President’s Message 2023
I am pleased to deliver a report of another year of activities to Bethlehem and our surrounding Communities.
We saw the historical appointment of Dr. Wandalyn J. Enix to Bethlehem City Council.
While the NAACP Bethlehem strives to address “No Place for Hate” through organizational leadership from The Bethlehem Community Advisory Board we also address areas of concern in education, housing, the homeless, law enforcement, health and food insecurity concerns that affect the community at large.
African Americans must be more conscious of the functions of our local, state, and federal government. Moreover, please thoroughly seek into backgrounds of individuals who seek seats at various levels in our government. Voting is most important to us as a people. WE MUST VOTE!
Contact legislative representatives ensuring that they are indeed striving to introduce legislation as well support laws that will allow for a better lifestyle for our families and communities.
The issue of affordable housing?? Locally, much discussion has been generated about affordable housing and still, it draws more and more questions than solutions … it seems to be the American way, discuss, discuss, discuss. In the meantime, families are without acceptable accommodations. A permanent homeless facility is under the same scrutiny, the program is currently served through the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter, UCC Church, Bethlehem, Rev. Bob Rapp.
The other strong concern was the request for African American History to be included in the curriculum at the Bethlehem Area School District. A recent meeting with Dr. Silva, Assistant Supt. of Bethlehem Area School District and the Chief Academic Officer I learned that BASD has engaged in inclusion of African Americans into American History. A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT!
As of this writing we are preparing for the forum on RACE AND REFORM.
We thank those who continue to support the Bethlehem NAACP and our Freedom Fund Banquet.
Congratulations to the Bethlehem NAACP 2023 honorees! Dr. Benita Draper, Dr. Joseph Roy, Dr. Koroush Khalighi
Sincerely,
Esther M. Lee
