(Black PR Wire) WASHINGTON – Recently, the nation's preeminent civil rights organization announced its RFQ submission as plans for the redevelopment of its headquarters are underway.

The NAACP is seeking expressions of interest and qualifications for a development partner who will collaborate on the redevelopment of the NAACP headquarters office. Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative and dynamic plans for the building's redevelopment, varying in purpose and function as the Association will review all ideas.

In the interest of advancing access to opportunities to manage meaningful development activities, the NAACP has designated this project as an instance to serve the dual purpose of promoting economic activity and facilitating equitable access to the opportunities afforded by development projects.

"Equitable access to meaningful opportunities is a critical pathway towards ensuring Baltimore's growth reflects the diverse needs of its residents and substantially benefits them," said NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson. "The redevelopment of 4805 Mount Hope Drive will do just that. With this endeavor, the NAACP intends to take deliberate steps to assist small, local, and disadvantaged businesses and people to not just participate in larger opportunities but also build the capacity necessary to lead and manage them in the future."

As a key component of the NAACP Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector (CESBS), launched in 2018, the NAACP will establish its former headquarters in Baltimore, MD and future headquarters in Washington, D.C. as equitable, regenerative, and sustainable projects. Plans are in place to ground the operations in the principles and practices of NAACP's environmental and climate justice platform. Through this effort, a model will be developed to ensure quality in all aspects of sustainable development, including access, affordability, co-benefits, cultural resonance, inclusive decision-making, financing, service provision, procurement, contracting, employment, communications, monitoring and evaluation, and much more.

The RFQ is now open, and developers are encouraged to submit. For more information on NAACP's CESBS initiative, visit here.

###

ABOUT NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF – was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation's first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.