The Licking County Chapter of the NAACP reactivated in June, 2020 and has been busy from day one, working to raise awareness about racial justice, provide resources to marginalized people, offer education and training opportunities, and help the community embrace differences. One goal of the group is to give younger generations an opportunity to get involved, to be mentored, and to become the community’s future leaders and voices.

Giving students a voice by adding them to the Board was important to Licking County NAACP Chapter President Bryanna Stigger, Outreach Programs Coordinator for the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University. Bryanna’s passion for education and providing opportunities for young people of color led Bryanna and her NAACP colleagues not only to add students to the Board, but also to ask the Licking County Foundation about creating a scholarship that would assist people who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) in Licking County who wish to pursue studies at an accredited college, university, or technical/trade school.

The Licking County NAACP Scholarship Fund will be open to Licking County residents whether they are high school seniors, current college students, adult re-entry students and other adult learners, and people seeking advanced degrees. Newark City Councilman and NAACP Vice President Jeremy Blake pointed out that helping adult, non-traditional students through the scholarship will be important as a tool to increase opportunities for people who weren’t able to take the traditional path from high school straight to college or career training.

The Chapter hopes to be able to offer a scholarship for the 2021-22 school year.