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
Hartford Mayoral Forum 2023

The Greater Hartford NAACP, Capital Community College, and The Greater Hartford Divine Nine will hold a Hartford Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tuesday, February 21st, 2023. As a candidate for Mayor, we would like to invite you to participate. It will be held at Capital Community College, 950 Main Street, beginning at 6:00 PM and ending at 8:00 PM. Doors will be opened at 5:30 pm.

The purpose of the Candidate forum is to give Hartford voters an opportunity to hear candidates discuss the issues of importance to them in this election. The event is free and open to the public. The candidates will answer written questions from the public during this moderated event.

Click here to ask the candidates a question.

NAACP Forums follow the nonpartisan, unbiased and impartial format established by the NAACP. An NAACP member will moderate the forum.

RSVP 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.