Springfield NAACP moves to office in downtown

The NAACP has moved into an office in downtown Springfield.

The historic organization is now inside Commerce Pointe at 20 S. Limestone St.

“I’ve always wanted us to be centralized,” NAACP President Denise Williams said. “I wanted to be downtown with all the other businesses. Everyone comes downtown a lot.”

Williams said the NAACP moved from the Small Business Development Center on East Auburn because the building is closing. She said she was put in contact with the Commerce Pointe building and was able to make a deal so that the rent would stay the same.

MORE: Springfield NAACP to mark progress with Freedom Fund event

“We were lucky they had some vacancy in this building,” she said. “This was a blessing to be able to move down to this location.”

The new office space is in the basement of the Commerce Pointe building. It offers a conference room, office space, a main lobby and several other rooms that the organization is trying to decide how to utilize.

MORE: Springfield NAACP kicks off new fundraising event

“It’s a lot larger and it’s more friendly,” Williams said. “I am beyond excited. I think it will be more access to the community.”

The move comes on the heels of a stronger initiative by the NAACP to improve relationships with local businesses and to increase membership. Williams said the Springfield unit of the NAACP works to make sure everyone’s civil rights are protected.

MORE: NAACP, public safety officers to host basketball game in Springfield

“I am challenging the community to become members of the NAACP,” she said. “I am challenging corporations to be a sponsor of the NAACP. We need to form a partnership. I need to connect with these corporations because they are going to need me and I am here to support them and their employees. We need to connect.”

The new office space is a climax of a long road for the organization, Williams said.

“When we started we were meeting in churches and restaurants and now we have an office.”

About the Author