The new head of the Galesburg NAACP chapter intends to emphasize the need to lead young people in the community.
Keith Doc Patterson, who replaced Candy Webb, said it’s important to keep kids on the right path in life.
“If we don’t engage them, they’re at the mercy of the gangs and the negative environment. So they’re our kids, we’re going to take care of them,” Patterson said.
Patterson said that means instilling values such as self-respect. The Galesburg chapter plans on doing that through programs that bring together the entire community, including an annual street dance at the high school and a picnic with civic organization leaders.
Patterson also hopes the NAACP can teach children to respect authority figures.
“Whether it’s a paramedic, a firefighter, a school teacher, a police officer. This new generation coming up -- some of them, not going to say all, some of them -- have never been accountable or responsible for their actions. And that’s where we’ve been running into the problems,” Patterson said.
Patterson said the chapter also looks forward to working with area schools.