By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Lillington, NC - Under the leadership of President Benita Harrington, the Harnett County NAACP 5473B has maintained a consistent and influential presence in local governance, with representatives attending meetings ranging from the Board of Elections to the County Commission. The branch’s impact is evidenced by its high engagement levels, including a recent sold-out Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast featuring a keynote address by veteran NAACP leader Dr. Ben Chavis.
On July 15, the organization hosted a candidate town hall at the county government complex featuring Harnett County Sheriff candidates Aaron Meredith and Reggie Watson. The forum provided a transparent platform for the community to evaluate the candidates' law enforcement experience and visions for the county. Discussion focused on rural policing priorities, community safety, and administrative accountability. President Harrington emphasized that safety is a universal right and created the session to ensure a fair, professional dialogue that addressed sensitive topics like training and police misconduct while respecting candidate privacy.
Finally, in efforts to focus on the future, the Harnett County Youth Mental Health & Resilience Initiative has been launched. The Harnett County NAACP Freedom Branch 5473b has been awarded a BUILD Grant to launch the Youth Mental Health & Resilience Initiative, a community-based program designed to address the urgent mental health crisis affecting young people in our county.
In recent years, Harnett County has experienced multiple tragic youth suicides, each rooted in a lack of accessible mental health resources, limited culturally competent support, and systems that too often criminalize rather than assist struggling youth. This initiative will create a coordinated, community-driven response that expands access to mental health education, early intervention, culturally responsive support, and advocacy for policy change. The project aligns directly with the NAACP’s enduring commitments to health and well-being, education innovation, race and justice, and environmental and climate justice, while strengthening the branch’s capacity to serve youth and families. Great things are happening in Harnett County.
