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Drae Charles hired several new staff members during a time he categorized as “a period of deep transition and organizational repair.” During his tenure, former employees accused the organization of union-busting and wrongful termination.
Drae Charles recently stepped away from his role as executive director of the Eugene-Springfield NAACP branch, citing a large workload and a desire to return to direct advocacy work.
Charles began as executive director in October 2024, when Eugene-Springfield NAACP president Demond Hawkins recruited him to rebuild the organization, Charles said in a statement to Lookout Eugene-Springfield. In the past year, the organization has hired several new employees and moved to the Clear Lake Community Center in the Bethel neighborhood.
“In a short time, we rebuilt critical infrastructure, re-established partnerships, and strengthened our advocacy,” Charles said.
Eugene-Springfield NAACP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Charles said he took paid leave to reflect before making the decision to leave and will take a short sabbatical to spend more time with his children before determining what’s next. He currently serves as a Bethel School Board member and a member of Gov. Tina Kotek’s Racial Justice Council. Charles previously has worked for Lane County, Eugene School District 4J, the city of Eugene and in a various roles working on equity, human rights and justice.
In March, Charles filed a lawsuit against the city of Eugene and Fabio Andrade, the city’s equity and community engagement manager, after Charles was fired in July 2024. His allegations include discrimination and retaliation. The lawsuit is pending.
Despite the growth the Eugene-Springfield chapter of the NAACP has experienced in the past year, the organization also has drawn criticism from former employees.
In July, the Communications Workers of America Local 7901 filed an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board against the chapter, accusing the organization of wrongfully terminating two employees and union-busting.
Charles said at the time that the allegations were not true, but that the organization was addressing staff members’ actions in the past that included “breakdowns in accountability, unmet community commitments, and procedural failures.”
“We have been transparent with our members and community that the Eugene-Springfield NAACP has been navigating a period of deep transition and organizational repair,” Charles said in a statement to Lookout Eugene-Springfield in August. “Challenges stemming from past staff-led practices have required significant internal attention.”
In Charles’ statement about leaving his role at the Eugene-Springfield NAACP, he said his role at the organization was about helping the organization through “a pivotal moment,” not a long-term commitment.
“I trust the branch to carry this work forward with strength and clarity, while I focus on the spaces where I can make the most impact,” Charles said. “The board is supportive of me in making this transition. There’s no animosity — only gratitude, respect, and pride in what we’ve built together.”
