The Rockdale/Newton County Section of the National Council of Negro Women will be officially chartered in a ceremony on May 11, 6 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor Street in Conyers.

The NCNW is a 78-year-old organization that serves the purpose of "supporting women and youth in career development and community leadership," and focusing on issues that affect African-American women and their families.

The chartering of this council will be a historic moment for both counties, and neither one has ever hosted a section of the NCNW.

There are 77 founding members of the local section, both men and women.

The section's first president is Rhonda Taylor, who has been involved with the organization for more than 20 years. She said the group will be partnering with organizations with similar missions to make sure their endeavors are as effective as possible.

Taylor said that the purpose of the organization was to be an "umbrella of organizations that would represent the national and international concerns of black women" and that it would also "give black women the opportunity to realize their goals for social justice and human rights through united, constructive action."

The NCNW carries out its mission with research, advocacy, educational and economic empowerment services and more throughout both the U.S. and Africa.

There are section and affiliate volunteers in 34 states. The council is comprised of 39 affiliated national African-American women's organizations with more than 240 sections. The NCNW connects with almost 4 million women worldwide.

For more information about the NCNW or the program, contact Rhonda Taylor at 678-824-2946.