Special to the GUIDE
RICHMOND
Da’Quan M. Love, the executive director for the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP, has resigned from his position. Love wrote a letter to the Richmond Times Dispatch explaining the reason for his departure on February 15. News of his departure also appeared in the Richmond Freed Press, the African American-owned publication in Richmond.
In his letter, Love said he was resigning for his own physical and mental well-being and alleged there is a toxic environment in the group’s executive committee.
He said it created a stressful environment for him. “Professionally, I am sad because I earnestly love and enjoy the work I was able to do in this august role,” Love wrote. “While I am professionally sad, I personally am outraged.” No one from the executive committee has responded to media requests to talk about their side of the issue.
Love, a Henrico County native, became executive director in December 2020.
At age 28, Love was the youngest person to hold the position in the Virginia State NAACP’s 85-year-history, according to an article published by the Richmond Free Press.
In his letter, Love cited a list of accomplishments during his tenure. He noted that he had established the Virginia State Conference Endowment Fund, secured
one of the largest contributions in the history of the Virginia State Conference, upgraded the office technology and facilitated a $2.5
million campaign encouraging Black voter turnout in 2021.
