African American Ministers Convene to Address the State of Black America
On Wednesday, October 19, and Thursday, October 20, over 50 members of the African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA) and the affiliated African American Ministers Leadership Council (AAMLC), representing 18 states and the District of Columbia, convened at the National Education Association for a two-day Board Meeting and strategy session to address the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the current status of public education, the federal budget, and the future of civil rights in their communities.
The two-day meeting began with a day of breakout sessions on The Voting Rights Act, The Political Landscape, and Faith and Values Messaging, and later featured speeches by Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), NEA President Reg Weaver, PFAW President Ralph Neas, and Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean.
Howard Dean’s keynote address at Wednesday’s dinner focused on the Democratic Party's African American agenda and strategic plans for 2006 and beyond. Joining Dean in attendance at the dinner were Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D–CA), and Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D–NC).
"We are the spiritual leaders of our community, and we will do our prophetic duty and mobilize people, and also sound the alarm on the issues brought to the forefront by Hurricane Katrina that Congress is moving to address – the very issues that we see daily in our communities and churches," said Rev. Timothy McDonald, chair of AAMIA and Pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta.
"Poverty and race and class issues are not new in our community. We must forge progress from Katrina, not give in to those promoting policies that would lead to more deterioration."
AAMIA and AAMLC members traveling to Washington for the Fall 2005 Board Meeting, hosted by the National Education Association, were able to participate in strategy sessions and discussions led by People For the American Way (PFAW) and PFAW Foundation staff as well as representatives from the NAACP, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The American Red Cross and The Wal-Mart Watch Campaign.
