President’s Report – November 2025

November 27, 2025

Dear Freedom Fighters and Friends, 

As we embark upon the holiday season, I feel it is important to reflect and express gratitude for all that we’ve accomplished this year. 

Personally, this year has presented a number of  challenges; most specifically with my health coupled with the unexpected loss of employment. Many of you were amazing supporters of financial gaps, meal trains, stepping in to host office hours, lead programs, and endless prayers. After a roller coaster journey, I finally have a clear diagnosis and care plan to have a stronger quality of life moving forward. This new clarity has been a blessing and I’m so grateful to have a great support system and NAACP/Branch community praying for my healing and recovery. 

I want to  acknowledge the members of the Executive Committee who continue to join me in volunteering countless hours to manage their committees, attend public meetings to give public comment and engaginging in both our National and CA/HI State Conference Conventions. While we’ve had some departures and shifts for committees, we are looking forward to continuing the good work of policy and programs change across our governmental and educational partnerships throughout Sonoma County. 

This time of year can be both challenging and rewarding; I hope that you are able to spend time with loved ones, chosen family, or simply in solitude. I pray that each and every one of you is able to find joy, peace, and happiness throughout this season. 

As I reflect on our achievements this year I’m reminded of how far we’ve continued to grow:

• Memberships: 270 | Adult: 269  | Youth: 16  | Lifetime: 27 | Lifetime Member Orgs: 9
• Financial Stability – A healthy bank account to allow us to book events and provide refreshments at meetings due to grants, memberships, and donations.
• The 2025 Quarterly Activities and Updates will be shared at the January 5, 2026 meeting at 6:30pm.
• Ways for you to get involved as a member:
  • Join a Committee – this is where all the work happens! The time commitment is as little as 1hour a month.
    • Committee Chair Openings: Health, Veterans, Labor & Industry, WIN (Women in NAACP) 
    • Leadership positions on the Executive Committee:
      • 3rd Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Member(s) – At – Large

In November we launched consistent Office Hours at the H.I.V.E. which has allowed more time for members to have a workspace and to meet 1:1 with me. We continue to offer our Youth Programs on the weekends; we look forward to more youth engaging in the branch. We wrapped up the month with the Inaugural Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway providing meals for over 100 families. I continue to meet with our county decision makers to ensure we are all informed of the pertinent work ahead.

I look forward to the Holiday Toy Drive and Closet Shop on December 13th. Donations of New Toys and gift cards can be dropped at the H.I.V.E. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:30pm – 6pm.

I hope you all will consider the aforementioned ways to actively engage as a member to help our work to push for a more equitably just Sonoma County. 

 Sincerely, 

President Kirstyne Lange