Bay Area

NAACP Oakland Imani Youth Council Celebrates 2024 ACT-SO Winners

The NAACP Oakland Imani Youth Council congratulated its 2024 ACT-SO winners and participants at the Oakland Mormon Temple on May 4. Forty guests attended the event, moderated by the council co-chairs Natre Burks and Maleah Flournoy.

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2024

Oakland Post

Students Rayland Albert, Neveah Pittman, Jasmine Bell, Taylor Hill, Messiah Birks, Elaina Thomas, and Camren Lipson were all recognized for their academic achievements and talent. Photo By Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The NAACP Oakland Imani Youth Council congratulated its 2024 ACT-SO winners and participants at the Oakland Mormon Temple on May 4.

Forty guests attended the event, moderated by the council co-chairs Natre Burks and Maleah Flournoy.

The program opened with a prayer by Minister Brandon Waugh, a former president of the Imani Youth Council and newly elected president of the Imani Youth Council. Rayland Albert led the singing of the Black National Anthem.

“We have great students in Oakland, and we are proud of them,” said Patrice Waugh. “We have young folks doing great things.”

During the post-event reception, family members congratulated the youth. Rayna Lett, the proud parent of ACT-SO winner Jasmine Bell, said, “Jasmine has been a part of the NAACP Imani Youth Council for several years and I’ve seen nothing but growth. This year she stepped up with her gift of photography.”

Bell shared how the NAACP helped her build her develop her presentation skills.

“The NAACP supported me with many opportunities to get out of my shell and be able to speak before crowds,” Bell said. “It used to be hard for me to speak publicly, so the NAACP has given me opportunities to speak publicly, and I now have a scholarship from the NAACP to travel to Vegas.”

Mentor Leticia Pinn of Acts Full Gospel Church said she considered it a privilege to pour into the program’s youth.

“It’s important to let our youth know that they bring hope and inspiration to not only their generation, but generations before them,” Pinn said, adding that a big part of mentoring is letting the youth know who they really are on their way to becoming “who God has called them to be.”

“The youth are way movers, that are here to allow God to use them as vessels to bring about change and show that through their resilience they become whatever God has them to be, unapologetically,” Pinn continued.

Pinn also shared the importance of organizational partnerships with the church and that unity in the community creates “strength in numbers.”

“Without God we can do nothing,” said Pinn. “When we come together in the church, and we come together with people of action in the community you have a non-stop force that says ‘we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.’ We are better together.”

The local ACT-SO competitions and ceremonies showcase the results of the students’ hard work. Competition winners receive medals and prizes provided by the local and regional sponsors and contributors. The local Gold Medalists advance to the national competition and have the opportunity to receive scholarships and other rewards provided by national sponsors.

ACT-SO was founded in 1978 by author and journalist Vernon Jarrett.

The program’s goal is to provide recognition to young people who could demonstrate academic, scientific and artistic achievement, allowing young people to gain recognition equal to that often gained by entertainers and athletes.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Oakland native serves aboard U.S. Navy flagship in Japan

Don't Miss

Called a ‘Miracle’ School, Oakland’s Emiliano Zapata Street Academy Celebrates 50 Years

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

5 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.