ACT-SO, an acronym for, “The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympic” is a major youth initiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist, Vernon Jarrett.
ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American 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. There are 25 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts.
NAACP Branches and Youth and College units conduct annual competitions for students in grades 9-12 in NAACP branches throughout the country. Participating branches hold local competitions in the categories of Science, Humanities, Performing and Visual Arts. The top winners from the local competitions then compete against the winners from other cities at the national ACT-SO finals held during the NAACP Annual Convention.
Chairperson
Co-Chairperson
M.P. Carter Joan Patterson
Category Chairs
Dramatics/Oratory Florence Roach
Dance Taurus Hines/Terran Cooke
HumanitiesKaren Woodard/Marian Crooks
(Original Essay, Playwriting, Poetry)
Science TBA
(Drawing, filmmaking, Painting, Photography, Sculpture)
EntrepreneurshipKimberley Carter Byrd/ Trey Carter
Publicity Deborah Northcross
Recruiting TaJuana Redmond
Fundraising Ella Weddington
