National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Champaign County Section
Mary McLeod Bethune formed the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) on December 5, 1935, to "…lead, develop and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities." In 1981, Odessa Hudson saw a need for an NCNW section in Champaign County. Hudson, along with fifty women, gathered at Bethel A.M.E. Church to form the Champaign County section to advocate for "community-based health, education, and economic empowerment services and programs within Champaign County."
The chapter has hosted several events over the years, such as Wealth of Music, Evening of Cultural Diversity, a Mother's Day Brunch, and events featuring Albertina Walker (an award-winning gospel singer) and William Warfield (an actor, singer, and UIUC School of Music faculty member). Today, the National Council of Negro Women continues to work to improve the Champaign County community.
