Yulanda Haddix has always had an eye for community service.
Now she’ll take her passion for involvement in the community to a new phase, as the newest president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Oktibbeha County chapter.
Haddix, a Starkville native, assumed the president’s position on Thursday after six-year chapter president Chris Taylor stepped down from the role.
An alumna of Mississippi State University, Haddix left Starkville for New Jersey after graduating when her husband, Michael Haddix, got drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles to play in the NFL.
While in New Jersey, Haddix worked with a juvenile detention center for about 16 years. She also ran a program with her husband in Camden, New Jersey, that focused on rehabilitating former gang members.
The Haddixes also lived in Atlanta, Georgia, for about two years before returning to Starkville, where she was involved in community churches and taught parenting classes.
Being away from Mississippi offered perspective on the struggles some people can face, Haddix said.
“Being raised in Mississippi and leaving here and going to live in New Jersey, and living a totally different lifestyle, you can see the disparity between communities,” Haddix said. “I’ve always worked with disadvantaged people. I see, as far as the job market and academically, people just don’t have the tools to have a lifestyle to sustain their families.
“When I got here, I said, ‘Now how can I make an impact?'” she added. “We’re in a position where we can make some changes.”
Haddix, a longtime member of the NAACP, said she knew the organization could be a powerful change agent in the community and got involved with the local chapter after her return, and has served as the chair of education and workforce development for the organization. Since returning, she’s also been involved with the Boys and Girls Club, Golden Triangle Indivisible and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership. She works as a workforce trainer at East Mississippi Community College.
Haddix said she hopes to continue seeing the NAACP take a leading role in community affairs. She said she’s particularly concerned about a plan to potentially relocate Pecan Acres — a federally-subsidized low-income housing development — from its current location on Highway 12 to Highway 182. The swap is being considered to make way for new commercial developments.
“I’m concerned about that,” she said. “I want to make sure that when we see there’s a situation going on that really needs to be addressed and people don’t have a voice — we want everyone to say that’s a concern. It’s not my community concern — it’s our entire community concern.”
She said she also hopes to collaborate more with neighboring chapters, especially those in Lowndes and Noxubee counties and the student chapter at MSU — all of which have female presidents.
“Our goal is to collaborate and really try to make an impact,” she said. “We’re making an impact as far as our individual communities, but we want to make sure we really get this Golden Triangle thing together and see our needs met. We can tackle them as a group.”
‘She’s going to be great’
Taylor, who spoke to The Dispatch about his decision to step down, said he felt it was time for a change after three two-year terms. A 31-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Taylor said he models his decisions on when to move on from something after the military.
“I said after six years, you can feel like you’ve made a great difference,” Taylor said. “In the military, every four or five years, you’re moving. I applied the same concept to this.”
Taylor said he’s been involved with the NAACP “forever” but got particularly active after retiring from the Army and returning to Starkville in 2006.
Taylor said he’s proud of the changes the Oktibbeha County chapter has seen during his terms, including a steady growth in membership and diversity. He said he was likewise proud of the work the chapter has done to support inclusivity in Starkville, such as supporting Starkville Pride’s pride parade last spring.
“Just continue to be out front and let the local politicians and elected officials know that they are being watched, for money and for personnel,” he said. “It’s equal rights and justice for all, not just black — white, lesbians, gay — for everyone.”
He added he thinks Haddix’s experiences in New Jersey will aid her in her new position
“She and her husband really want to give back,” he said. “I think they’re going to be a great team because her husband is really involved in some of everything in the community.
“With him and her, I think they’ll go farther,” Taylor added, “because now you have a husband and wife team. Before, you just had a me team.”
Taylor will continue to serve with the NAACP, as the chair for political action and community involvement.
Haddix said she plans to lean on him for support as she adjusts to her new role.
“I told him that the first year, he will be my mentor,” Haddix said. “Chris knows everybody. He’s going to be really vital for getting to know people I don’t know and getting into doors I can’t get into.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
