The NAACP recieves grant from Google.org

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced this morning that they would be receiving a $3M grant from Google.org that will help improve the NAACP’s AfroAcademic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). The ACT-SO is an event that provides black high school students with a platform for their creative ideas and also an opportunity to compete in activities in arts, business, humanities, and STEM.

NAACP CEO and President Derrick Johnson said that this grant will help youth excel artistically and academically, with no limitations. Google.org Director Justin Steele said he saw the impact that the NAACP’s ACT-SO had on the black community when he was growing up, and he knows how beneficial this program is.

NAACP reports that the ACT-SO STEM category’s participation has increased by seven percent since last year. They are looking to get more young black people involved in coding and tech so that they may become mentors in these categories. To get more participation, employees from Black@YouTube and Black Googler Network will volunteer at both local and national ACT-SO events.

The NAACP is one of the oldest and largest civil rights organizations. Members of the NAACP are civil rights advocates both in their community and worldwide.