Founded in 1909, the NAACP is America's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its long-time leader, 92-year-old Hazel Dukes, died in March after having an out-sized influence on national and state politics for close to 70 years. 

The woman who picks up the torch from Dukes is also well-known in New York state politics. 

L. Joy Williams is the founder of LJW Strategies, and creator, host and producer of the civic education podcast “Sunday Civics." She has an extensive background as a political strategist and tells Capital Tonight she will use those skills as the new New York state president of the NAACP. 

Williams, who is Dukes’ hand-picked successor and former Brooklyn chapter president, plans to leverage Black voices throughout the legislative session, not only during political campaigns. 

“Now I have the platform to amplify what I did as Brooklyn president statewide, and so I get to use those skills to build permanent political infrastructure for Black people across the state, which is what I’m invested in doing," Williams said.

Williams’ legislative agenda includes supporting automatic voter registration for people in pre-trial detention and increasing investments in education.