On Feb. 12, 1909, community leaders, organizers and activists gathered in New York to form a civil rights coalition. Since then, the multiracial group that was known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has been reshaping America’s history.

Now the nation’s oldest civil rights organization – based in Baltimore, Md., with 1,700 chapters nationwide – will soon celebrate 100 years of service. On Thursday, across the country, local and state branches of the NAACP will hold celebrations in recognition of the 100th anniversary, including the Bowling Green/Warren County chapter. It will host a celebration Thursday at Western Kentucky University’s Garrett Conference Center. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m., with festivities starting at 7 p.m.

“When it comes to history, there have been a lot of milestones achieved like integration and acceptance from various backgrounds,” said Joshua Hayes, president of the local chapter. “And history shows that we haven’t always been that way, so celebrating this centennial says a lot.”

Hayes said the celebration will boast 10 performances – one for each decade. The event, which will begin with a welcome from Mayor Elaine Walker, will showcase music performances by WKU’s Amazing Tones of Joy choir and Kaleidoscope’s Youth in Arts, dance performances by On Stage and Dance Arts of Bowling Green and poetry by Marilyn Mitchell and the Greenhouse Communication Initiative.

“We have from children dancing, to adult poetry, step and choirs singing – just a vast range of performances illustrating diversity of age, race, religion and everything,” Hayes said.

The celebration will be hosted by John Johnson, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. A Louisville native, Johnson grew up in Franklin and became the youngest NAACP chapter president in the state at the age of 17.

Admission is $7 or $5 with two nonperishable items. Hayes said proceeds will go toward the chapter’s educational fund, and the nonperishable items will be donated to HOTEL INC – a nonprofit organization aimed at meeting the needs of families and individuals.

Hayes said members of the local chapter have been working on the centennial celebration for the past three months – a project that normally takes a year to plan. He said this week is all about making sure everything is in place for next week’s celebration.

“We have passionate individuals who’ve been working around the clock on this,” he said. “And we’ve had so much support from the community and that says a lot. I’ve been moved to tears … but they were tears of joy.”

He said they are expecting 500-plus people from around the state, as well as from Nashville.

From the ballot box to the classroom, the NAACP has maintained its status as a champion of social justice. The long struggles by its leaders contributed to the admittance of the first black student at the University of Maryland in 1935, anti-segregation laws in public facilities in 1940s, Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 and equal employment opportunities in the 1960s.

Charted in 1974, the Bowling Green/Warren County branch has continued to follow the NAACP’s mission, holding voter registration drives, awarding scholarships to college-bound students and fighting discrimination in employment, housing and education. The main focus of the NAACP here, Hayes said, is to work with youth – in middle school, high school and college – as well to provide education and to assist the region.

“We are striving to make sure we are doing our part and not being stagnant,” Hayes said. “We want the community to know we are here, and we are working toward achieving positive strides. That’s the standard.”