NYCHA NAACP Branch President accepted the award at the 116th NAACP National Convention, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in July.  

The award is named in honor of civil rights advocate and university professor Dr. Ross Thalheimer and has been presented annually since he endowed a grant to the NAACP in 1944.  

“This award is a profound honor not just for our branch, but for every resident of public housing who believes in the power of advocacy and collective action,” said Lynn Spivey, an Administrative Staff Analyst in NYCHA’s Heating Management Services Department. “We accept this recognition on behalf of the youth we inspire, the elders we serve, and the communities we uplift every day. The spirit of the NAACP lives in our commitment to ensure that no voice in public housing is ever silenced or ignored.”  

The NYCHA branch continues to serve as a model for other urban branches seeking to amplify resident voices in public housing while taking the lead on timely civil rights issues. The branch hosts programs such as “Adopt a Housing Development,” which brings together fraternities, sororities, and grassroots allies to serve the needs of NYCHA communities, as well as voter engagement initiatives, public health partnerships, and youth leadership development. (Read more about the work of the NYCHA NAACP branch here and here.) 

For more information or to get involved with the NYCHA NAACP Branch, please contact Lynn Spivey at (347) 669-2421 or email nychabranch@gmail.com. 

Featured photo caption: Lynn Spivey accepted the Thalheimer Award from Know the Issues Chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors Leon W. Russell.