The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) mission is to lead, empower and advocate for women of African descent, their families and communities.
About NCNW
The National Council of Negro Women was founded in 1935 by the extraordinary educator and political leader Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955). She envisioned the National Council of Negro Women to be an “organization of organizations” that would represent the national and international concerns of Black women. It would also give Black women the opportunity to realize their goals for social justice and human rights through united, constructive action.
The NCNW mission is to lead, empower, and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities.
Today, the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is a council of 39 affiliated national African American women’s organizations and over 240 sections – connecting nearly 4 million women worldwide!
Click here to visit the website of our national organization.
About Columbus, GA Section of NCNW
Many years ago, a thriving Section of NCNW existed in Columbus, Georgia but eventually dissolved.
After attending the dedication of Dorothy Height Elementary School on August 16, 2014, Dr. Kimberly Scott set the plan in motion to reactivate a Section in Columbus. She talked to like-minded women who also felt the need to resurrect this great organization in Columbus.
Dr. Kimberly Scott, Wendye Melzar, Dr. Monica Sparks, Tamu Taylor and Dr. Nikita Harris began meeting to start the process. Dr. Harris suggested the section be named Fountain City.
On the 79th anniversary of NCNW’s founding — December 5, 2014 — the group met with other women who were interested in learning more about NCNW and how they could help charter a local section. Dr. Scott was elected as temporary Chair and Wendye Melzar was elected as temporary Secretary.
The focus of the 2014-2015 year was to lay the groundwork for a local section and recruit members. The first membership drive was held in March and 17 individuals paid their dues. During the 2015-2016 year, Fountain City Sisters held monthly meetings focusing on education, health, and finance as well as completed a service project. The section grew to 24 paid members.
During the fall of 2016, Fountain City Sisters held another membership drive, monthly meetings focusing on education, health, and finance as well as completed the section’s signature service project a CHUGS (coats, hats, undergarments, gloves, and scarves/socks) drive. The section met the required number of paid members required to charter a section Friday, December 2, 2016.
The Columbus, Georgia Section was organized on December 8, 2016 at Dorothy I. Height Elementary School. The CHUGS collected during the 2nd annual drive were presented to students at DHES. The National Board of Directors approved the section for a charter on January, 24, 2017.
The Charter and Installation of Officers Ceremony was held on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at St. James AME Church. Sharah Denton, Interim Georgia Sections State President and National Vice Chair of Youth, presented the section charter to Dr. Kimberly Scott. Lois Keith, National Vice Chair, installed the officers. Diane Larche’, National Membership Chair, recognized the 72 charter members.
The Fountain City Sisters, as the Columbus, GA Section is affectionately known, continues to focus on education and empowering individuals in the Chattahoochee Valley Area.