New Boston NAACP President: 'Lots Of Work To Do' In Community

It's now official: Michael Curry has been elected the new president of the Boston NAACP.

Over the weekend the chapter confirmed that voters have chosen the 42-year-old Brockton attorney over 73-year-old Bill Owens, Massachusetts' first black state senator. It was the first time in 10 years that the race was a contested one.

Speaking with Morning Edition's Bob Oakes, Curry said that the first concern of his presidential agenda is restaffing the organization.

"There is a lot of work to do, often in the campaign we said we were working to reestablish the voice of the community, so first and formost we must build up the internal organization," he said.

Curry said better representation of the NAACP throughout Boston remains a high priority.

"I think we have an opportunity, the NAACP, to sit down and discuss that diversity both on Beacon Hill and City Hall, and other various offices we should be represented," Curry said.

While critics have argued that in recent years the NAACP has become irrelevant, Curry remains optimistic.

"There is really no relevancy issue," he said. "It's really just about the NAACP jumping back in to be the voice of our community and be an advocate on those issues about adequate resources."

Earlier: