Officers 2025-2027/Committees
Meet NAACPCC President
My name is Minnie Pearson and it’s with profound pleasure that I introduce myself as the President of the NAACP Champaign County Branch. I’ve lived in the Champaign-Urbana Community for over 50 years. I graduated from the University of Illinois with a master’s degree. From an early age, I knew that I wanted to teach elementary education. After graduating from the U of I with a BS degree, I got my first teaching position with Champaign Unit 4 School District as a first-grade teacher at Dr. Howard Elementary School. I worked in this same district for over 30 years, and I’m now retired. My passion is working with children; so, I continue to substitute teach a couple days a week. Continuing to interact with our youth helps me keep up with the best teaching practices. I also volunteered as a CU One to One Mentor for the last ten years in the Champaign Schools. You can say that I’m a public servant by nature.
I am a life member of the NAACP Champaign County Branch and I’ve served as the first vice President for eight years to now the President going on my second term. I’m especially proud of the work that is being done by the NAACPCC Executive Branch and with all committees. The local mission of the NAACP Champaign County Branch is to ensure political empowerment, educational excellence, social and economic equality of life for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination wherever it exists. As President, I promise that I will continue to work hard to uphold the mission of the NAACP. As we all know, an organization is only as strong as its membership. Hence, I invite each of you to please get involved; and take out membership in this local branch and become part of a committee or serve on the board. You are needed and we welcome you!
I currently serve happily on a few other local boards where I also hold leadership roles. I am a life member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Inc. Champaign Urbana Alumnae Chapter and a member of Salem Baptist Church in Champaign for over 45 years.
Teneisha James Wesley
NAACPCC
Second Vice President
Teneisha James Wesley born in Chicago, IL and raised in the heart of Mississippi in a small City called Cleveland. A city where a deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities were developed. Teneisha witnessed firsthand the disparities in healthcare access and quality, which ignited the passion to make a difference in people’s lives. Teneisha is member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. In addition to public service, 25 years in the healthcare profession as a nurse.
Recognizing the importance of advocating for social justice and equality, Ms. Wesley became actively involved in her local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter. Commitment to civil rights and dedication to improving the lives of underrepresented communities led to the election as 2nd Vice President of the Champaign Chapter-3008-B. Committed to continuously enhancing skills and knowledge, Teneisha strives to continually attend conferences, DEI workshops, and seminars related to nursing and social justice issues.
Teneisha’s unwavering dedication to healthcare, her community, and civil rights has made her a valuable asset to both the nursing profession and the NAACP.
Michele Cooper
Vice President
A Danville, Illinois native, Michele moved to Urbana, Illinois after graduation from Danville High School.
Michele holds an AA from Parkland College and a BA from Eastern Illinois University.
While pursuing her degrees, Michele began her career at the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL). After serving in several positions at USACERL, Michele was promoted to the position of the USACERL Equal Employment Opportunity Manager. After 35 years at USACERL she retired in 2005.
Michele is a Life Member of the Champaign County Branch of the NAACP and a former advisor for the NAACP Youth Council of Champaign County Branch and former State of Illinois NAACP Youth Advisor. She has also served as Secretary and is currently the 3rd Vice President of the Champaign County Branch. She has also served on the Political Action and Legal Redress Committees.
Michele formerly served as a mentor for the Urbana School’s Mentoring Program, and also a former member of the City of Urbana Human Relations Commission and is currently a volunteer at Empty Tomb (a Champaign-Urbana organization that serves the community in Jesus’ name) and also volunteers to bag groceries for the needy at The Vineyard Church’s Hope Center. Michele also serves as a Board member of First String (a community organization that provides recreational activities for youths in the northeast end of Champaign and the northwest end of Urbana).
Dr. Barbara Gillespie-Washington
ACT-SO Chair
Dr. Barbara Gillespie-Washington, a retired educator from Urbana School District, graduating from the University of Illinois, receiving both a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Agriculture and a Master’s from the College of Education. Later she earned a Ph.D. in Theology at North Carolina Bible College.
