My name is Minnie Pearson and it’s with profound pleasure that I introduce myself as the President of the NAACP Champaign County Branch.  I’ve lived in the Champaign-Urbana Community for over 50 years. I graduated from the University of Illinois with a master’s degree.  From an early age, I knew that I wanted to teach elementary education.  After graduating from the U of I with a BS degree, I got my first teaching position with Champaign Unit 4 School District as a first-grade teacher at Dr. Howard Elementary School. I worked in this same district for over 30 years, and I’m now retired. My passion is working with children; so, I continue to substitute teach a couple days a week. Continuing to interact with our youth helps me keep up with the best teaching practices. I also volunteered as a CU One to One Mentor for the last ten years in the Champaign Schools. You can say that I’m a public servant by nature.

I am a life member of the NAACP Champaign County Branch and I’ve served as the first vice President for eight years to now the President going on my second term. I’m especially proud of the work that is being done by the NAACPCC Executive Branch and with all committees. The local mission of the NAACP Champaign County Branch is to ensure political empowerment, educational excellence, social and economic equality of life for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination wherever it exists. As President, I promise that I will continue to work hard to uphold the mission of the NAACP.   As we all know, an organization is only as strong as its membership.  Hence, I invite each of you to please get involved; and take out membership in this local branch and become part of a committee or serve on the board. You are needed and we welcome you!

I currently serve happily on a few other local boards where I also hold leadership roles.  I am a life member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Inc. Champaign Urbana Alumnae Chapter and a member of Salem Baptist Church in Champaign for over 45 years.