April 22, 2024 (ATLANTA, GA) – The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the National Nonpartisan Conversation on Voter Rights (NNCVR)  today announced they will be hosting a series of panel discussions at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College on Saturday, April 27th. Distinguished speakers and panelists include:

• Michael Hancock, NNCVR President (Former Mayor Denver, CO)
• Mayor Steven Reed, AAMA President, (Montgomery, AL) 
• Marc Morial, President, National Urban League & Former Mayor, New Orleans, LA
• Karen Freeman Wilson, President & CEO, Chicago Urban League
• Mayor Justin Bibb (Cleveland, OH) 
• Mayor Errick Simmons (Greenville, MS) 
• Mayor Andre Dickens (Atlanta, GA)
• Mayor Chokwe Lumumba (Jackson, MS) 
• Mayor Brandon Johnson (Chicago, IL) 
• Mayor Deanna Holiday Ingraham (East Point, GA) 
• Amber McReynolds, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service 
• Rep. Vernon Jones, County Commissioner, DeKalb County 
• Mayor Corey Woods (Tempe, AZ) 

“In the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. our mayors are consistently working together through public and private partnerships to discuss the most pressing issues in our cities and create more equitable and efficient systems,” said Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of AAMA. “As we approach this pivotal upcoming election, it’s critically important to discuss not only the issues affecting our cities but also the importance of remaining civically engaged. We cannot be silenced and we must ensure our voice is heard in November and beyond.” 

“Even though voting rights are under attack in some parts of our country, the ability to have your voice heard at the ballot box is not a partisan issue,” National Nonpartisan Conversation on Voter Rights founder and former Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock said.  “Every eligible voter should have the right to cast a ballot in every election whether it be for federal, state or local candidates or issues so we will be discussing the tools that municipalities can use to have a more active and informed electorate.”

“In the years since the Supreme Court cut the heart out of the Voting Rights Act, nearly 100 new voter suppression laws have driven Black voters away from the polls. The racial voting gap has grown twice as fast in the jurisdictions that used to be subject to pre-clearance requirements. The fate of democracy and the principle of one person, one vote, is in our hands. We must summon the courage of those who made the Voting Rights Act a reality and reclaim our legacy,” said Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President and CEO.

The first panel titled, “Social Policy, Justice, and Black America” will be moderated by Karen Freeman Wilson, President & CEO of the Chicago Urban League, and will discuss some of the most timely issues for American cities,  including housing, environmental justice, and criminal justice. The second panel, “Protecting Our Democracy via Civic Engagement ” will be led by Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, who will discuss important issues around voting rights. Students are invited to attend. 

The panels will serve as the culminating event of AAMA’s 10th annual conference in Atlanta, GA. The annual conference is the largest convening of African American mayors in the country, bringing together America’s city executives of the most diverse communities and neighborhoods. African American mayors are leading the country’s largest and smallest communities, and impacting the everyday lives of more than 25 million Americans.

Members of the media are required to register for credentials prior to the event. Onsite press credentials and interview requests with select mayors, panelists, and organizations may be available upon request.

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