RICHMOND, Calif. - June 24, 2020 - Richmond NAACP Youth Council (as distinguished from the adult branch) announces the successful completion of its First Annual NAACP ACT-SO competition. Two local students have been declared the first annual Richmond 2020 Gold Medal Finalists. ACT-SO will host its Awards Ceremony honoring its winners and its 22 adult volunteers at Nicholas Park in Richmond on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 11 a.m. Social distancing and mask will be required and supported.
ACT-SO is the nationwide Academic competition program sponsored by the national NAACP for the past 40 years. The acronym stands for African-American Cultural, Technical and Science Olympics. African-American High school students from around the United States sign up every year to compete in up to three of the 32 areas of competition. Competition areas include Science, Humanities, Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Visual Arts. There is also a Culinary Arts component. This is Richmond Youth Council's first time hosting a team.
The amazing two 2020 gold medal winners, Joi Gonzales and Charles Woodfork, will represent Richmond in the Nation-Wide competition to be held virtually in July this year, due to COVID-19.
Charles Woodfork, 17, a junior at Salesian High school, competed both in the "Original Essay" and the "Medical and Health" competitions. His original essay deals with the disparity in the application of "justice" in majority and diverse communities and his science project addresses the issue of overmedicating children, particularly children of color, and the frequent misdiagnoses of Attention Deficit Disorder.
Joi Gonzales, 16, who is a junior at Pinole Valley high school, competed in the "Earth and Space" category. Her research paper demonstrates in meticulous detail the disparity in the water quality used in various and diverse communities in the Bay Area.
The 2020 ACTSO Richmond competition is chaired by Attorney Audrey D. Shields and Co-Chaired by her daughter Tajii M. Thomas, a recent Howard University graduate and current Secretary of the Richmond Youth Council. Serving as 2020 ACT-SO Committee Chairs are Scottie Smith, Judge and Mentor coordinator; Cheryl Maier, Finance; Zelon Harrison, Student Recruitment; and Y'Anad Burrell, Publicity and Social Media. 2020 ACTSO coaches were Audrey Comeaux, Science; Michael Gonzalez, Humanities; Wesley Alexander, Entrepreneurship; and Choncey Nunn, Performing Arts.
ACT-SO's illustrious judges included Doris Lewis, Sonya Neely-Johnson, Noah Johnson, Annette Henry-Evans, Stephanie Phillips, Elizabeth Block, Marshall Williamson, Dr. Cardenas Shackelford, LaShante Smith and William McGee.
The Richmond Youth Council is a newly activated branch of the National NAACP. It is composed of Richmond Bay Area Youth who work to raise the consciousness of the community with regard to civil and human rights and justice. The age range for membership is generally 14 to 24, however younger students who exhibit an interest and ability to work on civil rights issues are allowed to join.
For more information or questions about ACT-SO please contact Audrey Shields at 510-313-8888. For Media Relations contact: Y'Anad Burrell, Glass House Communications @ yand@glasshousepr.com
