Shevann Steuben exemplifies a deep commitment to cultivating the next generation of NAACP leadership. Recognizing the critical gap in youth leadership development across the organization, she has worked tirelessly to ensure a strong, sustainable foundation for young leaders in Texas to emerge and thrive.

One of Shevann’s signature contributions this year is the creation of the Leadership Incubator, an inaugural five-week leadership development program designed specifically for youth leaders. The program welcomed 18 youth members representing 10 units, college chapters, and youth councils from across the state. Through this initiative, Shevann has provided participants with:

• Exposure to current and former transformative youth leaders, allowing them to learn from real-world experiences and proven strategies

• Personalized action planning aligned with their individual leadership goals and aspirations

• Professional development opportunities to sharpen critical skills for both NAACP leadership and broader organizational engagement

The Leadership Incubator was thoughtfully designed to:

• Equip participants with the skills to lead confidently within the NAACP

• Provide direct access to state, regional, and national leadership

• Deepen understanding of the organization’s mission, policies, and structure

• Build a powerful network of rising leaders committed to advancing civil rights and social justice

Through the Leadership Incubator and her daily mentorship, Shevann has not only filled a leadership gap — she has built a pipeline that will strengthen the NAACP for generations to come. Her innovative approach, dedication to youth empowerment, and clear vision for the future make her a standout choice for Advisor of the Year.

Shevann Steuben has played a transformative role in redefining and strengthening the organization's visual identity through her leadership in Creative Directing, Branding, and Marketing Support. Her efforts not only elevated the professionalism of our external image but also empowered local units to build their own strong, consistent brands.

Her key contributions include:

• Website Design and Development: Designed and launched a modern, accessible website that serves as a central platform for engagement, resources, and event promotion.

• Social Media Strategy and Content Creation: Led the creation of graphics, reels, and videos that strategically increased visibility, enhanced engagement, and told the story of our mission through powerful visuals and messaging.

• Graphic and Merchandise Design: Designed a full line of branded materials including t-shirts, crewnecks, executive apparel, and custom stickers, fostering a stronger sense of identity, pride, and cohesion across the organization.

• Creation of Unit Logos: Designed official logos for all participating units, ensuring each maintained brand consistency while honoring local identity. This step provided every unit with high-quality, ready-to-use assets for both digital and print use.

• Brand Training and Support: Taught units how to properly utilize the NAACP brand, including:

  • How to adjust logo colors appropriately while maintaining brand integrity

  • How to reference and apply guidelines from the official Brand Guide

  • Best practices for using logos, fonts, and colors across flyers, social media, and apparel

  • Tips for creating a cohesive look across all platforms, boosting professionalism and recognition

Through a balance of hands-on creative work and strategic education, Shevann empowered units to take ownership of their branding and communication. Her work has left a lasting impact — ensuring that every piece of content, apparel, and online presence reflects the excellence, unity, and mission of the NAACP.

At the heart of Shevann Steuben’s leadership is her unwavering commitment to mentorship. Shevann approaches mentorship as more than just guidance — she creates intentional, empowering relationships that foster growth, confidence, and leadership development in every young person she engages.

Her mentorship contributions include:

• Individualized Support: Shevann tailors her mentorship to the unique strengths, aspirations, and challenges of each youth leader, providing personalized coaching that accelerates both personal and professional growth.

• Leadership Development: She actively prepares mentees for greater responsibility by offering real-world leadership opportunities, teaching critical skills like public speaking, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and organizational management.

• Cultivating Confidence: Through consistent encouragement, accountability, and honest feedback, Shevann helps emerging leaders believe in their capabilities and see themselves as agents of change within the NAACP and beyond.

• Mentorship Through Accessible Leadership: Shevann’s leadership is marked by her constant accessibility to members across the entire state. Whether through roles she currently holds or by creating new pathways, she is always willing to listen, guide, and advocate to help youth members reach their personal and professional goals. She is intentional about connecting members with opportunities that align with their interests and ensuring that no young leader feels isolated or overlooked.

Through her mentorship, Shevann is not just building better leaders — she is setting a standard for what accessible, supportive leadership should look like within the NAACP and beyond.

Shevann Steuben is deeply committed to strengthening the connection between youth units, branches, and young adult members across Texas. As the youngest Vice President to ever serve the Houston branch, Shevann understands firsthand the importance of elevating youth voices and ensuring that leadership is seen, heard, and felt at every level of the organization.

Her contributions to youth and branch connectivity include:

• Local Outreach: Shevann consistently reaches out to youth units and branches in the Houston area, offering support, collaboration, and strategic guidance to help sustain and grow local engagement.

• Post-Graduation Engagement: Recognizing a common gap in membership after college, Shevann has developed new pathways and strategies to engage young adults as they transition from campus-based involvement into branch leadership, advisory roles, and broader civic participation.

• Sustained Relationships: Through regular communication, personalized outreach, and meaningful collaboration, Shevann ensures that youth leaders remain connected to the NAACP mission and feel supported as they navigate new stages of leadership.

• Innovative Programming: Shevann encourages and helps design programming that meets young adults where they are — culturally, professionally, and socially — ensuring that NAACP membership remains relevant, empowering, and welcoming to emerging generations.

• Leadership Visibility: As the youngest VP in Houston branch history, Shevann is passionate about ensuring every member of Youth & College knows that their leadership potential is not only acknowledged but celebrated. She is dedicated to creating spaces where young leaders can have their voices heard, their ideas valued, and their impact recognized.

• National Advocacy: Having grown up in the Youth & College Division, Shevann now serves as a National Board of Director, where she continuously advocates at all levels of the organization for the needs of youth members. She emphasizes the importance of increased resources, recognition, programming, and overall support for the division, ensuring that young people are not only heard but fully supported to lead within the NAACP and beyond.

Through her intentional work, Shevann has strengthened the pipeline between youth, college, and adult leadership roles, ensuring a continuous, thriving network of young changemakers across Texas and the nation.

Shevann Steuben has played a critical role in securing and managing sponsorships to ensure that youth members have the resources they need to succeed. Shevann has worked diligently to guarantee that members across Texas have access to opportunities without financial barriers.

Her sponsorship contributions include:

• State-Sponsored Support: Shevann advocates for and secures sponsorship from the state conference to cover youth member expenses for CRATI (the Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute), quarterly meetings, and the NAACP National Convention.

• Operational Investment: Recognizing the importance of strong communication tools, Shevann personally funded the launch of the website and newsletter platform to ensure consistent engagement, visibility, and branding for the Youth & College Division.

• Apparel and Materials: Shevann has fronted costs for apparel — including T-shirts, crewnecks, executive apparel, and stickers — to ensure members have professional and branded materials that represent their units and the larger organization with pride.

• Corporate Engagement: She actively supports Corporate Advisory Council conversations, helping to build relationships with corporate partners and funders who can invest in the future of youth leadership through sponsorships and resources.

Through her efforts, Shevann has ensured that youth leaders across the state are not only equipped with opportunities but also fully supported with the financial resources and infrastructure needed to thrive.