ALASKA TAKES THE GOLD Congratulations to GOLD medal winner MADELINE JAMES (Playwriting) for her play entitled: "The Session" Congratulations also goes to our other five National Finalists who competed at the ACTSO Competition in New York City, July 8 - 12, 2009! Stay tuned for pictures and more information on our trip to the "Big Apple". Sharai Mason (Poetry) Michael Walker (Sculpture) Matthew Chenery (Musical Instrument) Patricia Avery (Dramatics) Jordan Scott (Original Essay)
CONGRATULATIONS!!! | Special THANK YOU to WELLS FARGO for their continued support and generous donations to the ACT-SO PROGRAM. ---------------------------------- ACT-SO & Youth Council have teamed up! Our meetings are held on Saturday evenings. Call (907) 258-7729 or send emails to: actsoalaska@aim.com for more information! ***** Next meeting.. Saturday, December 5th @ the NAACP Building, 325 E. 3rd Avenue, 4:00 pm!!
Today's Youth... Tomorrow's Leaders!
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"OLYMPICS OF THE MIND"
ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a year long enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students.
The ACT-SO goals are: To mobilize the adult community for the promotion of academic and artistic excellence among African American youth; to recognize academic and talent achievement among African American students in a manner commensurate with the recognition afforded athletics, and to provide and assist African American students with the necessary skills and tools to establish goals and acquire the confidence and training to make a successful contribution to society.
However, as emphasized by ACT-SO Founder and National Co-Chair Vernon Jarrett, the original goals of ACT-SO are not limited to an annual competition, where only a relatively small handful of Black youth win medals and cash awards and return home. ACT-SO is targeted toward Black youth because of their test scores, which consistently remain at the bottom rung nationally when compared to the scores of other ethnic groups. ACT-SO was designed to be a showcase of what each participating local NAACP branch has been doing throughout the year to save our young people from the spirit of mediocrity and defeatism that plagues many of our communities.
