YUMA, Ariz.-
“It can be hectic at times, it can be discouraging, but it can also be encouraging when i find that people are listening”
says Mr. John Johnson President of the NAACP Yuma Chapter.
It’s been 30 years since Mr. John Johnson became a Yuma resident, and with the growth of this county came his need for a bigger purpose.
He explains, “Because my background is recreation administration and so i got involved in youth activities and subsequently it turned into the NAACP.”
With some volunteers, John aka “Bud” helped facilitate the NAACP or The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Yuma Chapter.
Their mission, to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
“I deal with individuals that don’t have the knowledge or are unaware of some of the legal things that they have to their advantage, that they can use. So there’s a multitude of things I try to do for people who are unaware of the options they have” he says.
Mr. Johnson also runs a number of programs including youth, recreation, and community events, but they still need more help to grow and spread the word of their main focus…opportunity.
He concludes,” Yuma’s come a long way, in the last 30 years since I’ve been here. We’ve graduated from having a tent school in a basement of a school, to being accepting in schools, getting scholarships. So, Yuma has grown, still there’s more growth to be accomplished here.”
Accomplishment’s hes says is a full circle, being apart of Yumas history, and creating a legacy of black history in this small desert town.