Grace, Mayor of St. Gabriel, Louisiana and President of NCBM since May 2007 says through unanimous vote of the Board of Directors at their meeting in December 2007 in Denver, it was decided to appoint El-Ghaddafi as Special Envoy to improve relations between the United States and Libya and Africa. Grace and El-Ghaddafi will work together to foster economic and political cooperation between the 663 U. S. cities represented by NCBM and all of the countries on the African Continent.
Grace said, “It is important for the United States to become more involved in Africa since China and India have made major inroads into the continent while America stands by watching from the sidelines. It is in the interest of all of our countries to improve our relations, which leads to cooperation in areas of education, agriculture, healthcare, housing, and all areas of international opportunities.”
“Libya is a prominent leader of unifying the countries of Africa. This appointment will strengthen ties between the United States, particularly the 663 U. S. cities represented by the NCBM, and the entire continent of Africa with the assistance and leadership of Libya.”
A formal press conference will be held on February 19, 2008 in Washington, DC. At 12:00 PM at the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, Telephone 202 898 9000.
For more information the media should contact: Brenda Smith, American Libya Trade Mission Association 713-589-3199 and Kendra N. Guillory City of St. Gabriel 225-642-9600, Ext. 2
Website: www.ncbm.org
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About the National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc:
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Mayor George L. Grace
St. Gabriel, Louisiana
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Mayor James L. Perkins, Jr
Selma, Alabama
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
Mayor Heather Hudson
Greenville, Mississippi
3rd VICE PRESIDENT
Mayor Shirley Gibson
Miami Gardens, Florida
TREASURER
Mayor Anthony Grant
Eatonville, Florida
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Mayor Maurice Brown
White Castle, Louisiana
SECRETARY
Mayor Clarence W. Hawkins
Bastrop, Louisiana
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Mayor Irene H. Brodie, Ph.D.
Robbins, Illinois
HISTORIAN
Mayor Martha W. Andrus
Grambling, Louisiana
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Mayor Milton Tutwiler
Winstonville, Mississippi
CHAPLAIN
Mayor Bobby Washington
Cullen, Louisiana
Mayor Clarence Anthony
South Bay, Florida
Mayor Larry S. Bryant
Forest City, Arkansas
Mayor Willie Burns
Washington, Georgia
Mayor Denay Burris
Town of Ft. Coffee, Oklahoma
Mayor Christopher Campbell
Eastover, South Carolina
Mayor Michael Coleman
Columbus, Ohio
Mayor Andre’ DeBerry
Holly Spring, Mississippi
Mayor Jack Ellis
Macon, Georgia
Mayor Shirley Franklin
Atlanta, Georgia
Mayor Hilliard L. Hampton, Jr.
Inkster, Michigan
Mayor Kevin Johnson
Manning, South Carolina
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
Detroit, Michigan
Mayor Debra A. Mabry
Goodman, Mississippi
Mayor Jamie Mayo
Monroe, Louisiana
Mayor Joe B. McNeal
Mountain Home, Idaho
Mayor Kyra Watson
Berkeley, Missouri
Mayor John White
Ames, Texas
Mayor Mae Rose Williams
Pace, Mississippi
Mayor Frank A. Wilson
Bolton, North Carolina Presidents Emeriti
Mayor Henry Espy
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Mayor Johnny Ford, Founder
Tuskegee, Alabama
Mayor Marilyn Murrell
Arcadia, Oklahoma
Mayor Roosevelt F. Dorn
Inglewood, California
Mayor Robert L. Bowser
East Orange, New Jersey
Past Presidents
Marion Barry
Unita Blackwell
Dr. Gordon D. Bush
Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, II
A. J. Cooper, Founder
Richard G. Hatcher
Dr. Robert B. Ingram
Jesse M. Norwood
John H. Smith
James L. Usry
Wellington E. Webb
Executive Director
Vanessa R. Williams
