CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from Sept. 22, 2020.
Cleveland's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced on Friday that it has named Crystal Bryant as its new Executive Director.
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A native of East Cleveland, Bryant will fill the position that has been open since 2015 when then-Executive Director Sheila Wright stepped down following two years of service. Bryant was selected for the job following a round of interviews in search of the best candidate for the job. She resigned from her previous position as the Director of the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry. to accept the position.
In a press release, Bryant was praised for her "strong community ties" and referred to as an "expert in organizational development."
In a statement, Bryant said: “I don’t know if there is one word that can describe the excitement I feel for the opportunity to serve as the NAACP’s next Executive Director. The work of the NAACP is now and will forever be instrumental in trailblazing and advancing social justice efforts for Black and Brown people. To play a vital role in what I call legacy work that has the capability to provide for and inspire future generations can only be described as destiny. It is my goal to build an infrastructure for the business of the NAACP that will allow the President and the members of the NAACP to thrive in the work that we all have committed to advancing.
"2021 will serve as the year of Increase! An increase in staff and membership, an increase in resources and an increase in coordinated community efforts are just some of the drivers of a solid foundation that I will continue to build upon. For the first time in decades we are being offered a seat at the table and we plan on maximizing the invitation. We are responsible for the change we demand to see. We must proactively and strategically commit to the unraveling of unjust systems. Struggling is not our birthright! The fight for economic and health equity and criminal justice reform is ripe! I am here to ensure the NAACP and all of its members have the tools they need to blaze a successful path! We are done dying!”