Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration

About Ernestine Moss

2021 MLK Celebration Speaker Ernestine MossErnestine Moss served as president of the Dubuque Branch of NAACP from 1990-1995. She retired from the Iowa Department of Human Services as a social worker after giving 26 years of service. Most importantly, she is married to Melvin Moss and mother to Katherine and Melvin Jr. for whom she has worked tirelessly to improve the justice system in our community. For Moss, this is a personal struggle and not just a community endeavor.

Throughout her 46 years living in Dubuque, Moss has served on committees for the Dubuque Community School District, City of Dubuque government, and more. She has also served as a board member for the Dubuque Historical Society, Hillcrest Family Services and First Baptist Church. Moss has always believed her leadership skills developed by serving on many Iowa PTA committees, being the State of Iowa PTA Chairperson for the AIDS Department, as well as being president of both Jefferson Middle School PTA and Dubuque Senior High School PTA. This training prepared Moss to lead the Dubuque Branch of NAACP where her work for human rights and justice have been a continual fight.