NAACP ACT-SO youth initiative is ‘gateway to your dreams’

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The NAACP of the Oranges and Maplewood invites any interested high school students in Millburn, Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Livingston, Orange, East Orange, Bloomfield, Belleville, Verona and Nutley to its annual ACT-SO Kickoff Zoom Orientation meeting on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. ACT-SO is the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics, which is a yearlong enrichment program for high school students who will have the opportunity to choose from 32 categories within the areas of STEM, visual and performing arts, business, and culinary arts. Students compete initially on the state level and, if they obtain a gold medal, they will have an opportunity to advance to the national competition.

“The ACT- SO program gives students a great opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem within themselves, hone their gifts and talents, pursue their dreams, and network and build relationships with other students in New Jersey and from across the country,” ACT-SO Chairperson Bill Brown III said.

Students may select up to three categories to compete in; they will be mentored by available volunteers and specialized workshops in preparation of the competitions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the 2020-2021 state and national competitions will be conducted virtually.

Those interested in participating in this event should contact Brown at [email protected] to register for the meeting. The Zoom access information will be shared upon registration.

  Oranges-Maplewood NAACP