The St. Louis County NAACP has a new president with the appointment of John Gaskin III to serve as the youngest president in the branch’s 75-year history. Gaskin, 26, was elected by acclamation on Thursday, November 8
Gaskin has been active with the NAACP since the age of 9. He has an NAACP National Board of Directors member since 2012 and a Midwest Region IV representative of the national board.
Locally, Gaskin has recently served as the St. Louis County NAACP Freedom Fund Leadership Dinner chairman and as the Diversity and Minority Outreach coordinator for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
“I am deeply honored to have an opportunity to serve America’s oldest and largest civil rights organization in such a key way,” Gaskin said.
“As a lifelong NAACPer, I understand deeply that the work of the organization is done in the field at a grass roots level. I look forward to building coalitions and working more regionally with other groups that want to move our civil rights agenda forward.”
Esther Haywood, an active NAACP leader in various national and local positions for nearly five decades, will end her 25-year run as branch president, but will stay on with emeritus status.
“In my role as president emeritus I am hopeful that I will now have more time to dedicate to strengthening Lincoln University in Jefferson City and working collectively with area women and girls through the NAACP’s Project WIN (women in the NAACP),” Haywood said.
“Our branch is on solid footing and will be in the hands of a visionary leader who was trained by the NAACP since birth. With the support of our executive leadership team and other civic and business leaders, our branch will continue to prosper and support its new president.”
Gaskin included Haywood in a list of leaders he humbly follows.
“I am truly humbled to walk in the footsteps of incredible civil rights giants such as Frankie M. Freeman, Margaret Bush Wilson, Ina Boon, and now Esther Haywood,” Gaskin said.
A slate of executive officers for the branch was elected along with Gaskin: John Bowman, first vice president; Andreal Hoosman, second vice president; Kenneth Murdock, third vice president; Maggie Strong, treasurer; Harriet Weaver, assistant treasurer; Lula Hall, secretary; and Phyllis Knight, assistant secretary.
