2026 Meeting Summaries

You are invited to join us as we celebrate the 117-year history of our fierce and bold organization! This open house celebration will honor the NAACP’s enduring legacy of action while spotlighting the impactful work of the Tucson Branch.

The celebration will highlight our local accomplishments, programs, and advocacy efforts, and showcase the work of each committee. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how they can contribute their time and talents to advancing the mission of the NAACP in our community.

Families are encouraged to attend. We will feature our Adult Branch and our Youth Council, emphasizing intergenerational leadership and engagement. Light refreshments and prizes provided.

NAACP 117th Anniversary Open House

Sunday, February 15, 2026

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Goodwill Headquarters (1940 E. Silverlake Rd. Suite 401)

Questions? Email NAACPTucsonBranch@gmail.com

We look forward to celebrating with you!

In solidarity,

Cheree Meeks, EdD

President, NAACP Tucson Branch

We gathered together for a creative project that gave insight into heart and mind, into unconscious patterns and assumptions, into making choices.

On a small piece of multi-purpose art paper:

• Each drew lightly with a pencil, 3 forms that did not touch. 

• Then we drew 3 more forms that could intersect with the first 3 but not one another. 

• Then we drew 3 more forms with the same restriction. We now had 9 drawn forms, some intersecting and the background.

• We each evaluated the intersecting forms and erased an intersecting line to enhance emphasis of one of the intersecting forms.

• Then we selected 3 watercolors to paint the forms. We decided the background could be a 4th color or one of the 3.

• After all moisture had dried, we then took a black marker and applied it where we wished.

Finally we talked about thoughts and feelings, assumptions, intentions during the process. We looked at 'choices', we looked at life habits - those that are helpful, those that are not. 

Here are two examples.

At the May meeting we created Neters. Some call these Soul Collages. It is a quiet process while selecting pieces cut from magazines and putting together a story. Following completion, we broke into dyads and answered these questions:

Who are you (the neter)?

Why have you (the neter) come today?

What message do you(neter) have for me?

What message do you have for me regarding CTTT?

What a great meeting, everyone! It was wonderful to hear about your ancestors. 

 Talking about action, here are some things mentioned:

 1. If you are interested in working with IRC (International Rescue Committee) to distribute food once a month, please see  https://volunteer.rescue.org/opportunities/KwCEanLUf2

2. Sisters of Another Color will meet September 12 at the Oro Valley Public Library.  Elizabeth Wede, who wrote Worth: A memoir about her journey navigating Liberian heritage and American reality, developing a framework for surviving loss, motherhood , and starting over with intention.  Also, we will learn about the many resources the library has to offer and discuss books on race, women's issues, and banned books as well. Appetizers will be provided!

3. New Book: Biography of Dangerous Ideas: A New History of Race from Louis XIV to Thomas Jefferson by Andrew Curran. You can view an interview with Dr. Curran: https://vimeo.com/1179320501

Much gratitude to CTTT Tucson member Cara for such a powerful meeting! It was a wonderful and fruitful sharing.

Introduction to circle and purpose (3 min)

1. Opening Quote: (2 min)

o “Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.”― bell hooks, Killing Rage: Ending Racism

2. Icebreaker (15 min)

o pass out index cards and ask each person to list 2 highs and 2 lows in the past year that relate to their connection to, experience with, or understanding of community (6 min)

o in pairs, discuss what came up as you reflected back (9 min)

3. Circle Prompt One (30 min)

o Having heard the quote and explored your relationship to the community recently, respond: "How do you envision this group moving forward as beloved community?" 

4. Circle Prompt Two (20 min)

o What are one or two activities you would like to pursue with this group in 2027? (Cara to document responses)

5. Circle Prompt Three (15 min)

o Looking at the list of proposed activities, in this moment, what do you most feel called toward given your interest, energy, and availability in this group?

6. Closing Circle Prompt (5 min)

o One word to describe how you are feeling as we close this circle.

CTTT 2027 Brainstorms
1. Activism: individual, collective, or both. Mentioned:

    Tabling at events

    Volunteering

    Freedom Park Food Bank distribution once a month

2. Relationship Building

    Circles

    Outside this group

    Contemplation with nature

3. Learning (history)

    Podcasts, movies, play plus discussion

    About and from others

    Indigenous wisdom-housing, medicine-wheel study

    See if we can have a dance experience that Carole talked about

4. Resource sharing

    What's going on in Tucson outside our purview?

    Black Film Club: show up for Black culture 6 times a year

5. Clarity of purpose: connect to CTTT National Mission

CTTT Vision and Mission

Vision: The Coming to the Table vision for the United States is of a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past—from slavery and the many forms of racism it spawned.

Mission: Coming to the Table provides leadership, resources, and a supportive environment for all who wish to acknowledge and heal wounds from racism that is rooted in the United States’ history of slavery.