Ohio NAACP Elects New Statewide Leadership Team

Tom Roberts

Originally published in Dayton Weekly News | September 12–19, 2025

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Ohio Conference NAACP held its biennial election at the Hilton Polaris Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The newly elected officers will serve two-year terms beginning August 23, 2025, and ending September 11, 2027.

Former Ohio State Senator Tom Roberts was re-elected as President of the Ohio Conference NAACP. He ran unopposed.

Dr. Derrick L. Foward, NAACP Image Award-winning activist and President of the Dayton NAACP, was also re-elected as 1st Vice President. Andre Washington, President of Ohio APRI, retained his position as 2nd Vice President. Annette McCoy, President of the Trumbull County NAACP, was re-elected as 3rd Vice President. They all ran unopposed.

Chais Ross, a member of the Stark County NAACP, was elected as Secretary, defeating Dr. Dora Bronston, former Vice Mayor of Middletown, with 54.43% of the vote. Sheila Dawkins-Flinn, a member of the Akron NAACP, was elected as Assistant Secretary. Danielle Sydnor, former President of the Cleveland NAACP, was elected as Treasurer. Rev. Dr. Willie L. Perryman, Jr., former President of the Toledo NAACP, was elected as Assistant Treasurer. They all ran unopposed.

The Ohio Conference NAACP Youth & College Division also held elections. Emari Edmonds, President of the Warren-Trumbull County Youth Council, was re-elected as President of the Youth & College Division. Lynnisha Foster, Vice President of the Toledo NAACP Youth Council, was elected as Vice President of the Youth & College Division. LTC (R) Claudia L. Mason, a member of the Dayton NAACP, was re-elected as State Youth Advisor, while Matthew White, a member of the Cleveland NAACP, was elected as State Youth Co-Advisor. They all ran unopposed.

“I appreciate my colleagues all across the Buckeye State of Ohio for believing in my leadership and I’m ready to get back to work on behalf of all Ohioans from an advocacy standpoint,” said Roberts. “I ask every Ohioan to stand up and move forward by registering an alarming and unprecedented number of people to vote throughout our 88 counties and ensure they have rides to the polls on election day! I’m fired up and ready to go! Are you?” said Roberts.

Founded in 1930, the Ohio Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the state’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members across the great Buckeye State of Ohio are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Their core goal is to “Build the Conference One Unit at a Time” to empower the Citizenry as they pursue justice and equality for all Americans.

For more information on the Ohio Conference NAACP, please call (937) 478-7895.