Nathaniel A. Khaliq

A successful organization needs an experienced, qualified and capable leader. When you consider the credentials of the current St. Paul NAACP President, Nathaniel A. Khaliq, you'll understand why the community considers him an "awesome jewel."

Born Nathaniel Davis, he is known in St. Paul as, "Nick." Ask anyone who knows him and they will tell you he is a genuinely compassionate, sincere and dedicated humanitarian. Nick is highly respected by his peers, government officials and business leaders. His credibility is rock-solid. As a St. Paul native, Nick is intimately familiar with the many changes of this city.

During his youth in the 1940's racial discrimination was unbridled. Nick's first experience of civil injustice occurred when his family was instructed to move out of the way for the construction of Interstate 94. Nick's grandfather, Rev. George Davis, Sr., the head of the household, was said to have told the authorities, "If you force your way in here, it'll be the last time you force your way in anywhere!" This traumatic encounter left more than an indelible impression on a young man, it sparked in him a life-long passion for justice.

It was in the sixties that Nick began to look at life more in depth. He joined and served in the Marines Corps for three years. He later graduated from Dunwoody Institute and St. Paul Vocational College and started N.R. Davis Construction Company. In addition, he later became a St. Paul Fire Fighter and retired after 17 years of service.

In 1970, Nick and his wife, Victoria married. A well-educated southern lady from Tennessee, Victoria shared a parallel desire for justice and equality. She worked in property management in the private and public sector, including Chief of Loan Management with HUD. After the birth of three children, and the blending of three children from previous relationships, the two partnered in joint business ventures; and later acquired real estate to create BNV Properties. Victoria is also active in the community as the founding head of the tutoring power house, Summit University Education Consortium.

Some of Nick's past and present Board involvement includes: African-American Leadership Council, Inner City Youth League, District 8 Planning Council, Community Stabilization Project, Masjid An-Nur and Selby Area CDC. He received service awards from: City of St. Paul, St. Paul Urban League, Kappa Alpha Psi, Stairstep Foundation, Minority Lawyers Association, MLK Center, St. James AME and Shiloh Baptist Church, to name a few.

In 1995, he assumed the lead position at the St. Paul NAACP where he continues to answer the call to justice by serving the community.