Greater Hartford
NAACP

About Us

The beginning of the Hartford branch dates to a small gathering in 1917…

On October 9, 1917 James Weldon Johnson, Mary Ovington and W.E.B DuBois came to Hartford and spent an evening in the living room of Fredrick and Mary Seymour at 420 New Britain Avenue to discuss the issues of lynching and discrimination.  In November 1917 DuBois, Ovington, and James Weldon Johnson, all prominent leaders within the national office, visited Hartford to address a large meeting at Center Church.  On December 10, 1917, the national organization’s board, clearly impressed by the local activism and organizing spirit in Hartford, granted the Hartford branch a permanent charter. William Service Bell, a respected African American clerk at a local merchandise store, became the branch’s first president, while Seymour served as vice-president.

From its very beginning, the branch battled racism and discrimination in its myriad forms in everyday life, employment, housing, and education. The current endeavors of the Greater Hartford branch, now led by Corrie Betts, reveal a mission, objectives, and a vision that have held true to the foundation established by William Service Bell and Mary Townsend Seymour.


Corrie Betts Greater Hartford NAACP Adult Branch President

Annual Freedom Fund Event

The Greater Hartford NAACP cordially invites you to join us at our highly anticipated Annual Freedom Fund Event, centered around the theme of “Thriving Together: Towards Equity and Change.” This momentous occasion promises an evening filled with inspiration, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to fostering a more equitable society.

Event Details:

  • Host: Greater Hartford NAACP
  • Date: Thursday, September 28th
  • Time:
    • Cocktail Hour: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
    • Dinner: 7:00 PM
  • Location: Windsor Marriott
  • Address: 28 Day Hill Rd, Windsor, CT 06095

Ticket Information: Embrace this opportunity to support our mission by reserving your tickets now. The ticket range for this event is $60 – $100, offering various options to accommodate your preference.

Join us at this uplifting gathering as we celebrate progress, envision a future of inclusivity, and work together to make a profound impact in our community. Your presence at the Annual Freedom Fund Event will play a pivotal role in advancing our goals.

Together, let’s thrive towards equity and change!

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Our Pillars

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

We push for legislation that promotes livable wages, discrimination-free employment, and reduction in poverty level.

POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT

The NAACP operates the National Voters Assistance Hotline to provide ongoing assistance and monitor all reports  of voter tampering, suppression, or fraud in local, state and national election.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Utilizing our extensive legal resources, we take a proactive approach to combating racial bias in law enforcement.

SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

In the Spring 2007 NAACP launched the ‘Stop’ Campaign, a multi-faceted initiative to promote positive images of minority youth and women.

EDUCATION

We work to improve the effectiveness, accountability and accessibility of all public school systems.

Black LIves Matter Mural – Trinity Street, Hartford. CT

CT officials, advocates condemn hate crimes as data shows rise in incidents

A Black Lives Matter mural in Hartford was defaced with a swastika and a coded white supremacy message, according to Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.

The mural on Trinity Street, which was originally painted in the summer of 2020, was vandalized on Saturday night, Bronin said.

“Whoever scrawled this swastika and message of white supremacy is a miserable, small, hate-filled person who wants us divided and afraid — but our Hartford community is united, diverse, loving and strong. We’re angry about this vile act of hate, but we’re not weakened by it,” Bronin said in a statement.

The mural was currently being revised by local artists from around the Hartford community after Trinity Street was repaved. The mural is expected to be finished in time for Juneteenth celebrations.

READ MORE HERE