At its October general membership meeting, the NAACP Alexandria Branch 7043 Nominating Committee presented its slate for the 2027–2028 term and named John Hopkins-Gillispie as its nominee for Branch President.
Hopkins-Gillispie is a life member of the branch. He has chaired the Freedom Fund Dinner for the past two years, and this year’s dinner raised more than $40,000 for the branch. He serves on the Legal Redress Committee, reviewing discrimination complaints brought to the branch. He has provided input on issues from the Alexandria Police Department’s hate crimes policy to the proposed Edsall Road data center. He also represents the branch as co-chair of the host committee for the 2027 Virginia State Conference convention.
An advocate at his core, Hopkins-Gillispie ran field operations in Fairfax County during the 2013 gubernatorial race and served nearly four years as Governor Terry McAuliffe’s personal aide. He graduated from Georgetown Law and built a career as a technology attorney because he saw it as the next frontier in the fight for civil rights.
As President, he would lead under three commitments: Grow. Serve. Engage.
Grow. Expand active membership by 20 percent in year one and build the branch’s reserves to $50,000 by the end of 2028 through year-round fundraising.
Serve. Launch a Valet School Supply Drive, with volunteers picking up donations at members’ doors for Alexandria students, and partner with AARP on fraud prevention workshops for seniors.
Engage. Host a Legislative Community Forum each January, where the Richmond delegation presents its agenda to the community ahead of the general body meeting, and prioritize the work of the Legal Redress, Environmental and Climate Justice, Health, and Youth Committees.
The election will be held Thursday, November 19, by electronic ballot. NAACP Alexandria members should check their email for the ballot. Questions about the candidacy may be directed to [email protected].