Women in the NAACP

Women in the NAACP (WIN) seeks to enhance the leadership role of women, serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children, and advocate for the positive development of children.

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Monthly WIN Message

December WIN Message

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’Tis the Season!

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As we enter December, we find ourselves in a month that comes with many different holidays and traditions. The holiday season can be peaceful and beautiful, yet it can also feel overwhelming. It often comes with celebration, blessings, laughter, and joy, but also may stir up stress, financial strain, loneliness, or the pain of missing loved ones. It can be a time of connection and rest, love and faith, but also a time when family dynamics or worries show themselves once again.

Even with all of this, the meaning of this holiday season remains yours to create and define. You have the power to envision what you want this time to be. You can set clear expectations, honor your boundaries, and choose the tone and energy for your holiday experience. No matter what happens during the season, you can commit to protecting your peace, joy, and gratitude.

With the many thoughts and emotions that we carry during this season, it can be a little challenging, but you deserve to hold onto the belief that this season will work out for your good. You are capable. You are worthy. You are valued. You are blessed, highly favored, and loved. This is your life and you’re going to enjoy this time!

So “Tis the Season” to acknowledge and honor your thoughts and emotions and to provide quality and intentional care of yourself; to give in ways that feel right, to trust that you have the ability to set the tone for a holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, clarity, empowerment, joy, love, delicious food, and meaningful moments with yourself, family and friends.

Here are a few holiday wellness tips:

Every day:
- Remind yourself that you’re going to have a good day. Think about it and say it out loud.
- Look in the mirror and remind yourself that you love that person in the mirror. They ain’t perfect but they’re good people.
- Remind yourself that you are amazing, beautiful, powerful, wonderful. . . and somebody needs you.
- Do something that makes you happy and feel good about yourself.
- Be mindful of your boundaries to protect your time, joy, and peace.
- Pause to pray, meditate, and be thankful and grateful.
- Check in on loved ones who may need some extra support or intentionally offer acts of kindness to family, friends or strangers.
- Rejoice knowing that you deserve to smile, laugh and be loved.
- Make room to receive your blessings and count them all joy.
- Work to live your life to the fullest; it’s your life to be lived!

Well, “Tis the Season!” I’ll be checking in again in the New Year! Oh yeah, wishing you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

A brief history

During the year 1980, in Memphis Tennessee, Frances Louise Dancy Hooks (wife of Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks) and Earleen Bolden organized the trailblazing Women in the NAACP (WIN), an unprecedented project which aimed to enhance the leadership roles of women both within the Association and in everyday life. The WIN organization raised funds for emergency relief and made a commitment to supporting Black/African American women, and their children and communities.

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In 2004, Women in the NAACP (WIN) was approved as a standing committee at the Philadelphia National Convention in accordance with Article VIII of the NAACP Constitution and Bylaws. WIN’s national theme is “Outstretched Hands and Open Hearts to Women and Children.”

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WIN is an integral committee of the NAACP. It has historically provided emergency relief funds to families and offered a medium for women to develop leadership, outreach, and advocacy skills for civil rights. Today, the legacy of WIN continues to inspire and remind us of the vital role that women have played and continue to play in advancing social justices, equity, and equality.

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The purpose of WIN is to:

Enhance the leadership role of women
Serve as an advocacy vehicle for social, economic, political, educational, health
and welfare issues affecting women, girls, and children
Support the ongoing work of the NAACP and the Snohomish Branch
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WIN membership is open to any NAACP member. WIN meetings are held in person or
virtually and may be held at the NAACP Convention and State meetings.

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