The Murfreesboro (Tennessee) Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recognized Nissan North America, Inc. as “Organization of the Year” during its annual Freedom Fund awards banquet held on August 26 on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. This marks the first time the Murfreesboro Branch has recognized corporate entities.
The award recognizes organizations that impact both the individuals and the community where they operate locally and nationally. It also recognizes those organizations involved with the NAACP’s youth education programs.
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized by such a prestigious organization for what Nissan does in the community and nationally,” said Jeffrey Webster, Nissan’s director of Diversity and Inclusion. “The NAACP’s mission to promote social and economic opportunities for ALL Americans is clearly aligned with Nissan’s goals of creating a truly diverse and inclusive workforce and fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of America’s diverse cultural heritage.”
The NAACP’s Murfreesboro Branch is one of more than 2,200 local chapters and branches nationwide. The city of Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropolitan area, which is home to Nissan’s North American headquarters. Nissan has proudly supported the Murfreesboro Branch for more than five years sponsoring its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and the annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
We are pleased to recognize Nissan for its commitment to the NAACP’s mission of ensuring the equality of rights of all people and eliminating race-based discrimination,” says Katie Wilson, president of the Murfreesboro NAACP Branch. “They are a valued corporate neighbor and ardent supporter of the important work we do.”
Nationally, Nissan has been a long-time supporter of the NAACP sponsoring its National Convention and the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) for five consecutive years. The latter is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate and encourage high academic cultural achievement among African American high school students. During the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington in 2013, Nissan sponsored the NAACP’s Welcome Center. In addition, Nissan sponsored the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery commemorating the life of Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist whose widow Myrlie Evers-Williams is a former Chairwoman of the NAACP Board of Directors.
