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WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The youth council of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will make history next month when it elects its first officers.The Wilkes-Barre NAACP Youth Council No. 28 AM received its charter in July at the NAACP&#8217;s annual convention in Philadelphia. The council acts independently from the Wilkes-Barre NAACP Branch No. 2306 and will hold elections on Oct. 17.Peggy Felton, youth works committee chairperson with the branch, said there are 57 youths between the ages of 13 and 20 participating. The group was assembled after a series of meetings at Luzerne County Community College and open houses. Participants come from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.&#8220;They have youth councils across the country. This is the only one in the Wilkes-Barre area,&#8221; Felton said. The closest council is in Philadelphia.The councils have their own bylaws but are under the umbrella of the national organization.The closest council is in Philadelphia. Nationwide, the council is among the approximate 600 youth units with an estimated 25,000 members, according to the NAACP.Council members could make the transition to the branch to replace aging adults, Felton explained. She added another reason for the council&#8217;s creation, &#8220;We need good leaders in the community.&#8221;The positions up for election are president, three vice presidents, secretary and assistant secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer and no more than 18 executive committee members.Prospective candidates must obtain three signatures in order to be on the ballot. Campaigning is limited to candidates for three of the top offices. &#8220;The president, the secretary and treasurer have to get in front of their peers and explain why they should be elected,&#8221; Felton said.A majority vote in the secret ballot will determine the winners. They will serve until March when the regularly scheduled yearly elections take place. Felton said she will put her name in for the youth adviser that council members will elect.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jerry Lynottjlynott@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>NAACP Youth Council No. 28 AM electionsWhen: Oct. 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.Where: Quality Inn, 880 Kidder St., Wilkes-BarreThe event is open to the public.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLNews</shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre NAACP Youth Council to hold first election in October