sponsored the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) program for high school youth around the United States. The program is designed to recognize and award African-American youth who demonstrate accomplishment in academics, technology, and the arts. Local chapters sponsor competitions in various categories for young people in grades 9–12. Winners of the local competitions are eligible to proceed to the national event at a convention held each summer at locations around the United States. Winners at the national competition receive national recognition, along with cash awards and various prizes. Environmental justice The environmental justice group at NAACP has 11 full-time staff members. In April 2019, the NAACP published a report outlining the tactics used by the fossil fuel industry. The report claims that "Fossil fuel companies target the NAACP for manipulation and co-optation." The NAACP has been concerned about the influence of utilities which have contributed massive amounts of money to NAACP chapters in return for chapter support of non-environmentally friendly goals of utilities. In response, the NAACP has been working with its chapters to encourage them to support environmentally sound policies. National Convention The NAACP's national convention has been held annually in the following cities: 1909: New York City 1910: New York City 1928: Los Angeles 1929: Cleveland 1954: Dallas 1980: Miami Beach 1981: Denver 1982: Boston 1983: New Orleans 1984: Kansas City 1985: Dallas 1986: Baltimore 1987: New York City 1988: Washington, D.C. 1989: Detroit 1990: Los Angeles 1991: Houston 1992: Nashville 1993: Indianapolis 1994: Chicago 1995: Minneapolis 1996: Charlotte 1997: Pittsburgh 1998: Atlanta 1999: New York City 2000: Baltimore 2001: New Orleans 2002: Houston 2003: Miami 2004: Philadelphia 2005: Milwaukee 2006: Washington, D.C. 2007: Detroit 2008: Cincinnati 2009: New York City 2010: Kansas City 2011: Los Angeles 2012: Houston 2013: Orlando 2014: Baltimore 2015: Philadelphia 2016: Cincinnati 2017: Baltimore 2018: San Antonio 2019: Detroit 2020: Virtually 2021: Virtually 2022: Atlantic City Awards NAACP Image Awards – honoring African-American achievements in film, television, music, and literature NAACP Theatre Awards – honoring African-American achievements in theatre productions Spingarn Medal – honoring general African-American achievements Thalheimer Award – for achievements by NAACP branches and chapters Montague Cobb Award – honoring African-American achievements in the field of health Nathaniel Jones Award for Public Service – first awarded to public servants in 2018 Foot Soldier In the Sands Award – awarded to attorneys who have contributed legal expertise to the NAACP