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.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Receives Inaugural Marion Barry Jr. Award

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) awarded AAMA Board Trustee and Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, as the inaugural recipient of the Mayor Marion Barry Jr. Award for Public Service. The award, named in honor of the last D.C. Mayor elected to a third term, was established to recognize leaders who have carried on the legacy of service and leadership to the community through sustained commitment to local government.

“I am honored to receive this award, named in honor of our Mayor for Life, Marion Barry, whose footsteps I followed on January 2 when I took the oath of office for a third time,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “A third term is a special opportunity because I have a mandate from the people to be bold, to think big, to push the envelope, and above all else, to win for Washington, DC. Now, the work continues to ensure every Washingtonian gets a fair shot.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser was selected due to her historic re-election for a third term to lead our nation’s capital. As the first Black woman elected to a third mayoral term of any large American city, Mayor Bowser has led her city through once-in-a-generation crises and challenges with masterful skill and unwavering grace.

“Mayor Bowser is a friend, a colleague, and a role model for young girls and women throughout our nation,” said AAMA President and Mayor of Little Rock, Frank Scott, Jr. “In recognition of her historic re-election to a third term, we proudly celebrate her long-standing leadership and incredible achievements. This award is a testament to dedicated public service and Mayor Bowser is well-deserving.”

Houston Mayor Sworn In As The New President of the African American Mayors Association

Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, Texas was sworn in (virtually) as the new President of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA). Turner takes over for outgoing AAMA President, Mayor McKinley L. Price, DDS of Newport News, Virginia.

“I am honored to lead the African American Mayors Association. The nation’s 500+ Black mayors play a crucial role in advancing our nation forward. We have a unique understanding of the needs of our local communities and the tailored policies necessary to address them. We are also deeply in tune with the challenges communities of color face and the support needed to overcome those obstacles,” said Turner. “As I look to the future of AAMA, I look forward to elevating our voices on the most pressing issues facing our nation. Black political leaders can and should be a driving force on climate change, voting rights, and so much more.”

As president of AAMA, Mayor Turner will uplift Black mayors’ voices on critical policy issues, particularly those that disproportionately affect communities of color. He will advocate for efforts to tackle climate change, support Black businesses, bolster funding for infrastructure, expand voting access, and address policing reform, among others. He will also elevate innovative, effective programs from Black mayors nationwide that bolster communities of color and can be replicated elsewhere.

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing over 500 African-American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

Vice President Harris Meets with African American Mayors

Vice President Harris and Members of the national African American Mayors Association participated in listening session, with the focus being on the Biden administration’s proposed $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, dubbed the American Rescue Plan.

Watch the listening session below:

Black Mayors to Trump : Do Not Circumvent the Supreme Court on the Census Citizenship Question

The African American Mayors Association celebrates that the Supreme Court's decision requiring the Department of Commerce to remove the citizenship question from the 2020 Census will not be challenged by the Trump Administration.

African American mayors from across the country previously highlighted the danger of including a question like this in a letter to Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross; and director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Steven Dillingham. With the Trump Administration's attempts to circumvent the Court's ruling, AAMA cautions against any and all efforts to target vulnerable populations with citizenship data.

"We were happy to know that the highest Court in the land had struck down a flagrant attempt by the Trump Administration to undermine and undercount millions of people of color making their home in our country. The ruling reaffirmed the rule of law and the checks and balances that make our nation great," said AAMA President, Mayor Hardie Davis, of Augusta, Georgia. "Now is the time for the Trump Administration to comply with the letter and spirit of the ruling to prevent disenfranchisement for the communities we lead."

AAMA commends the advocates who are continuing to fight for a fair and accurate census. Latinos, Afro-Latinos, as well as those from the African and Asian Diasporas, deserve to have resources allocated fairly in their communities and have equitable representation in government. African American mayors will continue to fight to ensure we have an accurate census count and that citizenship data is not used to target vulnerable populations.

About AAMA

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing over 500 African-American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

SOURCE African American Mayors Association