The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a year-long enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.
The NAACP Greater Harrisburg Branch’s Executive Committee is thrilled to announce that Kelly Summerford has been appointed as the new ACT-SO Director for the 2027 program year! Please join us in giving a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Kelly as he steps into this vital leadership role to guide, inspire, and elevate the next generation of scholars, scientists, artists, and leaders in our community!
Kelly D. Summerford is a Harrisburg native, civic leader, performing artist, arts advocate, and entrepreneur. He served four years as a member of the Harrisburg City Council and continues his public service as a member of the Harrisburg Civil Service Commission for Police and Fire.
He is a former board member of Historic Harrisburg Association and the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Company. His performing arts career includes professional dance, theater, television, commercials, and work on films such as Philadelphia, Rocky V, Up Close & Personal, Girl 6, Blow Out, and The Distinguished Gentleman, in which he served as Eddie Murphy’s stand-in and body double. A 50-year member of the Screen Actors Guild,
Kelly also served on a SAG Awards nominating committee. For 17 years, he has directed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Artists Showcase. He has worked 8 years as a consultant for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, supporting cultural preservation and arts initiatives across the Commonwealth, and portrays William C. Goodridge as a living history interpreter. He is also the former Director of the Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum and Director of the Lenwood O. Sloan PA Past Players.
Kelly is also the founder of Kreative Lines, LLC, and publisher of ShowcaseNow! Magazine. Through his work in government, the arts, education, and historic preservation, he remains committed to serving and strengthening his community.
