A packed room of Rockdale and Newton residents was on hand to witness the chartering ceremony of the first ever Rockdale/Newton County Section of the National Council of Negro Women Saturday at the J.P. Carr Community Center.

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 was a historic moment for both counties, which have not had a local chapter before.

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

The section's first president, Rhonda 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."

Here are a few scenes.

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