Energizing the political, educational and social aspirations of today’s youth will be a key focus for the 22nd annual California State Conference of the NAACP which takes place in the South Bay this weekend.

That’s the view of two local chapter leaders who are preparing to join delegates across the state to review the past year’s activities and chart a progressive agenda for the coming year.

The conference, being held Thursday through Sunday at the Manhattan Beach Marriott Hotel, celebrates the organization’s 100-year anniversary through its theme: “We are 100: Reflections on Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”

A number of high profile guests are set to attend including Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneger, and two men who hope to succeed him: State Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Schwarzeneger will be presented with a certificate honoring his “bold moves,” such as nominating the former legislator Jerome Horton to the state Board of Equalization.

Additional guest speakers scheduled are Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Willie Brown, Legislative Black Caucus chairman Assemblyman Sandre Swanson national NAACP president Ben Jealous.

The four-day event will feature discussions, workshops and seminars on topics such as the national health debate, education, public safety, wealth creation, the census and homophobia in the Black church.

In addition, more than 200 youth delegates are expected to attend for a youth session that looks to engage the best and brightest young Black minds to debate the pressing challenges the community faces today.

“The youth session will be part of that understanding of where we were, are and are headed,” said Ron Hasson, head of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood chapter.

“There’s a growing concern about how our school systems tend to be failing our youth. Some of the things we will be looking into is how the community can become more involved.”

He added: “I think the NAACP [is] trying to spearhead efforts to encourage parents to get involved in PTA meetings and attend local school boards to bring forth concerns that are happening to our kids.”

Also, in reflecting on the milestone anniversary of the organization, Hasson praised its legacy. “My perspective on the 100 years is that the NAACP has accomplished a lot in fighting for the rights of minorities,” he said.

“We have won a lot of battles and come a long ways in terms of creating equality in various organizations such as the military and provided jobs in the workforce for people of color. As an organization, we believe we’re stronger and better equipped to continue that into the 21st century.”

Paulette Simpson-Gipson, the first female leader of the Compton chapter, brings her own trailblazing history to her first California convention.

“At Compton, we’ve just been trying to re-establish our youth component and my youth advisor will be at the conference,” Simpson-Gipson said.

“We have to make sure our youth movement is progressive and successful. I get the impression that the struggle for them is not as passionate as was for our forefathers.”

Warming to her theme, she added: “My daughter is 21 and she can go to a school of her choice, but she doesn’t see the fight it took to get her in that position.

“Especially with voting, it kind of appalls me that our kids don’t think about it. I made sure my daughter was registered to vote at 18 and that her and my younger one see me involved in the [political] process. But I think we’ve failed them as a generation by not passing down the tradition.”

However, Simpson-Gipson concluded on a hopeful note.

“I’m really looking forward to attending as Compton’s first female leader,” she said, “and it’s inspiring and exciting to think of the people who fought for me to even have a right to run for such an honor.”