WHY TRUE SCLC FLORIDA NATIONAL
Rooted in the legacy of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and honoring the prophetic witness of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What We Do
True SCLC Florida National is committed to advancing civil and human rights through organized action and community engagement. Our work focuses on negotiating, advocating, demonstrating, and reconciling around issues that affect the dignity and rights of all people.
We address matters related to:
- Economic equality
- Education
- Justice and legal equity
- Labor rights
- Political participation
- Voting rights
True SCLC does not intervene in the affairs of other organizations or communities unless formally invited by the appropriate entity. When invited, we stand in solidarity with organizations and communities working to address these critical issues.
A core component of our work is the VEMP Program (Voter Education, Motivation, and Participation), which focuses on increasing civic engagement through voter registration, education, and mobilization.
What We Have Accomplished
True SCLC Florida National has established partnerships and initiatives that strengthen civic engagement and community leadership.
Key accomplishments include:
- Securing one of the premier voter registration teams in the region, an organization that has helped register over 200,000 voters since 2017.
- Building partnerships with community organizations and faith-based institutions.
- Completing all required state and federal compliance requirements for organizational operation.
- Expanding organizational development beyond Florida, with organizing efforts underway in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Ohio, Oklahoma, and plans to expand into Georgia.
- Conducting meetings with faith leaders in Duval County and other states to strengthen collaborative efforts.
- Continuing the tradition of hosting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfasts, ducting meetings with faith leaders in Duval County and other states to strengtwhile renewing our commitment to advancing the vision of the Beloved Community.
Formal documentation for newly organized states will be issued following the official inauguration process.
Leadership
PRESIDENT/CHAIRMAN
ART ROCKER
Dr. Art Rocker is a Florida-based civil rights organizer affiliated with Operation People for Peace. His work focuses on social justice, economic opportunity, and supporting underserved communities across Florida and the Gulf Coast region.
In 2010, during the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Dr. Rocker played a key role in organizing communities to ensure that minority fishermen, churches, and small businesses received fair settlement compensation.
He is widely recognized for his work as a civil rights organizer and fundraiser dedicated to community empowerment.
CEO
REV. DR. R. LE’ROY GUNDY
Rev. Dr. R. L. Gundy has been actively involved in community organizing and civic engagement since 2007 in Jacksonville, Florida.
His work includes:
- Community organizing and voter registration initiatives
- Collaboration with faith communities, labor unions, and coalitions
- Membership with People for the American Way (PFAW) and the African American Ministers Leadership Council
- Service as State Director for African American Ministers in Action for PFAW
- Former Local and Florida State President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Rev. Dr. Gundy also hosted the SCLC National Convention in Sanford, Florida, during the national response to the Trayvon Martin case.
He was a leading advocate in the movement to remove former State Attorney Angela Corey from office and has consistently advocated for justice for labor communities, marginalized populations, and underserved groups.
Additional civic leadership includes:
- Serving as a plaintiff, alongside SEIU, in legal action that secured early voting access in Duval County
- Calling for a grand jury investigation into the issues surrounding JEA
Rev. Dr. Gundy brings extensive experience to the organization, including:
- 32 years of nonprofit leadership
- 43 years of faith-based service
- 64 years of combined civil rights, human rights, community, faith, and military service
TREASURER
BRO JERRY WEST
Brother Jerry West brings over 55 years of experience in financial and business management, including expertise in fiscal accountability and organizational stewardship. He has also contributed more than 10 years of service within SCLC, providing financial leadership and oversight.
SECRETARY
SIS T. LAWSON
BIO PENDING
Vision
America is witnessing a modern form of racial and social injustice affecting communities, immigration systems, labor rights, and the constitutional principles of the United States. When justice is denied or delayed, unrest and instability can follow. These conditions are not random but reflect systemic challenges that must be addressed.
True SCLC exists to:
- Identify and confront injustice
- Challenge systems that perpetuate inequality
- Organize and empower communities to create meaningful change
Mission
True SCLC operates under the Kingian Principles of Nonviolence with a focus on the following priorities:
- Expanding voter registration and civic participation.
b. Promoting education and public awareness around justice issues.
c. Advocating for fair policing, accountable leadership, and equal justice under the law.
d. Hosting forums, rallies, and workshops to empower communities through collaboration.
e. Supporting the establishment and development of local and state chapters.
Why Now?
In the spirit of justice, peace, and nonviolence, True SCLC is expanding its work across the nation.
Our goal is to assist and collaborate with organizations such as:
- National Action Network (NAN)
- NAACP
- Faith institutions
- Labor organizations
- Community advocacy groups
Together, we seek to address the urgent challenges facing our nation, including the protection of the U.S. Constitution, labor rights, voting rights, and equal justice for all.
True SCLC is also committed to training youth and young adults to become informed leaders who can engage, organize, and advocate for their rights and the rights of their communities.