Mississippi NAACP Honors Rep. Zakiya Summers With Dr. Aaron Henry Lifetime Service Award

Nearly 15 years ago, Zakiya Summers applied for a job at One Voice.

Derrick Johnson, who then led One Voice and the Mississippi State Conference NAACP, hired her.

She went to work behind the scenes, helping organize campaigns, programs and events and learning from civil rights leaders whose work had opened doors for her. This November, the Mississippi NAACP recognized Summers with the Dr. Aaron Henry Lifetime Service Award.

Summers, who represents Mississippi House District 68 and serves as secretary of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, credited her faith, her NAACP family and the people who helped her grow into public service. She also shared a lesson from those early years that she still carries into the Capitol: “Our work doesn’t end on Election Day.”

The award bears the name of Dr. Aaron Henry, who helped establish the Clarksdale branch of the NAACP, led the state organization for more than three decades and served in the Mississippi Legislature. His life is a reminder of what Mississippians can change when they organize together and carry that work into the places where decisions are made.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus congratulates Rep. Summers. We’re proud to serve alongside her and grateful to the Mississippi NAACP for recognizing the years of work behind this honor.