As the American population continues to brown, an increasing number of organizations are making calculated strides in an effort to ensure that the diversity of their membership mirrors the diversity of the nation. One such organization is AARP, the premier advocacy group for older Americans.

The largest of its kind in the country, AARP ironically has a membership base that is 88.5 percent White.

Realizing the need for more color in their member ranks the organization has appointed two executives that reach out to Black and Latino communities and spearhead initiatives that will increase Black membership.

''Last year, our executive team recognized that it was going to take an above and beyond effort to realize the growth in membership that we want. So they restructured and created new positions to be able to accommodate those goals.'' says Edna Kane-Williams, vice president in charge of African-American outreach. Kane-Williams’ counterpart, Raquel Egusquiza, heads the Latino outreach campaign.

''We've always done diversity but these roles are different in that the two vice presidents for African- American outreach and Hispanic and Latino outreach have a really organizational wide responsibility so it's not just membership and it's not just communications.”

AARP is apparently serious about diversifying.

In April, the organization hired the first African- American CEO in its 50-year existence.

“If you look at his history he's brought awareness, renewed interest and just robustness to the organizations that's he's led previously, Kane-Williams says. “So we expect that he will be more than supportive in making sure that we have the resources and capabilities to really deliver on this promise of growing our membership of African- Americans and Hispanics. He sees that as the future of the organization because that is where the demographics of the country is going and we want to look like America.”

In order to increase African-American membership above the 2.5 million it currently has, AARP is focusing on an ''on-theground'' approach in 11 key communities, including Atlanta, Chicago and New Orleans.

The organization is partnering with community organizations and media and hope the on-the-ground engagement with the African-American community will help build membership.

AARP is working with their state offices in those communities to field a community presence.