During her years in education she has written curriculum, for the Urbana School District in math and science as well as helped in developing materials and science kits for classroom implementation. She has conducted many in-service trainings for teachers in these areas at the district, regional and across the state of Illinois.
Dr. Gillespie has worked at the University of Illinois in a multiplicity of roles. She has helped in developing specialized programs in pre-service education for teachers, served on various committees and taught courses in math and science. As quiet as it is kept, she was invited to work with Parkland College on the planning for the planetarium. Also she was personally selected to work alongside one of the Nobel Prize winners in science at U of I and his wife, in the writing, developing and implementation of the Project S.E.A.R.C.H. initiative. She has represented the U of I at the National Science Foundation in Washington D.C. exploring means for science advancement beginning in the early years. Other areas include work with the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative, (INTC), renowned teacher induction and mentoring program.
She is a committed community worker and advocate for youth, spending untold hours as chairperson of the NAACP ACTSO Program, Dr. Gillespie was one of the original board members in bringing to fruition the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in Champaign, Illinois. For at least the last 19 years consecutively, she has been honored by some organization for her untiring devotion to helping others. While in Kenya, Africa, she met an 18 year old young man Other credits include, the author of two books, numerous published educational articles as well as the writing of stage pages for productions at the Krannert Center for Preforming Arts at the University of Illinois She has been featured in newspapers and periodical in her community and state. Barbara Gillespie has served and continues to serve on numerous national and local boards/committees. Her awards have been numerous.
Gail Hudson-Hankins
Freedom Fund Banquet Co-Chairs
Gail Hudson-Hankins is a lifetime member of the Champaign County Branch of NAACP. Gail is originally from East St. Louis, IL and from a service-oriented family. After relocating to Champaign, Illinois, she purchased her life membership and her son’s youth life membership through the Champaign County Branch.
Gail possesses a bachelor’s degree in Health Science, specializing in Environmental Health, from Illinois State University and a MPA from Governor’s State University.
Dedicated to the Champaign County Branch, Gail has served as 3rd Vice President, Secretary, and Membership Chair, as well as an active member of several committees. In addition to her service with the Branch, Gail is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., where she has served in nearly all offices and committee chair positions for 4 of the Sorority’s 5 Point Thrusts with the Champaign-Urbana Alumnae Chapter. She is a member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church of Champaign where she is currently Mission President. In addition, Gail continues to be active in the Champaign-Urbana community as a Deputy Registrar, a board member of the State Employees and Universities Combined Appeal (SECA) Board, President of The Crimson Foundation, dedicated member of Delta Dears and Douglass Park District Seniors, National Alliance Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group Facilitator, former den leader/current committee member with Prairielands Council’s Cub Scout Pack 402 (Canaan Baptist Church) and, as a mentor with CU One-to-One Mentoring.
Mission: The Freedom Fund Banquet Co-Chairs, along with their committee, work closely with the Finance Committee to plan and conduct this annual fundraiser for the Branch including meal, activities, entertainment, etc. The Freedom Fund Banquet supports Branch operations while providing the ability to advocate for their Champaign County constituents.
Gail Hudson-Hankins
Communications Co-Chair
Lucretia A. Pearson -Williams is a native and resident of Champaign, Illinois and also serves her community as the NAACP Champaign County Communication Co-Chair, where her primary responsibility is maintaining the NAACP Champaign County Branch website. Her formal education was accomplished from Centennial High School, completing an Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems from Parkland College and a certificate in web design. She is currently a student at Eastern Illinois University.
Lucretia is a veteran of the United States Army. She was stationed at: Ft. Jackson, SC, Ft. Dix, NJ, Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany, Ft. Lewis Washington, and Ft. Myers Virginia. After her active duty career, Lucretia moved back to Champaign to complete her U.S. Army Reserve obligation.
Outside of her busy schedule, Lucretia always manages to find time to serve her community. She is aware that it ‘takes a village’ in order to make change. She is proud and loves the community in which she serves.
MISSION: To serve as the NAACPCC Branch Communication Co-chair and ensure that our community has access to community information and resources in which the NAACPCC serves.
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