Chapter President, Kalan Horton (center) with DeAunna Lewis, chapter Assistant Secretary (left); and Taylor Washington, chapter Secretary (right)
After being dormant for several years, UALR’s Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is back thanks to UALR student and chapter president Kalan Horton. And this semester, the chapter voted for a formal and ongoing collaborative partnership with the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity.
Horton wanted to start the UALR NAACP chapter because the organization combats discrimination in all forms and is something that everyone can be a part of. He sees the UALR chapter as another way students can become more engaged with the campus. “With this organization well established, members will be able to look back on college and say ‘I actually did something worthwhile,’” says Horton.
The decision to spearhead the NAACP’s return to UALR did not come easily for the junior construction management major who in addition to being a McNair Scholar is an undergrad adviser for UALR’s African American Male Initiative and a staff manager at Charles W. Donaldson Academies.
In deciding to resurrect UALR’s NAACP chapter Horton turned to his father, Keith Horton, who was president of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s chapter. Mr. Horton counseled his son that leading a college NAACP chapter takes strong leadership and commitment: “the NAACP is great for college kids to be a part of, but it’s only as effective as those who lead the charge.” Mr. Horton was confident that Kalan could handle the responsibility ahead.
With his father’s encouragement and support Horton worked with Dale Charles, president of the Little Rock community branch of the NAACP, to reinstate UALR’s chapter.
UALR NAACP chapter members
Now sixty-four members strong and counting, and with the successful UALR Campus Blackout in support of University of Missouri students to their credit, it is clear Horton is providing the kind of leadership that will make the UALR chapter of the NAACP one of the best around.
But Horton is not alone in getting the UALR NAACP chapter off to a winning start. He is joined by executive officers Danielle Arnold, 1st vice president; Michael Jackson, 2nd vice president; Taylor Washington, secretary; DeAunna Lewis, assistant secretary; Dominique Thomas, treasurer; and Decarlos Rainey, assistant treasurer.
The Institute on Race and Ethnicity looks forward to providing support and working closely with these students as we all strive for justice, equity, and mutual understanding.
Students interested in joining should contact Kalan Horton at kghorton@ualr.edu or Danielle Arnold at dxarnold@ualr.edu. Faculty and staff interested in becoming involved should contact UALR NAACP staff sponsor Richard Harper, Assistant Dean of Students, at reharper@ualr.edu.
