Des Moines Leaders Step Into State and National NAACP Leadership

The strength of the NAACP has always come from leaders willing to serve beyond the boundaries of their own communities. This summer, members of the Des Moines Branch stepped into expanded responsibilities at both the state-area and national levels of the Association.

Iowa-Nebraska leadership

The Iowa-Nebraska State Area Conference announced its 2026–2027 leadership in July. Betty Andrews will continue serving as President, joined by First Vice President Michael Guster, Secretary Dedric Doolin and Treasurer Deborah Berry.

Among the elected Executive Committee members are three leaders with deep ties to the Des Moines Branch: Jacquie Easley McGhee, Russell Lovell and David Walker.

Their service gives Des Moines another opportunity to contribute to strengthening local units and advancing civil-rights advocacy throughout Iowa and Nebraska.

Bringing national convention lessons home

That same month, delegates from across the country gathered in Chicago for the 117th Annual NAACP National Convention. Des Moines Branch delegate Danielle Mitchell returned with a clear message: national leadership provides direction, but the day-to-day work of the NAACP is carried by local branches.

Her delegate report highlighted leadership development, mentorship and intentional recruitment. The Women in NAACP luncheon reinforced the importance of creating opportunity for future generations, while the workshop “Healing the Hood: Sustaining Black Organizers” focused on the wellness, boundaries and intentional leadership needed to sustain people doing movement work.

Those lessons matter locally. Strong organizations need more than committed leaders. They need a pipeline of people prepared to lead, a culture that supports those leaders and intentional work to bring new people into the movement.

Des Moines at the national table

At the convention, Des Moines Branch President Victoria Henderson Weber was selected to serve on the NAACP Resolutions Committee, expanding the branch's participation in the national policy work of the Association.

NAACP resolutions help establish policy and provide direction for advocacy across units of the Association. Participation in that process gives local leaders an opportunity to bring the experiences and concerns of their communities into national discussion.

We congratulate our Des Moines leaders on their expanded responsibilities and look forward to seeing how the relationships, knowledge and leadership developed this summer strengthen the work here at home.