Episode Title: Built for This Moment: Chris Alexander on Carrying the NAACP Legacy Forward

Welcome to Episode 20 of Policy & Culture — where power meets the people.

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Chris Alexander, newly appointed Executive Director of the NAACP New York State Conference, to unpack what it means to lead the oldest and largest civil rights organization in America during one of the most urgent moments for racial, economic, and social justice.

The NAACP New York State Conference has been a cornerstone of advocacy for 89 of the organization’s 115-year history, driving forward campaigns for voting rights, police reform, education equity, and economic inclusion. Now, under Chris’s leadership, it’s entering a new era , one rooted in community organizing, legislative power, and unapologetic Black leadership.

Chris shares:

• His vision to grow the NAACP’s membership and advocacy footprint across New York
• His personal journey from Queens to the Capitol, as a policy expert and criminal justice reformer
• What it took to launch New York’s legal cannabis market and create over $500M in economic activity
• Why the intersection of civil rights, cannabis justice, and community reinvestment matters more than ever
• The behind-the-scenes of writing and passing the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA)

Before taking the helm at the NAACP NYS Conference, Chris Alexander made history as the inaugural Executive Director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) — leading the rollout of one of the country’s most ambitious equity-centered cannabis programs, generating over 10,000 new jobs and reshaping the economic landscape.

He’s also served as:

• Associate Counsel in the NYS Senate, where he led efforts to end solitary confinement and reform parole
• Policy Coordinator at Drug Policy Alliance, where he launched the Start SMART NY campaign
• A former Legislative Aide in Congress and Field Director for the NYS Democratic Party

Chris brings a unique blend of movement roots and policymaking mastery to this episode — and shares how he’s preparing to elevate the next generation of Black leadership across New York State.

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