“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Those words by civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are what the Rev. Kevin L. Chandler lives and leads by. The 54-year-old New Jersey native and pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in South Boston, located about 100 miles southwest of Richmond, is the new president of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP.

He was elected to the top volunteer post by delegates attending the civil rights organization’s 82nd annual convention held last month at a Henrico County hotel.

With racial, religious and other forms of hatred on the rise and the current administration in Washington seeking to roll back gains, Rev. Chandler says, “Now is the time when we must be that civil rights organization of old.

“We don’t have to accept acts of hate and civil rights destruction. There is a voice that says, ‘No,’ and that voice is from the NAACP.”

Rev. Chandler’s message is simple: “Unity — working together in a concerted effort.”

“There is power in numbers,” Rev. Chandler says. “Rally with those who think inequality is wrong.”

Rev. Chandler says under his leadership, the organization’s priorities will continue to include “seeking educational equality that ensures that every child receives a quality, well-funded public education;” criminal justice reform and addressing the school-to-prison pipeline; and ensuring access to health care.

“In the present atmosphere of trying to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, we need to protect health care for all,” including Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs, he says.

He plans to tackle those issues and more during his two-year term.

Rev. Chandler’s journey to the NAACP’s top volunteer post in Virginia involved an education in the organization’s mission and inner workings that started in 2000 when he became actively involved in the Halifax County-South Boston Branch NAACP under the late president, Roger J. Ford.

Rev. Chandler later became president of the local branch for eight years and then served as vice president of the state NAACP for two years.

He says while there are “a lot of different opinions, ideas, strategies and suggestions …that cause internal battles” within the NAACP, “the true battles are outside.”

He wants to improve communication between the state NAACP and the branches around the commonwealth so everyone is better equipped to address issues in their local communities.

Rev. Chandler traces his activism to his family and his experience as a pastor. At age 13, his parents sent him from New Jersey to Halifax County to live with his grandparents. At the time, he recalls, the Ku Klux Klan was active in the area.

“The Klan would go to local white restaurants and sit in their cars to try to intimidate and make sure no black people would try to eat there,” he says. “Nothing would be done or said to anyone. They would just sit in the parking lots.” He says while the public schools he attended were largely African-American, “our teachers were vested in student success. They pushed us to do our best and had our best interest in mind,” he says.

Rev. Chandler graduated from Norfolk State University with a degree in electronics and landed a job working with an IBM subsidiary in New York City.

“An HBCU is the best experience a black person could have,” he says. “It’s one of those experiences that I will never forget and would encourage anyone who would have the opportunity to go to an HBCU to do so.”

During that time, his parents, Shirley and Leroy Chandler, moved to Halifax County, his father’s hometown. Mrs. Chandler was involved in the community and with the NAACP.

When a former public school building from the 1920s, located next door to the Chandler home, was turned into a trash and recycling collection center, Mrs. Chandler got fired up.

“My Mom went to the Board of Supervisors fighting against that. She got the community to sign a petition to have the refuse center removed, and she was successful,” Rev. Chandler says.

“Eventually, she petitioned the board to give her the building, and then she established an African-American history museum in the building chronicling the work and contributions of the black community and its leaders.” After going to New York City, Rev. Chandler says he vowed never to return to Halifax County. But he also learned later “never to say never.” He had been ordained in the ministry in 1996 and returned to Halifax County in 2000, becoming associate pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church.

As a pastor, he noticed the disparities in the community — in jobs, health care, education and the ability of individuals of color to succeed.

His worries deepened, he says, because so much work needs to be done. “Not much has changed from 50 years ago,” Rev. Chandler says. “The methods (of racism) have changed. Therefore, the way the NAACP must address the issues must change.”

Meet civil rights advocate and this week’s Personality, the Rev. Kevin L. Chandler:

Community involvement: President, Virginia State Conference of the NAACP, and pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in South Boston.

Occupation: Behavioral health and wellness manager for the Southside Community Services Board.

Date and place of birth: Sept. 24 in East Orange, N.J.

Current residence: South Boston, Va.

Education: Halifax County High School, 1981; bachelor’s degree, Norfolk State University, 1985; MBA, American University, 2007; and master’s in Christian leadership, Grand Canyon University, 2017.

Family: Wife of 33 years, Gara Jones Chandler; and two adult children and two foster children.

NAACP’s mission: The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

Why I wanted to serve as NAACP state president: I have been an active member of the NAACP since 2000. I want to provide the leadership that empowers the branches across the commonwealth to stand up for the injustices and be the voice of the people of color in their areas.

How my presidency will differ from presidencies of predecessors: I am one who can bring people together for common causes. There is a need for a moral evaluation of the leaders of this organization as well as the governmental leaders of Virginia. I plan to improve communications between the Virginia State Conference and the NAACP branches across the commonwealth and to those who the people have elected to do the right thing for all people. Now is the time!

Status of civil rights in Virginia: Civil rights is ever relevant, given the recent ugliness of some. White supremacy and racism have no place in Virginia.

NAACP plans to increase membership: With the help of the Executive Committee, we plan to become the face of the NAACP by traveling across the state to meet with those on the ground doing the great civil rights work.

NAACP plans to increase youth membership: We will continue to nurture youths to become the leaders of the organization. We will support the youths in the college chapters to address the injustices and discrimination on campuses across the commonwealth.

Most unforgettable civil rights experience: My most unforgettable civil rights experience participating in the America’s Journey for Justice March from Selma, Ala., to Washington, in 2015.

What motivated me to get involved in community service: The calling to the ministry in 1994.

How I start the day: Today will be better than yesterday.

A perfect day for me is: When I leave home in the morning and come back home to my family.

If I had more time I would: Write a book.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Flying airplanes, models of course.

How I unwind: Listening to music.

The top of my “to do” list is: Go on vacation.

The person who influenced me the most: My father, Leroy Chandler.

The book that influenced me the most: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

What I’m reading now: “Gas Money” by Troy Lewis.

The best thing my parents ever taught me: To be kind to others.

My next goal I aspire to become a legislator to serve all people.