African American Mayors Association Names Montgomery, Alabama Mayor Steven L. Reed as President

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is excited to announce Montgomery, Alabama Mayor Steven L. Reed has been appointed as President to lead the national nonprofit organization. Mayor Reed was officially sworn in on Friday, April 26 at the conclusion of AAMA’s 10th anniversary conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

“As we usher in a new decade of the African American Mayors Association, I am thrilled to welcome Mayor Steven L. Reed as President of our organization. Mayor Reed brings a wealth of experience and creative solutions to the table and we’re excited to see what he accomplishes for our cities and communities,” said AAMA CEO, Phyllis Dickerson. “I also want to thank Mayor Patterson-Howard for her tremendous service and leadership this past year.”

“I am honored to accept the challenge of representing the unique needs and interests of our communities, big and small, to the White House, Congress, and others over the next year,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed. “I am committed to harnessing the collective strengths of our members nationwide to drive meaningful policy changes. We will work together to address critical issues such as public safety, economic development, and health equity to ensure that our regions not only thrive but also offer a higher quality of life.”

Mayor Reed was sworn in 2019 as the 57th Mayor of the City of Montgomery, Alabama, a historic destination known globally as The Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. He is the first African American to hold the position. A native of Montgomery, Mayor Reed is committed to realizing his vision of a more equitable, progressive, and compassionate city. As a lifelong public servant and leader, Mayor Reed previously served as Montgomery County, Alabama’s first African-American and youngest elected Probate Judge. Prior to serving as AAMA’s President, Reed served as AAMA’s 1st Vice President on the Board of Trustees.

During his one-year term, Mayor Reed plans to focus on improving public safety outcomes, reskilling workers and building capital and capacity for minority-owned businesses, increasing collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and building support for equitable infrastructure investments and sustainable city initiatives.

In addition to announcing its 2024 President, AAMA also approved its Board of Trustees during the Annual Conference:

• 1st Vice President – Mayor Byron Brown (Buffalo, NY)
• 2nd Vice President – Mayor Wayne Messam (Miramar, FL)
• Treasurer – Mayor Van Johnson (Savannah, GA)
• Secretary – Mayor Sharon Weston Broome (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Immediate Past President – Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard (Mt. Vernon, NY)
• Past President – Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. (Little Rock, AR)
• Board Member – Mayor Errick Simmons (Greenville, MS)
• Board Member – Mayor Tishaura Jones (St. Louis, MO)
• Board Member – Mayor Brandon Scott (Baltimore, MD)
• Board Member – Mayor Eric Adams (New York, NY)
• Board Member – Mayor LaToya Cantrell (New Orleans, LA)
• Board Member – Mayor Vince Williams (Union City, GA)
• Board Member – Mayor Vi Lyles (Charlotte, NC)
• Board Member – Mayor Phillip Jones (Newport News, VA)
• Board Member – Mayor Victoria Woodards (Tacoma, WA)
• Board Member – Mayor Adrian Mapp (Plainfield, NJ)

AAMA’s 2024 policy priorities are anchored around key areas that are critical to the well-being of its communities. The association will prioritize affordable housing, improved healthcare access, building generational wealth, and reinforcing 21st century cities through investments in transportation and infrastructure.