Through collaborative efforts with traditional and non-traditional allies, One Voice has played a pivotal role in building alliances that transcend organizational and racial boundaries.
One Voice grew out of the work undertaken by the Mississippi State Conference NAACP in response to housing, education, civil rights, and other related policy advocacy needs facing historically disadvantaged communities in the wake of the 2005 hurricanes. That work revealed significant needs within the non-profit sector. One such need was access to current and relevant data required to do effective policy analysis. Another need was one of connections between trained and networked community leadership and non-partisan, community-based structures through which broad public involvement could be organized and sustained. One Voice, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed to address these needs.
Our partners and supporters are committed to building a strong, informed electorate that rejects polarization and seeks to improve the lives of Mississippi residents across the state regardless of color or class.
One Voice works toward achieving a progressive civic infrastructure in the American South by supporting local and state policy development through training and collaboration across issue areas and geography.
One Voice News
One Voice Leadership Transition
The Board of Directors of One Voice, Inc. has appointed Nsombi Lambright to the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer of One Voice effective August 15 through February 15. In her capacity as Interim CEO, she will lead and bear responsibility for all development, personnel, and communications efforts of the organization. The selection of Ms. Lambright occurs following the appointment of current One Voice CEO, Derrick Johnson, to the role of Interim President and CEO of the National NAACP.
The One Voice board is extremely proud of Mr. Johnson’s appointment to lead the National NAACP. His selection is no doubt related to the impact he has made through his work with One Voice. We are equally excited to announce Nsombi Lambright as the Interim CEO of One Voice. Ms. Lambright brings former nonprofit executive experience to the organization and has competently led One Voice’s Development and Program divisions over the last several years.
Ms. Lambright joined One Voice in 2012 after serving as the Executive Director of the Mississippi ACLU. While with the MS ACLU, she led the organization’s advocacy and litigation activities around voting rights, criminal justice, and freedom of speech, religion, and reproductive rights. Since joining One Voice, she has coordinated the organization’s fundraising and led programs to dismantle the school to prison pipeline, reduce the mass incarceration of people of color, and protect elections.
Ms. Lambright also brings extensive community engagement experience and networks to the leadership of One Voice. She sits on the boards of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Mississippi Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, and the Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative. She is also a member of the Jackson Branch NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the City of Jackson Transition Team under the leadership of Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.
Derrick Johnson will move into the role of advisor to the board to provide guidance and continuity to the organization during the transition.
Over the next six months, One Voice will continue to train new leaders in Mississippi through its leadership development initiatives: Mississippi Black Leadership Institute (MBLI), the Mississippi Black Leadership Summit (Oct. 5 & 6 in Jackson), the Electric Co-operative Leadership Institute, and the Hollis Watkins Muhammad Internship Program.
One Voice is also launching a new civic engagement initiative that will work with leaders across the state to ensure that community voices are heard in upcoming census and redistricting work through 2020.
Executive Leadership
Nsombi Lambright
Executive Director of One Voice
Safiya R. Omari, PhD
Associate Professor of Social Work and Health Sciences, Jackson State University Director of the Southern Institute for Mental Health Advocacy, Research and Training (SMHART), Jackson State University
Shirley M. Mock
Assistant Director of Planning & Government Relations Technical/Research and Legislative Consultant