Leon Russell

Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors

Leon W. Russell has dedicated his life to fighting for human rights and has served on the National Board of Directors since 1990 in various roles, including Assistant Secretary, Chair of the Convention Planning Committee, and Vice Chair. His peers recognized his decades of work and leadership when they elected him as chair in 2017.

Before joining the board, Russell served as president of the NAACP Florida State Conference of Branches for 4 years after serving for 15 years as the first vice president.

After 35 years of public service as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County in Clearwater, Florida, Russell retired in 2012. During his time as a civil servant he was responsible for implementing the county's affirmative action and human rights ordinances. These ordinances continue to ensure a racially and sexually diverse workforce and support the implementation of the county's equal employment opportunity programs.

From 2007 to 2011, Russell served as President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA). The IAOHRA membership consists of statutory human and civil rights agencies throughout the United States and Canada and other nations. These agencies enforce state and local civil rights laws and are actively engaged in reducing and resolving intergroup tension and promoting intergroup relations.

As part of his lifelong work and leadership, Russell has served as a member of several organizations including the International City Management Association and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. He served as a board member of the Pinellas Opportunity Council, president and board member of the National Association of Human Rights Workers, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Children's Campaign of Florida.

As the Chairman of Floridians Representing Equity and Equality (FREE), a statewide coalition, Russel worked to oppose the Florida Civil Rights Initiative, an anti-affirmative action proposal. Ultimately, the initiative failed to get on the Florida ballot for voter consideration, because of the strong legal challenge spearheaded by FREE.

Russell has received numerous civic awards and citations for his work ensuring equality and equity across the U.S.

Derrick Johnson

President and CEO, NAACP

Derrick Johnson serves as the 19th president and CEO of the NAACP, a role he has held since October 2017. With a long history of leadership within the NAACP, including vice chairman of the National Board of Directors and president of the Mississippi State Conference, he has been instrumental in guiding the Association through a period of reinvigoration and transformation.

Under Johnson's leadership, the NAACP has taken on numerous impactful initiatives to advance racial justice, expose systemic inequities, and amplify the organization's advocacy for Black communities across the nation. Most recently, he spearheaded the launch of NAACP Capital, a fund of funds aligned with the NAACP's mission of achieving equity, political rights, and social inclusion for Black people and all persons of color. In 2020, Johnson led the "We Are Done Dying" Campaign, which exposed systemic inequities in American healthcare and beyond, further amplifying the NAACP's advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership in 2019, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in America. 

As the Biden Administration came into office in 2021, Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position dedicated to advancing the nation's issue of racial justice. His efforts culminated in President Biden signing an Executive Order to eliminate systemic racial barriers, ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity.

A seasoned civil rights advocate, Johnson has consistently been on the frontlines of the nation's most pressing issues. From calling out instances of racial insensitivity, like Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's use of Blackface; to condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, he has been an unwavering voice for justice. His leadership also included testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr's nomination and overseeing the NAACP's historic vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in 2019.

One of Johnson's top priorities is financial empowerment for Black Americans. He is working to close the wealth gap by supporting Black entrepreneurs through micro grants and resources. His advocacy also extends to keeping future presidential administrations focused on policies that benefit Black Americans, while actively combating harmful agendas.

Johnson envisions the NAACP as a leader in data-driven civic engagement, shaping the most comprehensive Black voter mobilization efforts to date. By leveraging technology and cutting-edge research, he aims to transform how the NAACP engages with communities across the country. Under his leadership, the organization is becoming the leading authority on Black culture, expanding its legacy from civil rights to fighting for equity across multiple arenas of American life.

Among his recent achievements, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Champion Award for his relentless work to eliminate menthol cigarettes and the industry's predatory marketing toward Black communities. He also received the 2024 Tougaloo College Light of Justice Award and the 2022 Warrior of Justice Award, recognizing his steadfast dedication to justice and equity.

Born in Detroit, Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Mississippi before earning his JD from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. He has furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Johnson's career as a veteran activist is defined by his commitment to defending rights and improving lives — whether through advocating for equitable education in Mississippi or pushing for national civil rights reforms.

Johnson is a frequent voice on networks such as CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC, where he advocates for the Black community and all those impacted by systemic oppression and injustice.