ABOUT US

Established in 1909, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States of America. The NAACP was created in response to the deadly two-day race riot that occurred in Springfield Illinois in 1908. Black residents were subjected to violence which included lynchings, murders, the burning down of businesses and homes. Appalled by the anti-Black violence; an interracial group consisting of W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Mary White Ovington, Mary Church Terrell and others issued the call to discuss racial justice and end racial violence.

There was never a branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in the township of Hillside, New Jersey until now!

The Covid-19 pandemic blew a lid off the inequities in this country. Systematic racism and injustices continue to plague Black communities. Nicole Graves-Watson, a mother of two, wife and resident in the township of Hillside became tired of witnessing inequalities and wanted to do Something! Channeling back to her activism as an undergraduate student at William Paterson University; she began to organize. Nicole began the process of forming an NAACP Branch for the township of Hillside in March 2021. In the summer of 2021; she began mobilizing residents to become founding charter members of an NAACP in the township. After work and on the weekends, Nicole and her 11-year-old daughter, Ashley met with residents to encourage them to join by completing an NAACP application and paying the annual membership fee of $30.00 (thirty dollars). In August 2021; Nicole ran into Crystal Page, a former colleague and encouraged her to join. Crystal Page joined to become a founding charter member and registered 27 additional Hillside residents. As of October 4, 2021; there were 105 paid members, who became founding charter members.

The Hillside NAACP was chartered on October 16, 2021 and continues to grow each day.

“No matter who you are; you can always make a positive change in the lives of others.” ~ Nicole Graves-Watson, M.A. Founder, President, NAACP, Hillside, NJ Branch

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Nicole Graves-Watson

Founder, President

Nicole Graves-Watson is the founder and president of the National Association for Colored People (NAACP) Branch in the township of Hillside, New Jersey.   Nicole also serves as the Community Relations Specialist with a local governmental agency.  In this role; she is responsible for creating, administering and managing community outreach initiatives.  She is a public speaker that provides workshops on public safety issues. 

Nicole previously worked as a social worker for a non-profit organization, Court Appointed Special Advocates and New Jersey’s Department of Children and Family Services.    Nicole holds a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.  

During her undergraduate years, Nicole held editorial internships with Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, The Star-Ledger Newspaper and Black Enterprise Magazine. Nicole’s articles have appeared in Black Enterprise Magazine. The Source Magazine and The Star-Ledger to name a few. Nicole serves on numerous community boards.  She is married and has two daughters. 

James Davis

1st Vice President

James Davis is the first vice president and a founding member of the Hillside NAACP.  He represents Ward 2 in the township of Hillside as a district leader for the past 12 years.  He previously served with the Newark Fire Department as a fire fighter/EMT. He is the former Director of Security Investigation for Eagle Detective Agency of South Orange, NJ. He is currently employed by the Township of Hillside. James is married and has resided in Hillside for over 40 years.  

Juanita Moore

2nd Vice President

Juanita Moore, second vice president and a founding member of the Hillside NAACP is a retired registered nurse.  She served the community as a registered nurse for 45 years. She volunteers with her church food bank ministry and bereavement ministry. She has been a notary for past ten years. Juanita Moore has been married for 49 years and a caregiver for more than 20 years. She is a mother of three adult children and a grandmother of three.   
“My current aim is to reach as many people as possible to educate on avoidable conditions and to keep the symptoms under control. I also like to educate our community about estate planning. Education is the most important thing we can have in life.  No matter how old we are, you can still learn something new. When we know better we can do better.”

Richard Graves

Treasurer

Richard Graves, a lifelong educator is the treasurer and a founding member of the Hillside NAACP.  Mr. Graves was the first Black teacher at Hillside High School in 1972.  He worked as a teacher with Hillside Public Schools until 1981, when he left to become a social worker with Irvington Public Schools.  He served as a social worker, assistant principal and principal with Irvington Public Schools until his retirement in 2010.  Having worked in education for 38 years, Richard Graves mentors teachers and school administrators in his spare time.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Jersey City State University and a Masters Degree from Kean University.  He is married with three adult children and  has two grandchildren.   

Sequoia Moore

Secretary

Sequoia Moore currently is the secretary and a founding member of Hillside NAACP. She has served on the Executive Board since the founding of the branch in October 2021. Sequoia has been a resident of Hillside for over 35 years.  Sequoia has been in the Accounting/Finance field for over 20 years and is an AVP/Stock Compensation Accounting Manager for a national bank. She is also a mother of two.