Cynthia Slater, President
Cynthia Slater is a lifelong resident of Daytona Beach whose life and career have been defined by the transition from segregation to integration in the city.
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Early Life and Education: Slater attended the segregated Bonner Elementary and Campbell Jr. High before the mandatory integration of Volusia County schools moved her to Holly Hill Jr. High in 1968. She graduated from Mainland Senior High in 1974.
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Academic and Professional Background: A Cum Laude graduate of Bethune-Cookman College (1979), she holds a Master’s degree in Special Education (Visual Disabilities) and a Master’s in Teacher Leadership. Professionally, she served as a Physical Education teacher and coach for the Volusia County Public School System before a 36-year career with the Florida Division of Blind Services, where she retired as a Senior Human Services Program Manager.
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NAACP Leadership: Slater has served as the President of the Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP for over 22 years. Before taking the helm, she served as 1st Vice President under the legendary Charles W. Cherry Sr. She is also a 2nd Vice President for the Florida State Conference of the NAACP and chairs the Civic Engagement committee.
Community Preservation
The branch works closely with the Midtown Community Development Corporation to honor local history while fighting for safe, modern housing. In 2026, they participated in the city's Black History Month street banner project, which recognizes individuals who shaped the community's civil rights landscape.
Education Priorities
The Volusia County NAACP champions public education as key to equal opportunity and opposes diverting public tax dollars to private or charter schools. They advocate equitable funding and inclusive history curricula, and oppose vouchers and policies limiting diversity. The Volusia County NAACP and other branches challenge “sanitized” curricula that omit or distort racial injustice. Citing attacks on Black history and civil rights, the NAACP maintains a Florida travel advisory, urges Black student-athletes to reconsider Florida public colleges, and supports boycotts of universities in Florida with policies it deems discriminatory.
Environmental and Climate Justice
In 2026, a major focus for the branch is flood mitigation and infrastructure equity. President Slater has been a vocal advocate for residents in the "Midtown" neighborhood—a historic Black community—who face repeated, severe flooding during hurricanes. Her personal experience of having her home flooded four times in 20 years has fueled a branch-wide demand for the city to invest in improved flood protections and modernized drainage systems.
Contact
Join the Daytona Beach NAACP in shaping a more equitable future by getting involved with our current community initiatives. Contact our local branch today to learn how you can contribute your voice and take action toward meaningful change.
(386) 346-8704