88th Annual NAACP Texas State Convention - Austin, TX
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2025
Texas NAACP Opens 88th Annual Convention in Austin with Call to Action: “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Building the Beloved Community”
Austin, Texas — On Thursday, October 9, the Texas NAACP launches its 88th Annual Convention at the Austin SouthPark Hotel, bringing together leaders, advocates, religious ministers, and community members united around the convention’s theme: “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Building the Beloved Community.”
“This theme captures both the challenge and the promise before us—as we gather to celebrate a proud legacy and to sharpen our strategies for justice, freedom, and equality throughout Texas,” said Gary Bledsoe, President of the Texas NAACP.
“The fight is now. We are ready to join all the good people of our state, from left to right, to protect a great society we built together,” Bledsoe said. “Everyone who wants to be part of that is welcome to join us.”
The challenges facing African Americans could not be clearer or more urgent, Bledsoe said. In 2025, the state of Texas continues to see racist redistricting maps undermining our voting power, while Black children face racial bullying in public schools, with students and even teachers using hateful language and racist tropes with virtual impunity. In our health care systems, the outcomes are just as stark, with disproportionate numbers of Black Texans suffering from heart disease, stress-related ailments, respiratory illnesses, and cancer—frequently concentrated in communities across Texas, such as Beaumont, Port Arthur, Houston, and Odessa, living under the shadow of polluting industry.
“This convention offers rich and meaningful programs for all who attend. Let us move boldly forward together, making what John Lewis called ‘good trouble,’ building Dr. King’s Beloved Community here in Texas and across the nation,” Gary Bledsoe said.
Recently, the Texas NAACP launched a profound new initiative: Building the Beloved Community: Reclaiming the Moral High Ground. In partnership with faith and community leaders, this campaign draws on the vision Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. powerfully championed—creating roundtables statewide for honest civil dialogue, tackling violence, and establishing safe spaces for real conversations about injustice in our communities. That will be a main topic at the convention for adults and young people.
“Young people have always been on the frontlines of the civil rights movement working hand in hand with our elders and it’s important that we do our part to meet the challenges confronting our people today,” said Kayla Rabb, President of the Texas Youth and College Chapter. “Generations of our ancestors and elders did that, and we are called on to pay that legacy forward.”
Convention Highlights include:
Workshops and panels on Redistricting and Voting Rights, Economic Development, and Financial Literacy.
Special tributes and leadership sessions for military women and veterans, honoring the historic women of the 6888th Battalion—with family members and celebrated guest Lt. Col. Patricia Jackson Kelley in attendance.
Programs spotlighting the power of E-bikes and active transportation (with Bike Texas Executive Director Robin Stallings), Black Farmers Cooperative (featuring Deydra Steans), and crucial discussions on Black land loss.
Leadership lessons from decorated military and veteran women.
Distinguished speakers include: Dr. Peniel E. Joseph (Acclaimed national scholar, and Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values); Shuronda Robinson (Austin Woman’s Magazine); State Reps. James Talarico (candidate for the U.S. Senate); State Rep. Sheryl Cole; State Senator Sarah Eckhardt; State Rep. Nicole Collier; State Rep. Gina Hinajosa (candidate for Texas Governor); Brion Oaks (Texas Campaign for the Environment); Rick Levy, Texas AFL-CIO; and James Harris (H-E-B).
The 88th Texas State NAACP Convention is not just a gathering—it is a movement. Together, we will demand justice, foster strategic partnerships, and renew our pursuit to build the Beloved Community for all Texans.
Event Details:
What: 88th Annual Texas NAACP Convention
When: October 9–11, 2025 Where: Austin SouthPark Hotel, 4140 Governors Row, Austin, Texas
Contact: Lonzo Kerr, Administrator for the Texas NAACP, (512) 659-4816.
For more Information and schedule of events, go to: texas-naacp.org
For urgent media inquiries or interviews, please contact Lonzo Kerr at (512) 659-4816.
