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NATCHEZ — The 79th annual Mississippi NAACP state conference and policy institute will convene in Natchez Nov. 7 through 9.

This year’s meeting will focus on policy solutions to issues of housing, economic justice, education and health.

Joyce Arceneaux Mathis of Natchez is third vice president of the state NAACP organization. She said approximately 150 people will arrive between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Nov. 6 and 7, when the convention begins.

“The NAACP operates by committees, so each committee will have meetings and workshops,” which will include religious affairs, political action, health, labor, education, and criminal justice, she said.

The first day of the convention, Thursday, Nov. 7, will end with a mass rally at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, beginning at  p.m.

“The Rev. Melvin White will be keynote speakers and dinner will be served,” Mathis said. “We will then disperse back to our hotels. We have tried to involve all of our downtown hotels. We have people staying at The Grand, Magnolia Bluff, the Hampton Inn and some may spill over to the Holiday Inn. We will have a hospitality suite at The Grand that evening.”

The full convention begins on Friday with meetings throughout the day.

The Natchez Branch will host the Friday evening event with the showing of the nationally-acclaimed film, “The Evers,” featuring interviews with Mrs. Medgar Evers and her daughter, beginning at 7 p.m. at the convention center.

In addition to convention goers, Mathis said the Natchez community is invited to view the film.

The convention will continue Saturday, Nov. 9, concluding with the 79th annual Freedom Fund Banquet. Keynote speaker is Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, renowned actress, activist and Mississippi native.

“We are really doing a lot here in Natchez. We have lots of civic engagement going on, we have the convention here, we are working to get out the vote by canvassing and phone banking. We are trying to get people involved,” Arceneaux Mathis said.