Texarkana, Ark. – The NAACP Miller County Branch is stepping up local entrepreneurship with a brand‑new pitch competition called Sell the Vision. The contest, announced by NAACP membership chair Shaun Walker, will give both adults and youth a platform to showcase business ideas, community projects, technology innovations, creative arts, health initiatives and educational programs.
How the competition works
Participants must submit a short video that introduces themselves, explains their concept, outlines why the idea matters and describes how they would use the prize money. After the submission deadline of September 25, the community will vote on Facebook, and that vote will count for one‑fourth of each entry’s overall score. The top four finalists will then be evaluated by a panel of judges, and winners are expected to be announced by October.
Prizes and opportunities
Each adult division winner will receive $3,500, while the youth division winner will earn $1,500. Beyond the cash awards, Walker emphasized that the competition is designed to provide feedback, networking connections and public exposure – even for entrants who do not take home the top prize.
“So many people have great ideas but may not know where to start,” Walker said. “This is an opportunity for us to pull individuals in, share their ideas. Even if they don’t win, they’ll get the exposure.”
Why the NAACP is involved
The pitch competition follows a grant the Miller County branch received for the NAACP Momentum Project, which aims to strengthen economic opportunity in the region. Walker noted that involving youth is especially important because “they are truly our future” and that today’s young people have mastered social‑media tools that can amplify their visions.
“These kids have really maximized social media,” Walker added. “They have learned to take something that is very accessible to everybody and capitalize it in ways that we never could have thought of.”
How to enter
Interested entrepreneurs and innovators from both Arkansas and Texas can email their video submissions to [email protected]. The deadline for entries is September 25, and the competition will culminate with the announcement of winners in early October.
The initiative reflects a growing focus on local economic development and community‑driven solutions, aligning with the values of family, faith and individual liberty that many in the ArkLaTex region hold dear. By encouraging residents to turn ideas into action, the NAACP hopes to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that benefits the entire community.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
