NAACP Announces 47th Annual ACT-SO Competition, Bringing Talented Youth to Las Vegas at 115th National Convention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2024

Contact: Alicia Mercedes, [email protected]

WASHINGTON - Today, the NAACP announced that the annual Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) competition will return to the main stage for the NAACP's 115th National Convention in Las Vegas. The ACT-SO competition is the culmination of a year's worth of local programs hosted by NAACP units across the country, bringing mentorship and scholastic enrichment to youth while fostering community, achievement, and excellence within Black communities.

"Every year, ACT-SO offers young, Black future leaders a nurturing environment to cultivate their talents, achieve success, and, above all, display what it means to be All In," said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. "The NAACP takes pride in offering a platform for the next generation to showcase their creativity in a distinctly Black environment. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the incredible contributions from this year's participants and acknowledging their passion, potentially paving the way to making history in their respective fields."

Since its inception in 1978, over 300,000 high school students have participated in the ACT-SO competition. From visual arts and business to performing and culinary arts, participants work with community-based volunteers for a year to develop their projects and performances.

This year's NAACP ACT-SO Awards ceremony, taking place on July 14th, will feature:

• Laya Deleon Hayes, Equalizer (CBS)

• Michael Rainey, Jr., Power: Book II (Starz)

• Performances by ACT-SO Contestants

• $400,000 in scholarships awarded to ACT-SO graduates through the Write Your Future Scholarship Program

"ACT-SO embodies a celebration of Black excellence, emphasizing our essential support for future leaders by nurturing their potential to flourish," said Vice President of ACT-SOand Creative Services, Larry Brown, Jr. "This competition empowers the next generation of Black leaders across all fields to build confidence, find purpose, and pursue their passions freely. I am deeply proud of every ACT-SO participant and eagerly anticipate the outcomes of the investments we've made throughout the past year."

All Convention attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the ACT-SO participants' work throughout the NAACP Convention. For more information, visit naacp.org/convention.

Members of the press interested in attending and covering ACT-SO and the NAACP National Convention in Las Vegas are encouraged to fill out this form.

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About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.

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