This year’s NAACP state conference comes at a time when the organization’s leaders say civil rights are being attacked across the nation even more blatantly.State chapter leaders have converged on Akron for the first time in 28 years. The 81st annual state conference is being held at the Holiday Inn West, 4073 Medina Road (state Route 18).The NAACP, formed in 1909 by a multiracial group, is the oldest, largest and most widely recognized grass-roots civil rights organization. Local chapters — there are 70 in Ohio — are developing strategies to help carry out this year’s theme of the national NAACP: “Affirming America’s Promise.”Akron NAACP President Ophelia Averitt said it’s important to hold meetings and coordinate with other chapters throughout the state.The president of the Ohio Conference of the NAACP, Sybil McNabb, who heads the Columbus chapter, said it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of responsibility to host a state conference.“We’re just glad we are here. These local conferences are crucial. It gives units a chance to bring in the concerns of their community. It is also a training venue to learn how to better act and react to concerns, whether it’s education, economic or social issues,” McNabb said. “Coming together as a unit in the local cities is just a link in the major operation of the NAACP.”She said America has made a lot of promises.“We are supposedly a melting pot coming together for the good of the whole, providing the best living conditions, people being able to work and support their families in an equitable way, but the reality of it is we have to remind America of those commitments,” McNabb said. “Those who work in civil rights become the voice for those who consider themselves voiceless and [who feel] helpless.”National leaders will speak this weekend, addressing the promise of America and defending rights to fair treatment.Leon W. Russell, vice chairman of the national board of directors, will be the keynote speaker at tonight’s Freedom Fund Dinner at Tangier restaurant. He said he will affirm the promise of equality for all as stated in the U.S. Constitution.He said there’s a coordinated effort to roll back voting rights, to frustrate and discourage people from going to the polls, unfair treatment in our criminal justice system and a disrespect for life. Russell, who lives in Florida, talked about an effort in his state to remove up to 300,000 voters from the rolls and to intimidate people. He said Senate Bill 5 in Ohio is being used to attack public employees.Ben Jealous, president and chief executive officer of the NAACP, also will attend the weekend events and will present awards at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Freedom/ACT So Gala at the Holiday Inn West.“ACT So” is the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics — a yearlong youth enrichment program within the NAACP. It is designed to encourage high academic and cultural achievement among minority high school students.Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.