Ala. Conference of Black Mayors Begins in Montgomery
Montgomery mayor featured in PBS documentary
Montgomery, AL
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed is featured in a newly released documentary film.
Reed can be seen on PBS Roadtrip Nation’s “Being Free,” which is available to a national audience.
The documentary follows three roadtrippers, who are formerly incarcerated individuals, as they travel the country to see how people overcome societal stigma and obstacles as they seek to reinvent their lives.
During their journey through Selma and Montgomery, the trio met Reed, who listened to their stories and explained how the community can come together to bring change to the criminal justice system.
https://www.wsfa.com/2022/08/13/montgomery-mayor-featured-pbs-documentary/
Black mayors meet in Selma to discuss community issues
Mayors from across the state were in Selma for the Alabama Conference of Black Mayors on April 22, 2022. (Source: WSFA 12 News)
By Brady Talbert
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 7:24 PM CDT|Updated: Apr. 22, 2022 at 10:12 PM CDT
SELMA, Ala. (WSFA) - Around 20 mayors from across the state were in Selma on Friday for the Alabama Conference of Black Mayors.
The meeting was a chance for leaders to discuss issues that affect their communities, such as failing infrastructure, education and the worker shortage.
“These are just the tip of the iceberg,” Selma Mayor James Perkins said.
Some of the problems discussed were related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These are some challenging times,” Perkins said. “We are not going out of a pandemic. We are moving into an endemic. Pandemics come and go, endemics come and stay, and it looks like COVID will be here for a while.”
The group gathered in an effort to work toward solutions. It is something they have been doing since 1972.
“Back in those days, we knew that as African American mayors, there was strength in numbers,” said Former Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford.
While the mayors in attendance primarily serve residents within their cities, they stressed they are also working for all Alabamians, regardless of where they live.
“We come together to find solutions to the problems that are problems throughout Alabama,” said Tuskegee Mayor Tony Haygood. “Yes, they’re in our community and some are highlighted in our community, but most communities, they encounter the same problems that we do in just a different manner.”
Leaders also tackled more controversial issues – like critical race theory.
“It would be difficult for me to share my history, my personal history, in a classroom with critical race theory laws in place,” Perkins added.
It was just one of many discussions attendees believe will advance their communities.
The Alabama Conference of Black Mayors is not just for mayors. It also welcomes city council members and former mayors.
Rev. Jesse Jackson visits Tuskegee for Black mayors conferen
Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke about the importance of education, voting, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.(Source: WTVM)
By Leonard Hall
Published: Mar. 6, 2022 at 12:22 AM CST
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WTVM) - Rev. Jesse Jackson visited Tuskegee Saturday as the city hosted the Alabama Conference of Black Mayors, the World Conference of Mayors, and the Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance.
The event held at the Tuskegee Municipal Complex focused on continuing the efforts started by other civil rights pioneers including Rosa Parks and John Lewis.
Rev. Jackson spoke about the importance of education, voting, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Strong minds break strong chains,” Jackson said. “When people came to Tuskegee, they didn’t have businesses for them - they made their own businesses. We’ve got a false structure in Washington.”
The civil rights icon spoke about the importance of education, voting, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
Johnny Ford, former longtime Tuskegee mayor and founder of the World Conference of Mayors, spoke about what it meant to have Rev. Jackson at the event.
“We’re very honored to have Rev. Jesse Jackson here at our conference,” said Ford. “He and I go back many years. When I was president in 1983 of the National Conference of Black Mayors, we were involved with his campaign and we’ve always worked together closely. So, to have him here really highlights our conference.
About 60 people, including Tuskegee Mayor Tony Haygood, attended the conference in-person and several others participated via Zoom.
ACBM quarterly meeting 2021
