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THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK (NAN) BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEDICATES 2017 TO CHALLENGING PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AND HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL PICK JEFF SESSIONS ON CIVIL RIGHTS, VOTING RIGHTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

For Immediate Release

December 1, 2016

Contact:

Rachel Noerdlinger – [email protected]

Kate Lucadamo – [email protected]

Jessica Kosmider [email protected]

THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK (NAN) BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEDICATES 2017 TO CHALLENGING PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AND HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL PICK JEFF SESSIONS ON CIVIL RIGHTS, VOTING RIGHTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND WILL DRIVE ALL ITS RESOURCES TOWARD THAT GOAL. THEY WILL KICK OFF THIS INITIATIVE DURING THE MARCH COMMEMORATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

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NAN BOARD VOTES IN NEW BOARD MEMBERS: WELL-KNOWN PREACHER & GRAMMY-AWARD WINNER MARVIN SAPP, NY STATE ANTI-POVERTY LEADER JENNIFER JONES AUSTIN, & FORMER NYC DEPUTY COMPTROLLER CAMILLE JOSEPH-GOLDMAN

December 1, 2016 – National Action Network (NAN), the national civil rights organization founded by Rev. Al Sharpton in 1991, announced today that NAN board has agreed to kick off Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with a march in Washington, D.C. on January 14, 6 days before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. Participants will demand accountability not just from President-elect Trump but from Senate and Congress members who are charged with overseeing the Criminal Justice Reform Act, the Voting Rights Bill, Supreme Court nominations and other Trump political appointments.

The board, which is led by Chairman Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, also voted in three new board members: Bishop and gospel singer Marvin Sapp, anti-poverty leader Jennifer Jones Austin, and Vice President for Government Affairs for the northeast at Charter Communications Camille Joseph-Goldman.

Bishop Sapp has been recognized for his professional and philanthropic efforts in his home city, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received the city’s highest African American honor, a Giants Award, as well as the Frederick Douglas Award from the National Association of Negro and Professional Women’s Club. He is an established author of six books. The most recent is “Selfless,” which was released in 2014, and discusses what it means to live selflessly with your partner along with practical ways of doing so. He is also an successful entrepreneur in various areas of business. He is the president and founder of Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology (GREAAT), the first performing arts and technology charter school in West Michigan (Pre-K to 12th grade). GREAAT strives to cultivate academic excellence in children by inspiring their minds and imagination through the arts.

Jennifer Jones Austin, a child and family advocate, is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an anti-poverty, policy and advocacy organization with 200 member human services agencies operating throughout New York City. Prior to joining FPWA, Ms. Jones Austin served as Senior Vice President of United Way NYC; Family Services Coordinator for Mayor Bloomberg; Deputy Commissioner for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services; Civil Rights Deputy Bureau Chief for Attorney General Eliot Spitzer; and Vice President for LearnNow/Edison Schools Inc.

Ms. Jones Austin has chaired and served on several influential boards and commissions, including serving as Co-Chair of NYC Mayor de Blasio’s Transition, Chair of the NYC Procurement Policy Board, and Co-Chair of the New York State Supermarket Commission.  She is currently a Board Member of the New York Blood Center, the NYC Board of Correction, and the Fund for Public Housing, and serves on the Young Men’s Initiative Advisory Board, the Young Women’s Initiative Advisory Board, PlaNYC Advisory Board, and the Mayor’s Clergy Advisory Council.

Mrs. Joseph-Goldman previously served as New York City’s youngest appointed deputy comptroller.  She served as the inter-governmental liaison tothe public, mayoral agencies, federal, state, and local authorities. She also handled all external functions, including community relations and outreach, contact with the media, financial education forums, and other duties – including the Community Action Center, which provides information and assistance to New Yorkers who have complaints about inadequate or lack of municipal services.

About NAN:

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender.