NBC-LEO Addresses Political Change Ahead

Karen Celestan, senior director, university communications, Dillard University, New Orleans, and Dawn Williams, area coordinator, educational talent search and adjunct professor, public health, Dillard University, were tour guides. During the tour participants were able to see many African American landmarks in the city such as: the St. Louis Cemetery; Congo Square; the French Market; St. Augustine Church; and the lower Ninth Ward.

Juan Williams, national political correspondent and best–selling author, was the keynote speaker for the Annual NBC-LEO Membership Luncheon. 

“We are in a season of tremendous change,” Williams told the luncheon audience. “The 2008 presidential election is approaching, where an African-American man and a white female are the top contenders. The population you serve is changing as well. More than 50 percent of our young people are non-white and 25 percent of the population is over the age of 65. You need to be in touch with this changing population.” 

He also encouraged members to create their own legacy. “It has been 40 years since the death of Dr. King. You are now the living legacy of Dr. King. You have the power to be real leaders and shape the future of America. Keep your eyes on the prize!”

“Mr. Williams has given us a call to action,” said Riley. “We must take his words and make them a reality in our communities.”

NBC-LEO held an Awards Reception sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. Honorees included: Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans; Dillard University, New Orleans; the Honorable Karen Carter, Louisiana State Representative-District 93, New Orleans; the Honorable Christopher Williams, Ph.D., councilmember, Lafayette City–Parish Council-District 3, Lafayette, La.; Louis McKinney, Anheuser-Busch Inc., St. Louis, Mo.; and  Riley, 2007 NBC- LEO President. Also honored were sponsors American Water, Acadian Ambulance Service, NTI Group, Freddie Mac and Burns & McDonnell.

The NBC-LEO Board of Directors also met during the Congress of Cities. “It was a remarkable year for NBC-LEO,” Riley said. “I look forward to the leadership of James Mitchell, councilmember, Charlotte, North Carolina, who will be NBC-LEO President for 2008. I know he will continue to champion the priorities of NBC-LEO.”

Topics discussed by the Board included: activities during the 2007 Congress of Cities; candidates for the 2008 NLC Board of Directors and the 2008 NLC second vice president and next year’s NBC-LEO Annual Summer Conference in Atlanta. Carolyn Coleman, NLC's director of federal relations, discussed major issues NLC will be working on in 2008. The board discussed the possibility of working on issues surrounding crime and crime prevention in local communities.

NBC-LEO also conducted elections for its 2008 Board of Directors.

NBC-LEO officers are: James Mitchell Jr., councilmember, Charlotte, N.C., president; Daisy W. Lynum, commissioner, Orlando, Fla., president-elect; Audwin Samuel, councilmember, Beaumont, Texas, first vice president; Charleta B. Tavares, councilmember, Columbus, Ohip, second vice president; James Walls, mayor, District Heights, Md., treasurer; Lewis Johnson, councilmember, Grenada, Miss., assistant treasurer; Louvenia Mathison, councilmember, Berkeley, Mo., secretary; Jacquelyn E. Johnson, councilwoman, East Orange, N.J., assistant secretary; Robert Raynor Jr., alderman, New Bern, N.C., parliamentarian; Barbara Swearengen Ware, councilmember, Memphis, Tenn., chaplain; Levoyd Williams, councilmember, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., historian; and Riley, immediate past president.

Past presidents are: Felicia A. Moore, councilmember, Atlanta; Marian B. Tasco, councilwoman and majority whip, Philadelphia; E. W. Cromartie, II, mayor pro tem, Columbia, S.C.; Cynthia McCollum, councilmember, Madison, Ala., and NLC president; Roosevelt Coats, councilmember, Cleveland; Charles Yancey, councillor, Boston; Rillastine Wilkins, mayor, Muskegon Heights, Mich.; and Daniel Tabor, councilmember, Inglewood, Calif.

At-large board members are: Barbara Calhoun, councilmember, Compton, Calif.; Kathleen Hicks, mayor pro tem, Fort Worth, Texas; Deborah A. Hill, councilwoman, Warrensville Heights, Ohio; Michael Johnson, councilmember, Phoenix; Van R. Johnson, II, alderman, Savannah, Ga.; and Darrell Miller, mayor, Capitol Heights, Md.

Regional directors are: Jo Winch, councilwoman, Hartford, Conn., region 1; Adam McFadden, councilmember, Rochester, N.Y., region 2; Horace P. Webb, vice mayor, Petersburg, Va., region 3; Danita Love, councilmember, Highland Hills, Ohio, region 4; Brenda Jones, councilmember, Detroit, region 5; Robert Eastern III, councilmember, East St. Louis, Ill., region 6; Joe Davis, alderman, Milwaukee, region 7; Sharon Sanders-Brooks, councilmember, Kansas City, Mo., region 8; Ron Gipson, councilmember, Everett, Wash., region 9; Jamie Smith, councilmember, Beaumont, Texas, region 11; Myron Lowery, councilmember, Memphis, Tenn., region 12; Ulysses Addison, councilmember, Baton Rouge, La., region 13; Deborah Denard Delgado, councilmember, Hattiesburg, Miss., region 14; Richard Showers Sr., councilmember, Huntsville, Ala., region 15; Mary Osborne, alderwoman, Savannah, Ga., region 16; Linda Dogan, councilmember, Spartanburg, S.C., region 17; Z. Ann Hoyle, alderwoman, Hickory, N.C., region 18; Carlton Moore, commissioner, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., region 19; and Delsey Brooks, councilmember, Oakland, Calif., region 20.

Details: For more information about membership and sponsorship opportunities, contact NLC staff at (202) 626–3191.