Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed will be named the president of the National African American Mayors Association, according to Reed’s chief of staff.
In a post on X early on Monday, Chip Hill, who serves as Reed’s chief of staff, said Reed would be named president of the national organization this week. He also noted that Reed is the only mayor in Alabama to serve on the board of trustees for the U.S. Council of Mayors.
Reed has previously served as both the secretary and the vice president of the African American Mayors Association.
The AAMA assists its members with training and leadership development programs and offers networking opportunities so that member mayors can better exchange information and advice.
The AAMA also is typically recognized by the White House – no matter the party in power – as an important resource for better understanding the issues and problems facing many American cities on a daily basis. Representatives from the AAMA are typically invited annually to the White House to meet with officials and discuss a broad range of issues – from public safety to housing – and how White House and other federal initiatives are performing.
Last April, during the AAMA’s anniversary, Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a reception for 80 mayors, and President Biden met with an AAMA leadership group to discuss specifics of his “Investing in America” agenda, and how it might best serve their cities.
Reed, who is Montgomery’s first Black mayor, serving as president of the organization – and the connections that brings – could help steer federal funds to the city and surrounding areas to address a variety of issues.