
Five letters deeply rooted in the civil rights struggle in the United States: NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
It is because of the 114-year-old organization’s track record of leading the fight to end racial inequality and usher in true and lasting social justice, advancing creative ways to deliver information to the people it serves enhances the mission of the NAACP.
The first thing eyes see upon entering the NAACP’s St. Louis County office at 26 North Oak Plaza in Northwoods is a DISC video screen. The system scrolls with advertisements about black businesses and facts about vital community resources and services. Some of the moving and colorful visuals include ads about restaurants, beauty salons and hair care, banking, social services, technology, sports and more.
From John Bowman Sr.’s perspective, president of the NAACP county branch, the video system makes sense because of the historical relevance of the civil rights organization black Americans to ensure “political, educational, social, and economic equality” to people of color.
“The video screen gives you information about black resources in the community,” said Bowman, the former District 70 state representative, has been at the helm of the NAACP county branch for four years. “As the leader of one of the oldest black organizations in the country, I want people to spend money, for example at restaurants, who looks like them.”
The DISC system is also inside the Omega Center, an entertainment and banquet venue, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd. in St. Louis. Bowman serves on the center’s foundation.
The NAACP St. Louis County branch office and the Omega Center are just two of a growing list of restaurants, event centers, nonprofit agencies and others taking advantage of indoor digital platform being launched here.
The indoor digital platform is called Dynasty Interactive Screen Community (DISC) designed to reach new readers and viewers in the most trafficked businesses and institutions throughout the region. The goal is to connect with African American consumers where they live, work and play. Dynasty Media, founded in St. Louis, is the innovator of the information delivery digital program.
David Beckford, Creative Director, and Founder of Dynasty Media, which has generated over $3.5 million in advertising revenue for its Media Partners since 2019, said technology is free to establishments to host a screen. He said the benefits are enormous.
“Screen host locations receive free promotion throughout the year,” he said. “Our media and marketing teams work to advertise the business to attract new customers, fill seats at events, and drive revenue. And to be seen and heard by thousands of prospective clients.”
This new technology on video screens focusing on local news and information is taking hold in the St. Louis area. To date, there are fourteen locations in the St. Louis metro with the goal of being twenty, Beckford says. According to market data, there are 367,000 “pair of eyes and ears” in the radius of the screens, reaching 160,000 people in a collective frequency, Beckford says.
Other locations where the DISC system is up and running:
Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce
Omega Center
Riverview West Florissant Development Corporation
Tapers Barber and Beauty
Tripe City
Two of a Kind Bar & Grill
In Da Loop Restaurant
Gwen’s Restaurant
Ladies of Elegance Salon & Spa/Ryze Manufacturing
NAACP County Branch
NAACP St. Louis County
Click on DISC to see at video clip for the St. Louis Market