Shamaiye Haynes, Accessible Leadership for the NAACP

​Shamaiye Haynes is running for NAACP President and she deserves your ear. I met Ms. Haynes some years back as we tried to detangle ourselves from the educational haze that is sometimes felt in Charlotte. She has a glorious presence; an Angela Davis crown and red lip stick to show she doesn’t play around. We both were looking for opportunities for our children educationally and off the bat I saw her leadership at Movement School, advocating for the less fortunate and consistently sharing information to support the change that was needed in our community. 
I wrote this piece many weeks back, interviewing Ms. Haynes about her candidacy. I was committed to impartiality with plans of interviewing both candidates for this piece. I even went as far as to withhold my membership this year with the NAACP in order to create an equal platform for both candidates as I hold such high regards for both. But unfortunately, I was unable to interview current President Mack. 

This article is not what Ms. Haynes and I interviewed about. So, I won’t share with you how well versed she is in the history of the NAACP or how her platform is clear and concise. I will share something a little more personal about Ms. Haynes. Last year I found myself homeless in Charlotte. A self employed, hardworking mother of two evicted in less than 2 weeks with the landlord filing after I was only 3 days late. Ms. Haynes, reached out to me from jump providing resources, love and advice. She never looked down on me, supporting my writing piece Sho Ya’ Love, always concerning herself with my son who is in the grade with her daughter. Ms. Haynes gave out supplies during the onset of COVID, which I truly benefited from and she also made it a point to bring students, parents and teachers together during this crisis. She just doesn’t stop. 
I can’t write a dry, dull piece just stating the notes that I took during Ms. Haynes interview. I must share who she truly is; an accessible leader of the people. For me she was just a phone call away. Regardless of the results of this race, thank you Shamaiye for your service and you are who Charlotte needs.

Today Shamaiye Haynes and her team will be feeding the Community  with “Another Chance House of Refuge and Caterer” Sharelle Curenton from 11-1 pm on 301 Cromer Street . Presidential Candidate of the NAACP Charlotte Shamaiye Haynes and Vice Presidential Candidate Blanch Penn will be present.