South Bend NAACP branch maps out goals to rebuild in the New Year

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- The New Year brings new goals for many local organizations and the NAACP branch here in South Bend is no exception.

Tuesday marked the first meeting of 2022 where leaders mapped out exactly what they hope to accomplish this year.

“If a student worried about his peers and can take that stand surely we as adults should do so," said Trina Robinson, President NAACP South Bend.

Underrepresentation is a feeling Robinson says is a huge common factor for many members of her organization.

Recognizing this, she says the goal this year is to build coalitions and relationships with other organizations locally, like the South Bend Police Department.

“In the past we’ve been able to have quarterly meetings with the chief of police, the prosecutors, the mayors office, and the sheriff department. Those are relationships building that we’re gonna try to do as we move forward to try to heal the community," said Robinson.

With an uptick in youth violence over the past year, Robinson says she hopes the older generation can help with the healing process for the community through mentorship programs.

“We as an older generation don’t necessarily want to relinquish that authority and I feel it’s important that we do so. We cannot continue to keep at the speed of the generation that is up and coming," said Robinson.

With legislations focused on how children learn about the country’s struggles with race, Robinson says South Bend NAACP can help make a difference for students not just locally, but at the state level.

“There’s power in numbers and so that’s why it’s very important for us on a local level to build those relationships," said Robinson.

The local branch is re-relaunching its social media page on March 15th.